I received a few days ago your letter of April 27th: which was forwarded to me from London. My stay there was much longer than I had expected when I went from this place. I returned here about two months ago.

The time when you wrote was indeed a critical moment in the state of our political affairs. I was before I came from England witness to the effect produced there by the resolutions past in the House of Representatives in Congress, and which led to an expectation that a resolve to violate the treaty by a refusal to provide for its execution would soon follow; nor am I at all surprised that the general opinion in America was that such a resolve would have produced a war between the two Countries. I have no doubt myself but it would; not perhaps an immediate declaration; but the western posts would have been kept, no indemnity for past depredations would have been procured, and much greater and more extensive ones would have ensued; in the irritated state of the public mind in America, there is no doubt but that such circumstances would very soon have 343 produced a war, in which our commerce must have shared the fate experienced now by that of France and Holland, and in which we should not have had like France an opportunity to console ourselves for the total ruin and annihilation of our trade by the splendor of victory and conquest by land. We should have lost the blessings of peace, without being compensated by the trophies of war.

But soon after you wrote, the resolve of the house to make the necessary appropriations made a total alteration in the aspect of our affairs. It restored that confidence in the good faith of the United States, which had been very much suspended for a number of months past; it induced a general expectation that we should preserve our Neutral policy through the whole war, and revived the credit, which had in some degree been affected by the previous occurrences since the last summer.

I am very sorry to learn that Coll: Smith has suffered so much in his property as you mention by the depredations of the British. Their conduct has indeed been such in many instances as makes it difficult to restrain our resentment within the bounds of discretion. When we suffer injustice we can seldom prevail upon ourselves to reflect that the misfortune proceeded from the inevitable nature of things, and those who enjoy the benefits of Neutrality in a time of Maritime war, cannot be indemnified for the particular and individual losses, either by the general prosperity of the Country or by the consideration that partial depredations have universally been inseparable, from a state of things, which while it encreases and extends the pacific trade of neutrality, necessarily subjects it to the examination of the armed vessels of both parties.—I sincerely hope however, that you will have no vicissitude of fortune to regret; though I do not imagine that in your opinion the happiness of our lives depends upon splendid wealth, yet I am fully sensible that it is painful to reduce the scale of enjoyments to which we have been accustomed.

I had the pleasure of seeing frequently while I was in England your friend Mrs: Copley and her family. Her son has I suppose already returned or soon will from America. The whole family of Mr: Johnson always speak of you in the most friendly and affectionate terms. They have been these two or three years preparing to go to America, but have not yet been able to get away from England, they still expect to go this Summer or the next, but I am still doubtful whether they will not wait yet another year. The ladies are not so good sailors as you are.

Our brother Thomas is well, though while I was absent, he had a very severe seasoning to the climate of this Country.

Remember me kindly to the Coll: and your children, and believe me to be with the sincerest affection your brother.

I have just received my lovely friend, your letters of the 24th: and 25th: of last month. I perceive by the former that my long letter of the 9th: had not reached you. I have hitherto written by vessels going directly from this Country to England, supposing that would be the shortest conveyance; but I believe after all the packet from Hamburg is the safest. I will in future write you by that way too. I readily believe your impatience to hear from me, for I have felt all the force of the same sentiment myself.— But never suffer an idea for a moment to enter your mind, that it is possible absence can erase your remembrance from my heart or weaken the affection it feels for you—No, my best friend; to you it is devoted; from you all its hopes of domestic happiness in this life are derived, and while it laments the absence to which we are at this moment condemned, it hopes it will not continue long, and rejoyces in the flattering anticipation that you will soon partake of all its pleasures, and alleviate all its cares.

I am persuaded it will give you pleasure to know, that your letter of the 25th: was the first to announce me the new appointment with which I am honoured by the Government of the United States. Among many which came together, from my father, from my mother, from the American Secretary of State, from several other friends, In short from all whom I most love and revere on Earth, yours was of course the first to draw my attention and perusal, so that the official Letter itself giving me notice of the appointment, only confirmed the information which your’s had given me already.1

I have just received my lovely friend, your letters of the 24th: and 25th: of last month. I perceive by the former that my long letter of the 9th: had not reached you. I have hitherto written by vessels going directly from this Country to England, supposing that would be the shortest conveyance; but I believe after all the packet from Hamburg is the safest. I will in future write you by that way too. I readily believe your impatience to hear from me, for I have felt all the force of the same sentiment myself.— But never suffer an idea for a moment to enter your mind, that it is possible absence can erase your remembrance from my heart or weaken the affection it feels for you— No, my best friend; to you it is devoted; from you all its hopes of domestic happiness in this life are derived, and while it laments the absence to which we are at this moment condemned, it hopes it will not continue long, and rejoyces in the flattering anticipation that you will soon partake of all its pleasures, and alleviate all its cares.

I am persuaded it will give you pleasure to know, that your letter of the 25th: was the first to announce me the new appointment with which I am honoured by the Government of the United States. Among many which came together, from my father, from my mother, from the American Secretary of State, from several other friends, in short from all whom I most love and revere on Earth, yours was of course the first to draw my attention and perusal, so that the official Letter itself giving me notice of the appointment, only confirmed the information which your’s had given me already.1

I shall write you soon again, but in order to ensure the conveyance by which I send this letter, I have only time to tell you now, that with the notice of my new destination, I am ordered to remain here in my present character, untill I shall receive further advices. 345 Certain circumstances make it probable that I shall not be directed to proceed on the new mission for several months to come, and I know not what my orders may be as to the course I am to take. At present I know not of any thing that will prevent me from taking London in my way; and as little as I like that place, I shall anxiously wish to see it once more for the sake of taking you as the companion for the remainder of the Journey or Voyage, and of my life.— I shall inform you as soon as possible, if my Instructions permit me to come to you, as I most ardently hope, and am inclined to believe they will, though it is probable as I observed before that I shall be still detained here untill the Winter or perhaps the Spring ensuing.

I mention these circumstances to you in the most perfect and exclusive confidence.— Some People say the Ladies cannot keep secrets; but I am convinced the observation does not apply to you.— You will be sensible that when I communicate to you particulars of orders from my Government, I am justified only by the full conviction that it is for you alone that the information can be intended.

Farewell my ever dear and amiable friend. I shall soon write you more at length: in the mean time remember me affectionately to your Pappa and Mamma, and Sisters, and be assured of the unceasing and unabating attachment of your friend.