I have just received your esteemed letter of 1 May and am replying at once.

Your son comports himself with all the sense and manners of a wellbrought-up young man. He is the favorite of Madame Dumas, and we have every indication that he finds our company as agreeable as we do his. He has not forgotten his mother tongue, speaks very good French, and can 471make himself understood in German and Dutch. For several days he enjoyed the company here of his traveling companion, Mr. Hardouin of Le Havre, who will have the honor of bringing you a letter from him.1 They went riding together. A promenade by the fair, which we have this week, presents so lively and brilliant a tableau that we are postponing until next week our philosophical discussions in the woods and in chambers. But from next Monday on we shall strive to emulate Scipio and Lællus.2 The States of Holland, which separated this morning, has just set us an example by going home to rest until Wednesday the 28th; Mr. Van Berckel in the arms of his future wife, and the others . . ., they have not confided in me.

I understand perfectly, sir, the truth of what you say in the last two paragraphs of your letter. And, like you, I am astonished that we have no news from America, not even the ratification of your treaty of 7 October last. On 4 May there came into the Texel the ship Congress, Jn. Keddy, from Philadelphia, but if it brought dispatches, I think I should have heard something by now.

Accept, sir, the respects of my family and the assurances of mine, with which I am your excellency's very humble and very obedient servant