I scarcely ever address you in the familiar Stile, but I am insensibly led to reflect on what Clermont1 & we were fifteen or sixteen Years ago—nature seems to have given me a Propensity to Reverie, and I have long found pleasure in endulging it. past Scenes recalled to view in this Species of perspective appear much softned—the lesser asperities are lost in the Distance, and the more pleasing parts of the object chiefly brought into view

In your Letter of the 27 Augt. which I recd. the 30 Jany last, you refer to two or three sent by the way of France.2 The only Letters I have recd from you since I left America, are of the following Dates vizt. 6 Octr 1779 and 22d Decr.—10 Feb.—6th July.—26th Augt. & 27th Octr. 1780.3 The two last came under one Cover—the Length as well as matter of the first of them, amply compensated for the great Difficulty I had to read it. I have never seen Ink so near the Color of the Paper— Had I been a little older, I should have suspected that my Eyes began to fail me—

I am glad to hear that the manner of conducting the Business committed to me has met with [illegible] approbation— Had not your Bills intervened, I believe Congress would have had more Reason to be satisfied— That Measure placed me here in forma pauperis, & inspired a very mortifying Idea of the State of our Affairs— It involved me in Perplexities too tedious to enumerate, and occasioned Doubts and Delays very unfriendly to our affairs. I am responsible, it is true, only for the Execution of the Resolutions and Orders of Congress, and not for the wisdom of them, but I cannot help regretting these Circumstances— I have done my best, and shall persevere in doing my Duty with the same Patience and activity as heretofore. If my Endeavours meet with Success, so much the better—if not I shall have nothing to reproach myself with.

Morgans Victory, the Successful Enterprize against Arnolds little Fleet, and the Enemys Disasters in the E. Indies make a deep Impression here, and I shall endeavour to proffit by it before Time or a Change of Fortune shall erase it.

Your Cypher4 is intelligible, but as I suspect the Letter which enclosed it was opened before it came to my Hands, I think it would be prudent to alter it a little. if I understand your Explanation right—what you call the Key Letters, are the Letters which spell what you call the Key word. In this Instance you have in Fact no key word tho the Letters over each Column answer the purpose just as well as if they spell any particular word. The Cypher I enclose is on the same plan with your’s, & yet sufficiently different. I will now in your Cypher give you a Key word for it— I am persuaded that the Route in which this Letter will pass is very different from that in which I suspect yours was opened, & therefore that I may without much Risque use your Cypher on this occasion. yesca— I must observe however that whoever gets a Copy of the enclosed Cypher may use it without the key word—for be the key word what it may—the numbers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. or any Numbers corresponding with the Number of Columns & applied in like manner as a Key Word, will answer the same purpose—try it and you will find it so. I have on Experiment found 1. 2. 3. perfect Substitutes for your x. z. a.

Mr Toscan who is appointed Vice Consul at Boston has been so obliging as to wait a few Days for my Dispatches.5 Favor him with your Notice and Attention. I have written several Letters to your Govr & Gen. Schuyler, but have not recd. a Line from either of them.

Remember us to all your Family—tell me whether the little Girl grows finely I am Dr. Robt. your afft Friend