May it not displease yoúr Excellency that by this present we tútch upon the unhappy afair of St. Eústacia, we do realy pity them who will be loosers thereby, as it will be a terrible stroke and rúin many people, thank heaven oúr own loss and that of oúr frinds can not be by farr so great in this moment then it could have been; and we would willingly have sacrificd a múch larger Súmm in Case we could have prevented this generall Calamity, which by all probability should not have happend, if as the stronger Tories confess them Selfs oúr Navy had been sooner in a better order as it could and ought to have been.

Yoúr Excellency will certainly be informed that Coll. Lawrence Arrived in Eúrope. We heard it by some of oúr American Letters that came over in the same Vessell, and that a greater force was raised in America so as to act offensively which gave ús great pleasúre.

May all those tidings inflúence oúr Loan, and rise the Spirits of the Dútch, so as not to be seduced to an entire ignominy.

With all respectfúll regard We have the honoúr to be Honourd Sir, Yoúr Excellencys most devoted and most Obedient húmble Servants

I have recieved several Letters from You, but have been so busy signing my Name, that I could not answer.

I give You Joy of Laurens's Arrival—it is a great Event. I hope he brought You an important Paper, which Lovel mentions in his Letter to You, and Gerry in an excellent one to me.1

I rejoice Sir in your Honour, and in the public Good, but I feel myself weakened and grieved at the present loss of a Treasure of Advice and Ability. I hope to see You here in your Route.

Pray commit to writing all your Observations on our first Errand and give them to me. I hope your old Commission is not superseded.2 In Case of Negotiation, of which however there is no likelihood for Years, I shall summon You. Mr. Laurens must have Letters and important Papers for me. I hope to have them soon. There is no one knows the banking Comn.3 but Mr. De Neufville and me—it is not more however than Precedent—but let them lye about it if they will—I am not afraid of their Lyes. Statia is gone—and the Dutch are yet dead—when they will come to life I know not.