I have recd. your festina lente Letter,2 but wh wish it had been, at least partly, in Cypher; you need not be informed of my Reasons for this wish, as by this Time you must know that Seals are, on this Side of the Water, rather Matters of Decoration, than of use— It gave me nevertheless great Pleasure to recieve that Letter; it being the first from You that had reached me the Lord knows when: except indeed a few Lines covering your Correspondence with a Don.3

I find you are industrious, and of Consequence useful—so much the better for yourself, for the public, and for our Friend Morris, whom I consider as the Pillar of american Credit.

The King of Great Britain by Letters patent under the Great Seal, has authorized Mr Oswald to treat with the Commissioners of the United States of America— His first Commission litterally pursued the enabling Act, and the Authority it gave him was expressed in the very Terms of that Act vizt. to treat with the Colonies, and with any or either of them, and any part of them, and with any Description of Men in them, and with any Person whatsoever, of and concerning Peace &ca—

Had I not violated the Instructions of Congress their Dignity would have been in the Dust for the french Minister even took Pains not only to perswade us to treat under that Commission but to prevent the second by telling Fitzherbert that the first was sufficient. I told the Minister that we neither could nor would treat with any nation in the World on any other than an equal footing.—4

We may, and we may not have a peace this Winter— Act as if the War would certainly continue—keep proper Garrisons in your strong posts, and preserve your Army sufficiently numerous, and well appointed until every Idea of Hostility and Surprize shall have compleatly vanished

I could write you a volume, but my Health admits only of short Intervals of application—

present my best Wishes to Mr and Mrs. Morris, Mr & Mrs Meredith and such other of our Friends as may ask how we do— I am dear Morris, very much Yours