I received with Pleasure, your Letter by Col. Humphreys whom I have found in all respects the Man of Merit and Taste whom you describe, well qualified for the Office to which Congress has appointed him.1 The last Letters from New York have given me, some Anxiety on his Account. If the Commissions to which he is attached Should be dissolved, and no Provision be made for him, he will be in a Situation like that in which I was left in 1779, when Congress dissolved the Commission, in which Dr Franklin Dr Lee and myself were joined, and without Saying any Thing to me left me to get home as I could.2 I found the Circumstance too painfull to wish my worst Ennemy in it, much less So good a Man and So worthy a Friend as Mr Humphreys. He will not however have an Ennemy to apprehend at Sea as I had.— I Sincerely hope he will not be forgotten or neglected. You probably know, before this time, his Destination.

The Adjustment of our Commerce with Europe will require much time and deliberation, and I fear that the Limitation of the 62Authority of Congress to make Treaties of Commerce, will obstruct us for a time, and at length be found detrimental. it is true that every Enlargement of the Powers, of Congress, should be cautiously considered, but it seems very difficult to govern our Commerce abroad, in any other Way [than] under one direction.

There Appears to be an Apprehension in America that the English have hostile Intentions. Multitudes of them are indeed Sour and peevish, but I believe War is very far from the Thoughts of any Body especially of any Man in Power. and as soon as they have Settled with Ireland, I hope they will agree with Us. if they do not it is they who have the most to fear.

My Son who embarks in the May Packett for New York, will have the Honour to deliver you this Letter,3 as he passes through New Haven, if he Should fall down by Water from N. York to Newport. He is returning home, after an Absence of Seven Years, excepting about 3 months when he was there with me in 1779; and I hope he will make a good Citizen.

With great and Sincere Esteem I have / the Honour to be, Sir your most / obedient and most humble / Servant

I thank you sir for your favour of the 13th Decmber.1 I take up my pen to acknowledge it, & to Congratulate you on your Domestic Felicity in the Last Eight months. but shall not direct to you at the pleasant Villa of Auteuil: but to the Court of London, as it is probable before this you & your Family have left the Residence of the distinguished literati of France; perhaps for the Grotto of Pope,2 or 63some more Elegant spot immortalized as the abode of British Genius—for whom the Americans have, & would long Continue a prediliction. did not both the ministry & the people practice Every method of allienation. Yet possibly more Consiliating measures may be adopted, before the Negotiations ar far advanced. The Marcatile Class are very angry, while the Repulican Resents with Dignity the Late Restrictions on Commerce, They would be happy to see Every Nation in Europe take the same steps. provided we were therby obliged to live within ourselves (which we can very well do) & had wisdom and Virtue to retain our own principles & manners independantly supporting a National Character Respected for the Simplicity Magnanimity & Vigour. But Alas! the Weakness of Human Nature.— I fear we are already too far advanced in Every species of luxury, to Receede, though much more than our political salvation depended on the Reform. an avidity for pleasure has increassed with our Freedom, & a thirst of acquitition for Its support pushes to the most dangerous Experiments. And though sensible it is owing to the perversion of Reason, a Corruption of Taste & the Cravings of Artificial Neccessity which causes the Restless pursuit of objects seldom attainable. Yet Neither the Reasonings of the Philosopher nor the maxims of Religion, will bring back to that Mediocrity which ought to bound the wishes of Man. Either the people or the individual who has tasted the more Refined & Elegant accomodations of Life—

But to whom am I writing. I this moment Cast my Eye on a paragraph of yours. “I feel myself disposed to whine like Cicero in Exile.”3 & is it possible that you sir after 5 or 6 years spent in the most splendid Courts in Europe can look back & sigh for the Retirement & simplicity of Pens Hill. if you Really do, I pronounce you a Philosopher of the first Magnitude, & if Ever you Vollntarily return to that style. I think you will have a right to stand foremost on the list of Genuine Republians. you will at least have an Equal Claim to some Honourary Badge Emphatically Expressive of anciant Patriotism, as any of the Noble order of the Cincinnati— I dare not say more than Equal least I speak Treason—

A late Resignation you have doubtless heard off. And had you been with us when the period of annual Election Revolved it is probable your Country would have manifested some tokens of Gratitude by Giving you Their suffrages for the first office of state. Yet their is no dependence on the popular Voice. Their would have been 64a manuvering against it least you should have held it too long for the Convenience of another who means to come in again the next year.

There is such a blind attachment to this man of straw that I have little doubt he will have the opportunity of Establishing himself for life, perhaps the power of Entailing an Hereditary succession. if that should be the Case many would Cry “Come over into Macedonia & help us.[”]4 for I cannot suppose you think we are yet quite ripe for Monarchic Goverment—

I am very sorry you Complain so much of your Eyes. Yet I dare say your optical Faculties are still strong Enough to discern. & I hope to Remove many Political Errors on Each side the Atlantic.5

But why do I spend a Moment on these subjects. I have not one to loose when duty dos not Direct to some point of utility—or the social affections interest from the part those have to act with whom we are tenderly Connected.

But before I conclude, you sir will Give me leave to observe, that I have lived long Enough to be Convinced that we must pass through the world ourselves in order to know it thoroughly.

Neither the page of History nor the Experienced lessons of those who have Gone before us, Can investigate the Character of Man, or Develope the Human Mind, till we see the Blunders of public, & feel the ingratitude & Baseness of private Men.

The one I doubt not you will allways be quick sighted Enough to discern. the other I wish you may never be thoroughly taught. for with all your thirst for science you will be Happier to die without the aquirment of this knowledge.

I have indeed seen Mrs Macauley. she has been treated in Boston & Its Environs with Every mark of Respect. she is a Lady of most Exsteordinary talents, A Commanding Genius & Brilliance of Thought. this in my opinion often out runs her Capacity of Expression which is often a little too prolix both in Conversation & Compotition, or Rather the Period, are a little too lenghthy to please at once— I dare say this will be Corrected in future as one of her american Friends had the Courage to tell her of it. she Replied she beleived the observation just, as she had always aimed more at the investigation of truth than the ornaments of style. but I think in this age of Refinement the Graces of the Latter, ought to soften the harshness of the Former, & prevent the mind from Fatigue while listening, to the Humiliating story of Human Conduct—

We have a subscription out for an American Edition of her History65 down to 1744. It fills very fast, & I dare say will succeed to her Wishes.

It was kind in you to wish the World would spread a Vail of Candour over a Circumstance you mentioned. doubtless that Ladys Independency of spirit led her to suppose she might associate, for the remainder of life with an inoffensive obliging youth, with the same impunity a Gentleman of three score & ten might marry a Damsel of fifteen—6

Mr Warren perhaps will not write by this ship. we had short Notice. He is Going a Journey And the season requires his Care & attention.— in his private Walks But in whatever Departments or wherever he resides be assured You have Their a Friend. You know his attachments are strong & when he likes or dislikes, Either men or measures, The shaking of a leaf will not alter his opinion.

We wish for some of Your Excellent long letters.— some in that style directed to him at Philadelphia, Depend upon it were not useless, Either to you, or to your Country, Though from a Concurrence of Circumstances he was not Their.

I will not tell you his opinions with regard to our present situation. He will do it Himself Ere long.7 He has wrote You very perticularly several times since Mrs Adams left us. I beleive the intercourse will be more secure while you Reside in England

A Pleasing Circumstance to your Friends—perticularly / to yours / Respectfully—