Since the date of my last letter,1 I have received several of yours dated the 10th of March, 21st of April, 21st of May, 10th of June & 20th. of July.2 The first of these was delivered by Mr. Penn, a Young Gentleman whose Fate I lamented long before I saw him. I had always opposed both in my Public & private Character those unjust measures which have deprived him of so considerable a share of his Patrimony, and we always feel ourselves disposed to befriend in every instance those whose cause we have espoused in any one so that you will readily believe that your Recommendation of him had its full weight. His Mother is said to be a fine Woman and I am glad Mrs Jay & yourself had so good an opportunity of knowing her well. It is a great misfortune to this Family that they are of a make so little calculated for the Turbulence of the times. They are mild tempered very open & Honest, wish well to mankind and would not injure the most insignificant of Gods Creatures. They feel their injuries a little but know not how to seek redress— I will serve them in any thing that consistently I can—

In your letter of the 21st April you desire me to write to Mr. Carmichael for your Accounts. This has been rendered unnecessary by one Article of the instructions of Congress to you on that point, besides which I expect that Mr. Carmichael has before this time complied with your own request made in consequence of Mr. Barclays application, this was the proper channell, for he alone being authorized to settle the European Accounts, it would be of no use to send them here untill passed by him—

Your letter of the 21st May recommends Mr Vaughan & that of the 10th June Doctor Bancroft, to these Gentlemen I shew a full proportion of the Attention which my numerous engagements will permit me to devote in that way. Mr Vaughan has brought a large Family & I thought him wrong to remove at his time of Life from amongst old acquaintance & Friends into a new World, however I hope he will not be disapointed in his Sanguine expectations of superior happiness here.3 I think Doctor Bancroft has merited Rewards from this Country which he will never get; I esteem him much, I like his manners & understanding, it seems to me that both will wear well & grow better upon use & acquaintance.4

I hear your Health is mended since the date of your last letter of the 20th July, and rejoice at it. Your distant Friends suffer irreparable injury if you are indisposed to write, those who write so well should write often, and even your short letters say so much in so few Words that it is impossible not to wish for them if longer one’s cannot be had. I acknowledge the Force of all your observations on my intended Resignation and know the necessity of perseverance, so long as there is a prospect of being usefull, but you must also acknowledge that it is folly in the extreme to Continue in the drudgery of Office after you see clearly that the Public cannot be benefitted, your own affairs suffering, your Feelings daily wounded and your Reputation endangered by the malice and misrepresentation of envious & designing Men. during the War I was determined to go through with the Work I had undertaken & altho my resignation was made before the Signing of the Provisional Treaty was known, yet I made no hesitation to declare to a Committee of Congress that if the War lasted I would continue. The War however ceased, Congress feared to dismiss their Army without some Pay. they had not Money & could only make payment by paper Anticipation & Even this could not be effected without my assistance. I was urged to Continue & forced into that Anticipation. The Army were dispersed & since their departure the men who urged these measures most & who are eternally at War with Honour & Integrity, have been continually employed in devising measures to prevent my being able to fullfill my engagements, In hopes of effecting my Ruin in case of failure, I must however in justice to the Majority of Congress which has ever been composed of Honest Men declare that the Faction I allude to is but inconsiderable in numbers, but ^altho^ they make themselves of some Consequence by their assiduity; you know the Lees &c.5 I should disregard these men totally if I found a disposition in the Several Legislatures to support National Faith Credit & Character, but unhappily there is at present a total inattention on their parts, I am however perswaded that sooner or later the Good Sense of America will prevail & that our Governments will be executed entrusted in the hands of Men whose principles will lead them to do justice & whose understanding will teach the Value of National Credit— This may be too long in coming to pass, at least for me & therefore you may rest assured that I quit all public Employ the Moment my engagements are fulfilled—

The Court of France having refused the last sum asked, I do not wish to trouble them Farther— I am not sensible of having at any time made an improper application, either as to Substance or Manner6 Those who are solicited in such cases, are in the situation to make whatever objections they find Convenient— I wish however that the Ministers in France were Sensible of one Truth, which is, that my administration either saved them a great deal of Money or a great deal of disgrace, for if I had not undertaken it when I did, they must either have advanced Ten times the amount I recieved, or have deserted America after having undertaken her Cause, & perhaps have been obliged to subscribe to very indifferent terms of Peace for themselves.

It is happy for me that the Loan in Holland stepped in to our relief after the refusal of the Court to grant the moderate Sum of Three Million of Livrs. as the Concluding point,7 This refusal was Ill timed & Impolitic, I could shew resentment with some effect if I were so disposed, but so far from it, I retain a gratefull Remembrance of past favours and make a point to promote the Commercial intercourse between France & this Country. I must also shew my Sense of the obligations conferred on us by the Hollanders. We hear that the Definitive Treaty is signed I long to see it, for you may depend that unless some new Articles are added respecting our Intercourse with the British West Indies, it will be both a Work of difficulty & time to carry Measures that will justify your Opinion of us. I thank you for the kind Sentiments which you express of me in several parts of your letters I will endeavour to deserve them. Accept my thanks also for what you write respecting Mr Ridley & my Boys. I shall never forget his care of & attention to them. I think they are now put in the way of acquiring an Education that will justify the plan I have pursued, my other Boys shall have the best instructions this Country affords & at a future day if we live, a Comparison may be drawn—8 I saw Governor Livingston two days since at Prince Town he is very well & rather fatter than formerly, he told me the Family were all well except Kitty who is recovering from an Illness she has lately sustained I think she has much more of Sickness than she ought, & infinitely more than she deserves— I will not say any thing to you on the Late Acts of Congress for fixing Two places of permanent Residence &c. least I should not preserve that decorum which is due from the Servant to the Sovereign—9

Your reasons for protesting the bills are not Solid, it is the only instance I ever met in which I could Controvert any Reasons on which you founded your Conduct— I am paying those bills with 20 prct Damages.10

I do not know whether Gouverneur writes to you by this opportunity, you must cherish his Friendship it is worth possessing,11 he has more Virtue than he shews & more Consistency than any body believes, he values you exceedingly & hereafter you will be very usefull to each other. Mrs Morris will write to Mrs Jay & say for herself what she has to say, tho’ I don’t beleive she will tell her as she does every body else the high estimation in which she holds Mrs Jay & yourself, permit me also my Worthy Friend to assure you both of the sincerity of that affection with which I profess myself Your most obedient & humble Servant