At the receit of the two Letters you honoured us with,1 I went and laid before Dr. Franklin your observations, the first of which Letters he desired me to leave with him for his Consideration. Expecting to get it back every minute I put off answering you frum day to day, for which I beg your pardon, Dr. Franklin's enclosed answer2 stops my mouth respecting both the petit charges, and the method of settling with him. I shall only propose, in order to annull the article relating to Mr. Dana, that you dont like should stand in your account, to send you a fresh account, the ballance of which will be the same with that in your hands, and in which there will be no mention made of Mr. Dana, placing to your credit the 5/7 neat. If this meats with your approbation, you be pleased to return me the state of the account you have, which wont prevent your settling meantime with Dr. Franklin, the ballances of both accounts being the Same.

In your first you desire both your Cloath at Passy and Books in Town to be sent ye and in your last you only mention the Books. I shall endeavour to give you full Satisfaction in that point, but I should have liked to have your last Resolution, to know whether Cloaths and Books are to go, or the Books only. Be kind enough as to give me your Instructions about it.

I shall be very happy in rendering my services to Mr. Winston Warren3 and to evince you on all Occasions of the Sincere attachment with which I have the honour to be sir Your most obt. hble. st.

The long expected Courier has at last arrived at the Hague from Petersbourg. The Contents of his dispatches are not publick, but all hopes of immediate assistance from the armed Neutrality seem to be dissipated.1 The Question now is what is to be done next. Some are for Alliances with the House of Bourbon and America: but a thousand fears arise.

France, the Emperor and the Republick have Provinces so intermixed together in Brabant and Flanders, that it is supposed the Emperor would be much alarmed at an Alliance between France and Holland, lest they should soon agree to divide his Provinces between them. The People in these Provinces would it is supposed have no Objection. They all speak the French Language, are of the same Religion, and the Policy of France in governing conquered Provinces according to their ancient Usages, and with great Moderation, has taken away all aversion to a Change of Masters. Some People think, that an Alliance between France and Holland would occasion a general War. This I think would be a benefit to America, although Philanthropy would wish to prevent the further effusion of human Blood.

I have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble Servant