Is it not almost Time for me to expect a Letter from ^You?^—the one enclosing Letters of Atty was the last of yours that have reached me.1

Mrs. Jay gave me another Daughter last Month, & you are its ^her^ Godfather— I hope next Summer to introduce her to You.—

Do my dear Friend tell me something about my Family— I have not heard of them since May last—

I am preparing Dispatches to Congress ^(to accompany the defve. Treaty wh. is in the Terms of the provl. articles)^ & therefore cannot write long Letters—

Your ^irregular & violent^ popular assemblies ^Proceedings^ & Resolutions agt. the Tories2 hurt us in Europe—we are puzzled to answer the Question ^often^ asked us, how it happens that if there be settled Goverments in America ^the people of^ every Town and District shd. take upon themselves to to act like Legislateures. In short The People of America must either govern themselves according to their respective Constitutions ^& the Confederation^ or relinquish all Pretensions to ^the^ Respect of other Nations—are the News Papers in Europe are filled with animadversions on ^exagerated accts. of^ the Want of Moderation ^Union^ order and Government which they say prevails in our Country—

I hope our affairs will soon assume a more promising ^a different^ aspect— The Waves will run high for some time after a Storm— These Matters do not ^give me more Regret than^ surprise neverthe they ^but I do not wonder at their^ appearg very extraordinary in these Countries where the Tone of Govt. is high—

We have the strongest ^fullest^ assurances that New York will be evacuated without Delay— I am impatient for that Event—our Remonstrances to the british Minister on that Subject have been strong & frequent— I am Dr. Benson yr afft Friend.