My last to you was of the 24th. Ult.— Triplicates have been sent I have recd. none from you later than 10 July by Majr. Franks— Yours of the 2d. Jany. & 4 March never reached me—1 there is Reason to believe that2 the minister prime minister here has them— Tell me what you think of my Letter, to the President ^Congress^ of the  3 Instant ^of this Month^ I was Peace does not appear very nigh. This Court and that of France do not draw perfectly well—Except a Jew, I can hear of nothing so perfectly odious to a Spaniard as a Frenchman. This Government has little Money, less Wisdom, no Credit, nor any [illegible] ^right^ to it—they have Pride without Dignity, Cunning without Policy, and Nobility without Honor— I speake with certainty—what what new men may ^might^ do is uncertain— Your Bills have done much mischief— The King means well but knows nothing Vattels Law of Nations which I found quoted in a Letter I recd. from Congress is prohibited here4 I confide in your Prudence & Secrecy.

Some of your Letters have you say been drowned—do you suppose that none of mine have shared that miscarried. You wd have given me some interesting Intelligence, if my Letters had been less laconic: is this like you? This Sentiment, if it deserves that Name ^I may call it so^ has indeed flowed from your Pen, but I am sure your Heart had no Concern in ^did not dictate it^—^I confide in your Prudence & Secrecy^ You desire me to save you the trouble of Repetitions, by makeg and in Turn recievg Communications—This Plan wd once have done—but that Time [illegible] is passed—forever—I told wrote you so in June 1780 ^before the last 1780^, the Letter arrived safe at Philadelphia to my certain Knowledge, but y I ^now^ find you you have never seen it—5 as it was in Cyphers the Inspector gained no Information from it—While we continue to have full Confidence in each other ^I am persuaded that^ neither will be decieved—half way going People To give you Details wd be to write a History, but I will tell you plainly that that Your Secretary6 is ^unscrupulous^ the most decietful, insidious Man I ever met with in all my Life, and I have met with many. This I think is being confidential as well as particular. The Time may come when I shall give you more Facts than you will be pleased with ^[in margin] That this same man is in my Judgment, the most Faithless one and dangerous one, that I have ever met with, in all my Life—^

This is strong Language, but two might two yea but twenty two months constant Experience wa assures me it is just. If I could have trusted my Cyphers when at Martinico I sho^wo^uld from thence have written to you of this Subject given you a thought hint of what his shameful Duplicity and unkind Conduct. To do him harm is not my Wish, & revenge never has nor ever shall, actuate [illegible] me—I shall but happy shall I be to see the Day when I shall cease to have ^no more be^ and to have any Thing to do with him plagued with his Tricks—

There is something very disagreable in thus mentioning matters of this Sort, especially considering how you stand with Respect to both.

I am very much inclined to think that this Court means if possible to delay forming any political Connections with us till a general Peace—thereby avoiding the Loans & Subsidies ^advances of Money^ wh in Reality they are not in Capacity ^very able^ to make and as well as & a Precedent which may one Day be turned agt. them by their own Colonies— They wish also to avail themselves of Contingencies, and, ^by remaining free from Engag formal Engagements^ ^by Freedom from engagements, to^ be ready to take advantage of Circumstances. As to parole Promises of the Ministers, they pass here as continental does with you.7

I hear so Seldom from & so little of my Fathers Family, that you will oblige me greatly by mentioning from time to Time what you may know or hear abt them

The Cypher I use is No. 1. The only one I have as yet recd I hope, a Duplicate of it will not be sent unless by a very safe oppy. I am very much yours