accept my Thanks for your very friendly Letter of the 31 Decr last.1 the attack you alude to has given me much more Trouble than it has Pain. Every innocent man has an infallible specific against the Effects of Calumny, vizt. by invariably behaving in such a manner as to render the Falsehoods told of him incredible—It is natural for Ingratitude to seek for Justification, and when other Resources fail to depreciate those Benefactors whom they have been tempted to injure either by the Inability of their minds to bear the weight of Obligations, or by the alluring Suggestions of temporary inconvenience Advantage.

a wise man observes that dulce est at ^ab^ Hoste doceri,2 and on this occasion I ^have^ experienced the Truth of ^it on^ this Remark ^occasion^—it has taught me that certain persons of whom I had a good opinion and who had taken some pains to persuade me not only of their Esteem but ^also^ of their attachment possess much less Sincerity than they wish to have Credit for.

with this I inclose a few Pamphlets which you and others ^others^ ^some like you will read with as much Satisfaction, as some ^some few^ certain others have done with chagrin—Be so obliging as to give one of them to Mr. Laurens, and another to my old Friend Ed. Rutledge.3 It is mortifying to notice and defend oneself ^find it expedient to^ take public Notice of such an accuser, but it is too true that he did not stand alone, and that Persons who care nothing about him or his Concerns thought him a fit Instrument to promote ^the attainmt. of^ their own views ^objects^ The Event however has not been answerable to their Expectations and it I have & I expect that the Play Siege against me will in future be ^carried on rather^ the by Sap and the Insidious Hand ^insidious Hostility than by direct^ assault—4

Mrs Jay joins me in requesting ^the favor of^ you to present our afft. Compliments to Mrs. Read,5 and be assured of the Esteem and Regard with which I have the Honor to be Dr Sr your most obt. & very hble Servt