At Length your first Letter contrary to my Expectations, has arrived been deliverd to me ^arrived^, and my Attentions to the object of it shall not be wanting— I have also recd. your Favor of the 18th: Septr. since which more of my Letters than one have I hope reached you, this being the fourth—1

I have read considered and reconsidered the Facts & reflections you communicate, & am persuaded that that the Consequences you draw tho in a certain Degree just are not quite so extensive as you seem to suppose— I am not free from the ^similar^ apprehensions you of that kind but they are not so strong as yours—but however well founded they may be, they ought only to increase our Prudence, & shd. be carefully concealed— If I had Leisure for it it would give me pleasure to go largely into this Subject—at present I cannot because matters of more immediate Importance engage me—

That you have been hardly treated I know and shall never hesitate to say—but I cannot think the Cases of Mr. Adams, Izard and Lee ^the Gent[lemen] are^ similar or prove the points to which you apply them—2 You was blamed not for omitting to ^finally to^ settle your accounts in France, but for not being in Capacity to shew ^(when^ in Am.) what those accts. were & I dont know that those Gent[lemen] were or will be chargeable with the like Incapacity— I mention this ^only^ to shew the Destinction [illegible] ^between the^ Cases How far the Destinction is important or how far that Incapacity cd. justify the Treatment it occasiond. are other Questions—for my own part I think it cd. not justify it

It will also remain a Question of how far your Measures were prudent— I think some of them were & some not but this Inquiry requires many Considerations & Combinations of Circumstances, which I must defer for the present—the Discoveries you allude to respecting secret practices surprize me exceedingly— I have no such Suspicions—perhaps you may give more Weight to Circumstances than they may merit— The Inquiry nevertheless is very important and while any Doubts remain the pursuit shd be continued— Justice demands that we shd not ^even in our opinions^, injure Men who may be innocent even in o & prudence also demands that we permit not the ^a^ Goodness of the Heart to impose on the Dict ^a^ good Head, a Case by no means uncommon.

I wish there were twenty other Motives than those you mention for for drawing you to Spain ^for undertaking^ ^for your passing to Spain^ Exclusive of the Pleasure ^Satisfaction^ it will always give me to see you, The Facts ^Matters^ you mention are ^highly^ interesting ^in ^^a^^ public as well as ^^&^^ private view^ and ^they^ cannot possibly be so well discussed or understood from ^handled^ in the Way of Letters and in ^as^ Conversation—

Whether it will be in my power to meet you at th at either of the places you name I cannot predict and therefore cannot promise—The Excursion would be agreable to me but I have hitherto found so many Matters not to be neglected constantly demanding my Attention, that I cannot flatter myself with being more disengaged till the ^greater^ Objects of coming here are shall be either attained or become unattainable. If I should nevertheless be able to meet you I will—if not I hope you will not permit a few Days Journey to separate us ^come on^, especially as your coming here wd. probably be a means of bringing your Business with the Minister to a more Speedy and perhaps ^more^ satisfactory Conclusion— ^but^ of this how I cannot as yet be certain—

The attachmt of you express for your Country notwithstanding the Injuries your [Measures?] in some of her Representatives which you have been used ^your Complaints of this her Ingratitude^ does you much Honor—And altho the The Injustice of endeavouring to resentg on a acct whole [illegible] People the mistakes or Transgressions of a few is obvious, yet as ^but as^ there are comparatively not many who under similar Circumstances either think right & or act so— Truth is seldom so immersed in Darkness as to ^not^ be capable of being brought to Light ^if attempted in season^ and as the Mass of the People mean well, they will finally do Justice, tho their Mistakes and Passions sometimes delay it—persevere therefore—do good to your Country & evince your ^the^ Rectitude of your Conduct while in her Service— I believe you honest & I think you injured— These Considerations will always prompt me to every friendly office in my power to render— I must again advise you to review collect review & ascertain precisely the Evidence you ha may have or can coll obtain of the Duplicity of the Persons you allude to whoever they may be— I see this Business in many important Lights & the Time may come when you may rejoice in all the Trouble you may now be at abt. it. nay all this Evidence provided it shd prove conclusive ^shd. appear material^ ought to be put on ^committed to^ Paper and be ^not^ permitted to diminish or die in or with your memory—Put ^Put^ it in the power of your Friends to vindicate your ^Reputation^ when you are shall ^may^ be no more— It will be of ^particular^ Importance to your Son,3 to whom you cannot leave a better Inheritance than a good, nor a worse one, than a bad Name ^or doubtful Reputation^— Remember too that time elapses ^is spending^ Men forgetting or dieg, Papers wasting &c: and therefore the sooner you reduce these Matters to certainty the better—

Mrs. Jay & the Col. desire to be particularly remembered to you— This will go under cover to Doctr Franklin—4 be pleased to assure him of my Regard & Esteem, of which also believe you have no little Share I am Dr. Sir very sincerely yours &ca.