Owing to the tardiness of the penny post man I did not receive your letter of the tenth timely enough to answer it on tuesday evening.

I mistook the papers you had the goodness to send me for copies, and supposing the originals were of record with you, did not forget, but omitted to return them to you in Paris. I now inclose them to you with many apologies for an omission that has cost you a very natural anxiety considering the scientific toils which these most valuable papers must have cost you. With these apologies [I] must be permitted to mingle the homage of my most sincere admiration of the financial nicety and skill unfolded in your statements, and my acknowledgments for being allowed to peruse them.

I wish it were practicable for the United States to make such an arrangement with any opulent money lenders in Holland as might enable our country to confer a signal benefit upon France now bending under the pressure of fiscal poverty. Such an arrangement wou’d I am persuaded cancel and more than cancel our debt of gratitude to France for pecuniary succour as well as ulterior forbearance. Beside this it wou’d probably be in the power of Congress to obtain from the Individuals who might incline to undertake a business of this magnitude such new terms as to the time and mode of reimbursing the capital of the French debt as the interests of our country might be suppos’d to require. For my own part, even if all other circumstances were put out of the question I shou’d prefer to owe our foreign debt to private citizens rather than to any nation in Europe. It has been hinted to me, but I know not whether from good authority, that Mr. Neckar has said he wou’d be glad to sell the debt due from the United States at a discount of fifteen or even twenty five per cent. I cannot avoid thinking somewhat might be done in this business advantageously both for France and America. What that shou’d be I hope you will have pleasant weather enough to ascertain on ship board this Autumn.—I have not yet learnt your decision when and where you embark. In a very few days I shall know whether I sail with Mr. Trumbull or not. We somewhat expect to visit you at Cowes.—As an american curiosity I inclose you an authentic account of The Population of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, from 1763 to 1784, a period of twenty years, during eight of which (from April 1775 to Decr. 1782) a bloody and distressing war was waged by our common country: The effect it had on population will be seen by the small increase of inhabitants during the period of its continuance with former years.

I learn nothing new from any quarter since my last, except the demand of his prussian majesty upon Holland for thirty six million of florins to reimburse him the expence he incur’d in subjugating them to the will of the Stadtholder and the British Court.

A dissolution of the parliament of this country is talked of and believed about Christmas. I know not why. Mr. Pitt has poured several dozen of english and irish peers into the respective kingdoms, among the former Mr. Eden.

Mr. Payne, Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Rutledge concuring in belief that you will not have left Paris when my next shall arrive in Paris, I postpone my adieu, and am Affectionately & with the greatest respect Yours,