I believe Kitty Livingston has availed herself of this good Conveyance by Matthew Ridley Esqr. to write you very fully & of course she will have told you all the news both Domestick & Political— Mrs. Morris has also written to Mrs Jay & no doubt assures her of that Esteem & affection in which she holds both her and you.1 I need not tell you how Sincerely I join her in those Sentiments. You are often the Subject of our Conversations & we never Speak of you but with Pleasing Remembrance of past time— We anxiously look forward to those Hours when we may again enjoy your Company, but the keenest Wishes are checked when necessity prescribes Patience— I will therefore Quit this Subject and proceed to Inform you that some particular Circumstances have put me in Possession of Kitty’s Picture taken by Mr. Du Simitier It was Intended for you and therefore you must permit me to present you with it—2 Whilst the Original is under my Roof—the Copy has less Value, or perhaps you might not have found me so Ready to part with it, Don’t allow me the Merit of being Generous in this Instance, wherein I have an Opportunity of Obliging three Persons, for any one of whom I would Sacrifice my own Gratifications— Consequently I Resolve this Sacrifice into an Act of mere Selfishness— The Portrait goes by Mr Ridley who will send it to you by the first good Opportunity after his Arrival in France— My two Oldest Sons go with Mr. Ridley in Order to Receive their Educations in France—3 Many Considerations which it is needless to Enumerate, Induced me to this measure, which my Judgment approves, but which now that it is to be Carried into Execution Awakens all the Tender Feelings of a Father— Your and Mrs. Jays Sensibility will disclose the Situation of Mrs. Morris and myself when I tell you that these two good & well beloved Boys leave us to morrow—they are tractable good Boys I Hope they will make good Men, for that is Essential, Perhaps they may become Usefull to their Country which is very desirable, and if they have Genius and Judgement, the Education they will Receive may be the Foundation for them to become Learned or Great Men, but this is of most Consequence to themselves, Should it fall in your Way to Notice them I am sure you will do it— I expect they will be fixed at the Schools in Geneva—this parting Reminds me my Good Friend that we are but too much the Slaves of Ambition & Vanity to permit the Enjoyment of that happyness, which is in our Power. I need not part with my Children but.—

Excuse me from writing on Political Matters at this time, when I know that you have seen Major Franks & Received my Cypher,4 you shall hear from me officially on many Points— Chancellor Livingston is this day arrived to take Possession of his office, so that I hope you will in future be well informed of all things in the Publick Line, that can be of Use for you to know—and I flatter myself that your Situation will become far more eligible than it has been—5 Governeur is with me and a most usefull & able assistant he is— I hope our Joint Labours will in the end have the desired Effect.— We have mended the appearance of things very much, and are Regaining Publick Credit and Confidence by degrees,—& our Efforts are Seconded & Supported by the Several Legislatures as they ought— We need not fear the Utmost Efforts of our Enemies, because we will learn to Exert and Concenter our own Force.— With the most Sincere attachment & Esteem— I am My Dear Friend Your obed & hble Servt.