I am now to acknowledge the honor of your favor of the 8th of November, No. 2, and to thank you for the remittance of £16,666.13s. through your attention by Mr L. R. Morris.
I thank you, Sir, most sincerely for your kind condolence. I have not yet had resolution enough to inquire into the “cause and manner,” nor dare I indulge myself in speaking of a subject, which too much occupies my thoughts and distresses my mind, in all the moments of retirement.
This will be delivered by Mr John Deas, a young gentleman, native of South Carolina, educated in Britain, who means to become a citizen in his own country. I have every ground for hoping he will be a valuable member of the community; hence I have encouraged him to expect a cordial and hospitable reception. I should observe in Mr Deas’ favor, that he has been long endeavoring to return to America; he once embarked at Ostend, and suffered shipwreck on the coast of England, to his great loss and disappointment.
I have the honor to be, &c.
TO THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
London, April 5th, 1783.
Sir,
With this you will receive the triplicate of a letter, which I had the honor of writing on the 15th of March. I beg leave to refer to its contents. A third bill, called “an amendment for a provisional establishment, and regulation of trade, &c.” had been brought into the House of Commons. My opinion was again solicited by different members, which, as usual, I thought it prudent to withhold; but being pressed, I at length framed a supposed American bill, for regulating commerce with Great Britain, and suggested that it had been received by a courier. This I held up as a mirror to some of the most active men in that House. From that time, the 22d of March, their own bill, which was to have been finished on the 23d, has slept with very little interruption, and is now, to all appearance, dead. I do not ascribe its demise to a sight of the supposed bill, a copy of which you will receive enclosed, although the gentlemen acknowledged themselves affected by it.