Your obliging Letter of the 2d. Inst1 did not reach me till two Days ago. I am very sensible that Your Time must have been greatly engrossed at Congress, & the more so as the Treasury Department was I believe almost wholly under your particular Inspection. I ardently wish to see the Time when Matters of general Importance will cease to deny us Leisure for regular Correspondence; & be assured that I am not insensible, & shall never be unmindful, of the Attention with which from my Youth You have been pleased to honor me.

I am happy to hear the Confederacy accords with your Sentiments. That Circumstance augurs well. I hope some omissions in the former Draft are supplied in this. An indifferent one however is better than none—upon this Principle I mean for my own Part to act.

Your long Absence from your Family has doubtless been painful, but it has nevertheless been mixed with the Pleasure of rendering Services to your Country, which I believe have contributed not a little to your Good & the common Interest.

I purpose e’re long to do myself the Pleasure of a Visit to our Friends at the Manor, when I flatter myself with an Opportunity of conversing with You on many interesting Subjects. Be pleased to present my Respects to Coll. & Mrs. Livingston, Mrs.Duane,2 & my other Friends at the Manor. I am Dear Sir Your obliged & obt. Servt.