Boston. 10 February 1778. printed (virtually verbatim): JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:272. Deane recommended his nephew Jesse, the only son of Silas Deane, to JA's care for the trip abroad. He cautioned against allowing the boy to associate “with the Common hands on board” lest he form bad habits.

The week after Mr. C—— was appointed secretary,1 I saw the P.S. of a letter to Mr. S.A. in which he is said to be a very unworthy person, but he has so good a Character in the estimation of Congress and from Maryland Gentlemen, that I did not think proper to move for a power of Suspension to be given to the Commissioners, as I find it is the opinion of some here that the secretary should be independent.

I hope you will either give me your opinion before you go or write very early upon having conversed with Dr. Fr. and Mr. Lee.

I did not know whether the Commercial Committee had forwarded to you the Resolve of yesterday, therefore I send it on the other page.2 We are most horridly spunged3 by Mr. Le Balme and others who resigning their Commissions apply in forma pauperis or on pretences of a variety of kinds.4 I do not think it will do to make the Resolve hinted at by Dr. F. to me “that the Commissioners should be directed not to give even a letter of civil Introduction to any Foreigner,”5 but such letters are pleaded as a sort of implied Convention. Avoid them. Affectionately Yours