Altho my Correspondents have necessarily become numerous I shall nevertheless think the number too small, till your name be added to the List. It has long been my wish to cherish in private Life, the Connection which commenced between us when public Men; and to render that reciprocal Regard which attached us to each other in Times of Danger and Commotion, the manner of subservient to our mutual Satisfaction on the Return of Peace and Tranquility. I have often regretted the Suspension of our Correspondence. At the Time it happened, I had no Idea of being so long absent from You; and my omitting to answer your last Letter, arose from an opinion that the Subject of it could be more properly discussed by a Fireside than on Paper—could I have supposed however that we should have been separated by some Years, instead of a few weeks or months, you should have had less Reason to think me negligent.

Your attention is not I am persuaded so restrained to domestic objects, and the Pleasures or occupations of that Retreat, which you have too much Reason to prize, as to prevent your turning your Eyes towards every Part of that great Circle of Politics, which involves and affects us all. My Views are at present confined to a Segment of that Circle—but that Segment affords Field for many Inquiries, and yields Matter for Observations—both interesting and entertaining— I will share them with you if you please—and to do it the more effectually, wish you would send me a Plan and Explanation of the Cypher you once shewed me at Rhynebeck, but which I do not now well recollect. Let the Key Word be the Name of the man who so long and regularly placed every Day a Tooth-Pick by Mrs. Schuylers Plate, written backwards, that is the final ^last^ Letter in the Place of the first and so on—1

When at Madrid I shall recieve very few Letters but thro’ the Post Offices of France or Spain, those and I much doubt whether any Letters known or suspected to be for or from me, would pass thro’ that Channel uninspected. I think it would be best for you to send your Letters to Philadelphia under Cover to our Friend Robert Morris, who will take proper Care to ^forward^ them, and they would probably come more directly to his Hands, if sent by the Post, enclosed to one of the New York Delegates. Soon after my arrival at Madrid I shall write to Mr. Morris on the Subject, and mention to him the name of some Gentleman there under cover to whom he may transmit Letters for me—

Unless the Vessel by which this Letter is to go, will sail sooner than I expect, you will probably recieve another enclosed with it. Make our Compliments, if you please, to Mrs. Schuyler, and believe me to be with sincere Regard Your obedt. Servant