Your Letter of the 11. with the Copy of that from M. Le Comte de Vergennes of 31. of Decr. I had the Honour to receive by the last post. By, your leaving it to me to judge how far it is proper for me to accept further Draughts on Mr Laurens, with any Expectation of your enabling me to pay them, I am Somewhat embarrassed. If I accept any Bill at all it must be in full Confidence of your paying it, for there is not a Possibility, of my getting any Money here.

I lately applied to one of the first Houses, an old Dutch House, which has traded to america an hundred years, and whose Credit is as clear and Solid as any one in the Republick.1 I asked him, frankly if he would undertake a Loan for me. His answer was, sir I thank you for the Honour you do me. I know the Honour and the Profit that would accrue to any house, from such a Trust. I have particular Reasons of my own, of Several sorts, to be willing to undertake it, and I will tell you frankly, I will make the necessary Enquiries and give you an answer, in two days. And if I find it possible to Succeed, I will undertake it. But there are four Persons, who have the whole affair of Loans through the Republick under their Thumbs, these Persons are united, if you gain one you gain all, and the Business is easy, but without them there is not one house in this Republick can Suceed in any Loan.

After the two days, he called on me, to give me an account of his Proceedings. He Said he first waited upon one of the Regency, and asked him if it was proper for him to put in a Requete and ask leave, to open Such a Loan. He was answered he had better Say nothing to the Regency, about it, for they would either give him no answer at all, which was most probable, or say, it was improper for them to interfere, either of which answers would do more hurt than good. It was an affair of Credit, which he might undertake, without asking Leave, for the Regency, never interfered to prevent Merchants from getting Money. With this answer he went to one of the undertakers, whose answer was, that at least untill there was a Treaty, it would be 215impossible to get the Money. As soon as that Event should happen he was ready to undertake it.

I have been uniformly told that these four or five Persons had such a despotick Influence over Loans, I have heretofore sounded them in various Ways, and the Result is that I firmly believe they receive ample Salaries, upon the express Condition that they resist an american Loan. There is a Phalanx, formed by British Ministry Dutch Court, Proprietors of English stocks and great mercantile Houses in the Interest of the British Ministry,2 that Support these undertakers and are supported by them.

We may therefore reckon boldly that We shall get nothing here, unless in the form of the late five millions, lent to the King of France and warranted by the Republick, untill there is a Treaty.

I believe however I shall venture to accept the Bills, of which I have given you notice in hopes of your Succeeding better than your fears.

Yesterday was brought me, one more Bill drawn on Mr Laurens on the 6. July 1780 for 550 Guilders, No. 145. I have asked time to write to your Excellency about this too, and shall wait your answer before I accept it.

I answered your letter of the 14th. of Decr: on the 2/13th.1 inst: by post. I have also wrote to Mr: T. through the same channel, and enclosed the paper from France which you desired I wou’d send you.2 I have no copy of Spain’s. I have seen Russia and Austria to France but ’tis not probable I cou’d obtain a copy of that if I asked for it; I am loth to make a request there, which may not be granted, as it wou’d give him uneasiness to refuse it; yet I want exceedingly to have it. I will feel about, and try if I cannot be gratified with it. If I am, you shall have it by the earliest opportunity. All as yet stands well between us, and if I had the language I wou’d cultivate 216the acquaintance with more assiduity. There are some persons about him exceedingly agreable—I am in statu quo. I believe there is no mischief plotting against us, and therefore I am the more patient. Sometime past I intimated to you that I wished to communicate a matter of some consequence to you but that I dared not to do it unless by a private opportunity. I shall bear it in mind and give it to you as soon as it may safely be done. In my opinion ’tis a clue to the conduct of the Gentleman to whom you say you gave your sentiments in detail on a certain occasion, so far, at least, as respects the advice I received from him but did not follow.—Mr: T. speaks of the particular mediation between Britain and Holland under the sole conduct of the illustrious Sovereign of this Empire: but, it is my opinion, that all her kind offices to affect a reconciliation between two Nations seperat’d by political objects of such magnitude, will be exerted in vain, unless Britain shou’d be much more humbled than at present: so that I believe the matter will never come to what he calls “one of their short referendums.” However another Russian Minister will be with you upon that business shortly.3

I wait with some impatience for your promised letter;4 but upon this subject I must give some further cautions. It will be adviseable for you to write upon paper nearly similar to this (you have some of the same) and to fold up your letters after the same manner, and seal them with wafers only, and then cover them as before. But besides if you have any letters to forward to me of a different size and fold than what commonly passes between Merchant and Merchant, after covering them to Messrs: Strahlborn & Wolf, direct them to Messrs: de Bruyn & Co: at Riga with a request to forward them under their cover and seal to those Gentlemen. Some of my last letters came in this way (as they tell me) forwarded by Messrs: de Lande & Finje of Amsterdam. Though the expence of postage will be considerably greater yet there is a very particular reason for pursuing this course.

Mr: T. has enclosed me the answer of the Gentn:5 you consulted upon a certain matter for me. He has stated as moderately as I expected, his present benefits vize at abt 218. or 220£ sterlg: a year. He has not said what sum he shou’d expect from me, but has said, I believe very truly, that his affairs become daily more advantageous and solid—that he shou’d expect to have some hopes of a maintenance and of preferment in case. The latter you know I cou’d not procure for him; and indeed there cannot be the least prospect of its taking place, Congress from principles perhaps of œconomy, I believe, will not make any such appointments in future, and in this I think they 217are right. A maintenance he most certainly wou’d have, for living with me, his apparel washg. &c woud be his principal expences. I shou’d not hesitate to give him £150. or 200£ sterlg: a year. But as I hinted to you in my last, I cou’d not give him any encouragement even of this, while my own stipend remains as it does. If therefore Congress shou’d not explain themselves upon my letter written from Paris (which I shew to you) to my advantage, my stay here will not be long. I cou’dn’t entertain the least thought of inviting him to my assistance. He will therefore not think of the matter any further unless he hears directly from me upon the subject. He may rely upon it I shall always treat him with candour and shall make my propositions openly to him, whenever it will suit my own circumstances. He will then judge whether they will agree with his. May I beg you to present him my regards and to assure him he has much of my confidence and esteem not only for the services he has already rendered our Country but on account of his great personal worth, and that I shou’d really be happy to have an occasion to reward his Merit.

I hope you will be so kind as to permit a copy to be taken of General Washington’s Miniature picture for me. Mr: T. will readily seek out the Limner who took one for Mr: Parker, if a better is not to be found.6 That I think, was well executed. I shou’d be glad this might be done as soon as may be, and that some safe opportunity may be sought out to forward it to me. Let it be put into a little case as your’s.

Your Son is in high health, he pursues his Latin—has translated Corn: Nep:7 throughout, and is just begining upon Cicero’s Orations. Do you think ’tis time for him to read History, and which shou’d you prefer? I have subscribed to the British Library here where there is a good collection of English Authors.8 Wou’d it not be adviseable that he shou’d compose in French, and to that end that he shou’d write you in French?9 You will please to give him such directions as you think best for the persuit of his studies.