Many weeks have elapsed since I have had the pleasure of recg ^been favd with^ any Letters from you—1 I have recd. a Letter from Col. Laurens dated at Sea & covering the one herewith enclosed for you.2 A Vessel has arrived at Bilboa in 24 Days from Salem. I recd. by her some Family Letters which came under cover to others ^from [illegible] Bilbao under cover to a Gent. here^.—she brought for me a large Packet which was put into the Post office and ought to have come ^to Hand^ a week ago— I have enquired for it with but in Vain—this is not an uncommon Case & shews how necessary it is that Congress shd take some me other means for conveying Intelligence to & from their Ministers than the European Post offices ^Be pleased to make my Complts. to^ Your Grandson is or ought to be 3^ & remind him that he is^ three Letters in my Debt. Mr Dean complains of my Silence—assure him that it is without Reason, having written him since the Period he names.

You will also find herewith enclosed a Copy of a Letter I have recd from Silas Talbot a Prisoner at Plymouth, requesting Aid.3

This Gentleman gives a true Description of himself—he has on various occasions approved himself to be a ^acted like a very^ brave ^&^ enterprizing Officers and the Journals of Congress have ^bear contain^ ample Testimony ^Evidence^ of it. I sincerely lament his Situation, and regret that my Situation ^own^ does not put it in my Power to afford him Relief. Without funds and destitute of Resources ^The far greater Part of the Money which^ the public Demands require here, I draw from you—the Amounts of the Bills drawn upon me by Congress ^already far far^ exceed that of the Funds prepared for their Payment, & the Debts ^already^ incurred on account of ^distressed^ american Seamen still remain unpaid. All I can do therefore is warmly to recommend Col. Talbott to you It would not be delicate in me to advance money to Col. Talbot and then request the Favor of you to replace it^ especially as heis falls situation places him more immediately under your care than mine^ All that I can therefore do with Propriety is to rec make you acquainted with his Case—There is much Reason to believe that he has served his Country faithful & therefore zealously and has a Right to her Care Gratitude as well as Policy dictates it, and I am persuaded that ^fear^ too little Attention has in general been paid to our Captive Seamen— I often hear of their being obliged to ^many^ enterg into the Enemys Service for want of Bread ^& for ill Treatment not retaliated.^ Even those who are fortunate have the good Fortune & address to escape are often frequently obliged ^in seeking opportunities to return Home^ to wander about from place to place, ^[in margin] & subsisting in the course of Pilgrimage^ begging their Bread by the Way seeking for opportunities of returning to their own countrymen ^friendless & pennyless, ignorant of the Language of the^ and I am sorry to add that mo several American masters of American Vessels have ^inhumanly^ refused to give their suffering Brethren Passage ^carry home these ^^unfortunate people^^ tho offering to do duty during the voyage as common sailors^ on the specious pretext that they ^they had^ their complement of men, but really to avoid the Expense of feeding them on the Voyage & to reduce ^several^ such Passage money out of the ^but this objection always ceased whenever^ public Agents or benevolent Individuals pay them their offered to pay them Passage money. ^[in margin] Strangers thru whose Land they pass and unable to express their making known their wants ^^only^^ by the voice of Distress, & subsisting on the wretched Fare husks cast to them by the frugal Hand of Charity.— Nor is this all altho’ their misfortunes in finding ^^am^^ Vessels ready [illegible] to sail ^^bound home^^ ought to recommend them to their Brethren, yet it too often happens that masters of am. Vessels inhumanly refuse to (unless paid passage money) to carry home these unfortunate People tho offering to do Duty without wages as Saillors during the Voyage—^4

I am Dr Sir with sincere Esteem & Regard Your obligd. & affe Servt