I have the honour to inclose you a printed paper1 which will explain itself. When Mr. Jay ^Lear^ secretary to Gen: Washington was in ^Scotland^ he was some days at my castle in the Country2 this country I discovered it to him and he. I informed him of the discovery and he thought the discovery ^it would^ would be of great consequence to America I therefore offered to communicate my Arts to him and to teach him to make the Articles from the Yeast with his own hands The Articles were spirits from corn Spirits ^and^ from Molasses or Sugar, Worts, small beer, Seamen’s beer, Strong Beer, and porter and Bread.

My terms were Oath of Secrecy with a high penalty on the breach of it. 2dly: After the trial made by his own hands, he was to be at liberty either to begin or not as he thought proper, and he was liberty to stop when he thought proper Lastly I was to have half the profit but not a penny unless he gained a certain Number of per cents which would probably be left to himself. to fix ^be thought proper to fix^ He was in a hurry to go to London, but agreed to come back and I to teach him my Arts. But I afterwards received a Letter from him in Ireland, that as there seemed danger of a breach between America and England he did not think it honorable to take advantage of my discovery, when a Breach between the Nations may disappoint one of the effects of my the agreement; A mark of Delicacy and honour, which I assure you makes me very partial to him, Added to the steady Sense, and enlarged views which I saw in him.

The danger between America and England being now over, thanks to the Almighty Gen: Washington and you, I wish to renew the treaty. But I forgot the Name of the house in the City of which he is a partner. I must therefore intreat you to deliver the Inclosed paper to that house, after reading it carefully yourself, and also to communicate to them the letter which I am now writing

The profits are beyond all Measure. 1st: With regard to distilling One Gallon of yeast powder ^ [illegible] each [illegihle] which sells here at 2/ p lb^ does the work of 500 Gallons of Dunder,3 which I believe is your ferment in America. ^But the profit is extravagant it could be made in Ame:[rica] for six pence per pounds With regard to its merit, I refer you to Dr. Higgins’4 report in the inclosed paper.

With regard to beer, a Quarter of Malt or half a Quarter and ^with^ half a hundred Weight of Molasses or a quarter hund: Wt of Raw Sugar, will make 136 lb of Wort cake each of which will make ^136^ ^136 lbs of Wort cake each pound of which^ will make 3 barrels of strong Beer or Porter used proportionally 136 lb Wortcake, which sells at a pence ^a shilling^ pence a pound, but could be made in America for four pence I believe in my conscience that as much wort cake could be made at Washington town, as would serve all America and half of Europe with Beer.

With regard to hops, I got a bit of wood from Jamaica which cost almost nothing, and made an Infusion from it, which made part of the Wort Cake. And this infusion can be got from Jamaica or made there into cake. And I doubt not there are other bitter woods in the West Indies ^America^ which would do as well You may ask Botanists and let me know the Names of the Plants. But if you have hops in America this would be needless: for they may be made then the Hop cake may be made in America in the places where the hops grow, and sent to Washington town in that state, by which 98 percent of freight may ^would^ be saved: to which is to be added this other advantage, that far more ^and better^ infusion, and consequently Hop cake can be got from hops in a green state, than in a dry state. But the British laws force the raiser of hops to sell them in a dry state, which the American Laws do not do

This leads me to a great object, and a sure way to make a great fortune indeed if the Americans had Barley and hops, because then, both could be made either together or separately into cake, and sent to Britain. ^But^ the Wort cake would not serve distillers cause the duty is too high and on foreign Materials, nor the public Brewer because he is prohibited to use it. But it may b those who Brew in private families may use what Materials they please ^either wort cake or hop cake^ Now the brewing by private families in England is one third of the public Brewery and consequently consumes three Millions of Quarters of Malt ^and a third of the hops used^ and those who use it the wort cake ^all of it^ would pay neither Malt tax nor Excise ^nor Hop duty^ and only 33 perCent ad valorem upon importation, which last would serve the English Revenue because at present private families pay no Excise

I have heard that you have little Barley in America but a vast quantity of wheat. Wheat will malt and make Beer as easily as Barley. I do not know whether the British would drink it but one half of Europe would ^will^ drink it because they do so now

If you can serve your own fortune by Joining Mr Jay Lear’s house I should be very happy. I beg that Mr Jay ^Lear’s^ house and you will do me the honour to Answer this letter

I shall send you another copy of the printed paper to morrow which I beg you will forward to Genl. Washington the most ^great &^ virtuous character of this Age

You and I were once at Madrid together upon the same errand5 I hope we shall be better acquainted.

The post running off I have no time to make a fair copy of this letter I have the honour to be with the highest respect your most obedient humble Servant