Your favor of the 13th Inst. was delivered to me last Evening— I admire the generous principles which lead you to take so decided & friendly a part in favor of America— I have too great confidence in the Honor; Justice & gratitude of Congress to Suspect that they will permit you to be sufferers by your Exertions in their favor— On the contrary I am persuaded they will entertain a proper sense of your disinterested attachment, and with pleasure take every opportunity of acknowledging it—

Mr: Laurens’ absence is much to be regretted; his endeavours aided by your Assistance would probably have prevented the embarrassments which have taken place— I have not as yet recd: any advices of his having sailed, and your Information of his not having left America in May is true— By a Letter from a Gentleman at Cadiz of the 21st Inst. I learn that a Vessel from North Carolina had arrived in 49 days, & left Mr. Laurens there on his way to Congress Philadelphia— I am at a loss to account for this, having no Intelligence from America on the Subject— Perhaps his design was to Sail from Philada: If so we may still look out for him— Prudence however demands that every possible Step be taken to alleviate the Inconveniencies arising from his Absence— If my powers extended to this case I Should without hesitation authorize you in a proper manner to make a loan in Holland, & be much obliged to You for undertaking it— But my Instructions do not reach so far— All I can do is to advise as an Individual, and as a public Servant to represent in a true light to Congress your benevolent Efforts to preserve their Credit— If Dr: Franklin has such Instructions as you Suppose, & his circumstances will admit of it, I can at present see no Objections to his taking some such measures as You propose until Mr: Laurens’ arrival, but of this he alone can properly judge— I Shall write to him on the Subject, and You may rely on my doing every thing in my Power— I assure You I feel myself as an American so much obliged by your generous zeal to serve my Country that I shall be happy in being instrumental to render the Issue of it as agreeable & honorable to You as the principles on which You act are meritorious & noble.—

I flatter myself that the unfavorable Influence which the Capture of Charles town has on the public, will be of short duration— When they reflect that America has nobly sustained a six years war, fought hard battles with various success, & lost & Regained several of their Cities, they will find it ridiculous to beleive that the fate of the Thirteen States is involved in that of one or two Towns— The like impressions were made when New-York, Philadelphia, & Tyconderoga fell into the Enemy’s hands, & those Impressions were again removed, by the Battle of Trenton, the Evacuation of Philada: The Battle of Monmouth, The Defeat & Captures of General Burgoyne & his army, & other victories on our side— Many of these great Events happened when America had no Ally, and when Britain had no other objects to divide her force— It is not reasonable therefore to imagine that the Power of Britain has been augmented by the accesion of two formidable Enemies, or that the power of America has been diminished in proportion as the number of her friends encreased—

Depend upon it that as the Spirit of America has always risen with the Successes of her Enemies, they will not on this Occasion, throw away their Arms, & ingloriously pass under the Yoke of a Nation whose conduct towards her has been marked by injustice & oppression in Peace, & by Malice and Wanton barbarity in War— With sentiments of sincere Regard & Esteem I have the honor to be Gentlemen, Your most Obedient and most Hble Servt—