It is so very long since I had the Honor of hearing from your Excellency, that I am fearful your Excellency is out of order.1

I take the Liberty of informing your Excellency, that I shall leave this place the Tenth of next Month, in order to Conduct my Nephew2 to Nantes, where He will embark about the first of June for America. Should your Excellency have any Commands I can Answer for Him, He will execute them most Faithfully.

We have no News here. It is Supposed the Spanish fleet after having put on shore its Sick and taking refreshments the 27th. Ultimo put to sea again the 4th. Instant.

The Merchants and Traders of these Countries have laid before the Governor a memorial, wherein they state their losses by the English to amount to four Millions of Florins. Dispatches are sent to Vienna and to London on this Account.

I have reason to think your Excellency has recieved the Packet, which was negligently left at Valenciennes, and about which I was very Uneasy. I shall be glad to hear truth thereof confirmd.3

I am with the greatest Respect Sir Your Excellencys Most Faithful & Obedient Humble Servt.

Having recieved so many proofs of your Friendship and Civility to me personally, and being fully convinced as I am of your Ardent desire to be usefull to your Country and to render every Service in your power to each individual State, I beg leave as Agent for the State of Pennsylvania for the purpose of procuring a Loan of money in Holland for the use of that State to ask in this manner your opinion whether my longer Stay in Europe For the purpose abovementioned is likely to be attended with the Success that might be wished. I have already communicated to you my instructions from the President, Speaker of the Assembly, and Council, and have also informed you of the Steps I have taken to comply with their Instructions by every means in my power; It woud be unnecssary to tell you that my endeavours have been altogether unsuccessfull both in Holland and France, and from any thing I can find there is not the least prospect of my Succeeding in procuring Money on Loan for the State of Pennsylvania for a long time to come, if at all in Holland, or indeed from any other part of Europe. Thus disagreably circumstanced if you shoud be of opinion that there is but little or no prospect of my Succeeding in any reasonable time, (and for my own part I am clearly of that opinion) I shall think it my duty to return by the first good opportunity to America and give an account of the Situation of matters in Europe respecting Loans of money.1

I hope Sir for your indulgence in the liberty I take with you which nothing but the distress of mind I find myself sinking under coud induce me to do. I am with every Sentiment of Respect & Veneration Dr. Sir Your most Obliged & Obedt. Servant