I have received your Letter of the 28th. of June, and have conveyed your Letter to the Board of Treasury, by a Vessell which sails this Day for Rhode-Island—

I feel most sensibly for the Misfortune of your late associates, De La Lande & Fynje—and as their affairs are most probably irretrievable, it would be to no purpose to enquire how the disaster happened, or to make any Reflections upon it, any further than to enquire if there is any possible means of saving the interest of the United States, which was in their Hands. To this End Gentlemen, I 216must beg your most earnest Attention. Your situation and Intelligence, render you the only proper Persons to apply to upon the occasion And from your usual Promptitude, and Zeal in the service of the United States I am fully persuaded you will leave nothing undone which can preserve their Property.

I wish you Gentlemen to make dilligent Inquiry concerning their Property in America and to inform me, what has been the nature of their Connection with Mr. Geyer of London Mr. Ingraham of Philadelphia—the House of Shailor and Seaver at New York, and Mr. William Foster at Boston, and whether you think that any Proscess can be commenced against either, or the Effects of De La Lande & Fynje in the Hands of either, whereby the Interests of our Constituents may be secured—1

Lotter has arrived with my furniture, and I get into the House to day So that you will please to direct your future favours to me, “in Grosvenor Square at the Corner between Duke Street and Brook Street, Westminster—[”]

With great Esteem, I have the Honour to be / Gentlemen— / Your most Obedient / & most Humble sert.

I cannot omit the Opportunity of writing by Monsr de le Etombe who is going to France & will take the Care of this Letter. You must not expect it will be a long one. There are many Things which I wish to say to you, but the Tremor of my Hand is so increasd that I am put to Difficulty to guide my Pen.

Our Merchants are complaing bitterly that Great Britain is ruining their Trade, and there is great Reason to complain; but I think much greater, to complain of too many of the Citizens thro’ the Common wealth who are imitating the Britons in every idle Amusement & expensive Foppery which it is in their Power to invent for the Destruction of a young Country. Can our People expect to indulge themselves in the unbounded Use of every unmeaning & fantastick Extravagance because they would follow the Lead of Europeans, & not spend all their Money? You would be surprizd to see 217the Equipage, the Furniture & expensive Living of too many, the Pride & Vanity of Dress which pervades thro’ every Class, confounding every Distinction between the Poor & the Rich and evincing the Want both of Example & Oconomy

Before this reaches you, you will have heard of the Change in our cheife Magistrate. I confess it is what I have long wishd for. Our new Governor has issued his Proclamation for the Encouragement of Piety Virtue Education & Manners and for the Suppressing of Vice.1 This with the good Example of a first Magistrate & others may perhaps restore our Virtue.

Monsieur le Etomb’s true Decency of Manners has done honor to your Letter of Recommendation.2

Mrs A joins in sincere Respects to your Lady & Family. / Adieu my dear sir