I know you will give me Leave with Pleasure to introduce to you the Son of my deceased Friend Middleton—1 He is a Youth of very excellent Conduct, & very amiable Disposition— He is fond of Improvement, & has a great desire to be acquainted with Men & Things. It is his Intention to go abroad at a future day, and fit himself for the various duties of Social, and political Life, which we are constantly called upon to Discharge. But, preparatory to that Measure, he wishes to be intimately acquainted with his own Country: and as his Friends are convinced that, he may be safely trusted to his own Guidance, he sets out on his Tour thro’ the States of America— Permit me to recommend him to your kindness, & to assure you it will be thankfully received—

My Son returns in Elliott—2 He should have been at New York ee’r this; but Snell, by whom I intended to have sent him has never arrived: & he has been so long out, I fear he never will— Had I been in Town when Molly sailed, he should then have gone, but I was busily engaged in making a Constitution at the expence of my own. It has the Merit of being very much like the Constitution of other States. It was the wish of some, to make the Governor more respectable—to have given him a qualified negative; & to have put him at the Head of a Council of appointment: & to have elected him for a longer time: but it was contended that, your Governor by the possession of similar Powers, had so strengthen’d himself in office, & had made so bad an use of them, that it would be injurious to trust them in the Hands of ours— We have however authorized the Legislature to divest themselves of the power of appointing Persons to the inferior Offices, & I have no doubt they will give up that power at an early day, to those who are much better qualified to execute it than themselves— With respect to negative on the Laws, I confess I was not disposed to give it;— the Federal Government ^Constitution^ has taken such admirable Care of us on that Business, & has rendered it so difficult to pass injurious Laws, that I think the negative would be made little else, than an Engine of Party— It was my Wish, that, the Governor should however possess a Power of suspending Bill for a limited Time, & of assigning his Reasons against its being passed into a Law; thereby preventing surprise, and affording the Legislature an opportunity of revising their Conduct. But small as this power was, they would not consent to his being vested with it. So tenacious, are we ourselves, of Power!—3 When Elliott last went I told you I was well pleased with my Son; he is confirmed in my good opinion, & I find him on a more intimate acquaintance to be more improved than I thought he had been. I must repeat our Thanks to you & Mrs: Jay for your kindness to him. He himself holds it in just estimation. Be pleased to make our best Respects to Mrs. Jay; & be assured that I am ever my dear Sir with much Regard your affectte. Friend.