I beg you would excuse me to my dear friends, to whom I cannot write so often as I wish. I have indispensable duties which take up all my time, and require more than I have.

General Washington has done me great honor and much public service by sending me authentic accounts of his own and General Greene's last great actions. They are in the way to negotiate peace. It lies wholly with them. No other ministers but they and their colleagues in the army can accomplish the great event.

I am keeping house, but I want a housekeeper. What a fine affair it would be, if we could flit across the Atlantic as they say the angels do, from planet to planet! I would dart to Penn's hill and bring you over on my wings; but, alas, we must keep house separately for some time. But one thing I am determined on. If God should please to restore me once more to your fireside, I will never again leave it without your ladyship's company no, not even to go to Congress at Philadelphia, and there I am determined to go, if I can make interest enough to get chosen, whenever I return. I would give a million sterling that you were here; and I could afford it as well as Great Britain can the thirty millions she must spend, the ensuing year, to complete her own ruin. Farewell, farewell.

LETTER CLXXXIV.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

Amsterdam, 18 December, 1781.

I HAVE letters from Mr. Dana and his young attendant' at St. Petersburg. Both well and in good spirits. Letters to Mrs. Dana and to you go by Captain Trowbridge and by Dr. Dexter. I have no certain news as yet of Charles's sailing from Bilboa, but I presume he is sailed. You will have suffered great anxiety on his account, but I pray he may arrive safe. I acted for the best when I consented he should go with Gillon, little expecting that he would be landed in Spain again. Keep him to his studies, and send him to college, where I wish his brother John was.

I am

My health is feeble, but better than it was. busy enough, yet not to much perceptible purpose as yet. There is no prospect at all of peace. Let our people take care of their trade and privateers next year. They have not much of a land war to fear. General Washington has struck the most sublime stroke of all in that article of the capitulation which reserves the tories for trial by their peers. This has struck toryism dumb and dead. I expect that all the rancor of the refugees will be poured out upon Cornwallis for it. Our enemies now really stand in a

ridiculous light. They feel it, but cannot take the resolution to be wise. The Romans never saw but one caudine forks in their whole history. Americans have shown the Britons two in one war. But they must do more. Remember, you never will have peace, while the Britons have a company of soldiers at liberty within the United States. New York must

be taken, or you will never have peace. time.

All in good

The British army estimates are the same as last year. The navy less by several ships of the line. What can these people hope for? I fancy the southern States will hold their heads very high. They have a right. They will scarcely be overrun again, I believe, even in the hasty manner of Cornwallis. Burgoyne don't seem to be affronted that his nose is out of joint. He is in good spirits. Experience has convinced him, so I hope it has Cornwallis, that the American war is impracticable. The flower, the

choice of the British army was with him. The King of England consoles his people under all their disgraces, disasters and dismal prospects, by telling them that they are brave and free. It is a pity for him that he did not allow the Americans to be so seven years ago. But the great designs of Providence must be accomplished. Great indeed! The progress of society will be accelerated by centuries by this revolution. The Emperor of Germany is adopting, as fast as he can, American ideas of toleration and religious liberty, and it will become the fashionable system of all Europe very soon. Light spreads from the day

spring in the west, and may it shine more and more until the perfect day! Duty to parents. Love to brothers, sisters and children. It is not in the power of worlds to express the tenderness with which I bid you farewell.

LETTER CLXXXV.

The Hague, 25 July, 1782.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

In this country, as in all others, men are much addicted to " hobby horses." These nags are called in the language of the Dutch "Liefhebbery," as they are called in French "Marotte." I had rather ride a Dutch hobby horse than an English one, or a French. It is the wholesomest exercise in the world. They live to great age by the strength of it.

My meaning is this. They pitch in early life upon some domestic amusement, which they follow all their days at leisure hours. I shall give you the history of several. Iyesterday made a visit to one, a M. Lionet, a venerable old man of seventy-five, in full health, strength and vivacity, respectable for several offices which he holds, but more so for vast learning in various kinds, and great ingenuity. His hobby horse has been natural knowledge. We went to see a collection of marine shells. We were two hours, and had

not got half through. The infinite variety of figures and colors is astonishing.

But his curiosity has not been confined to shells. It has extended to insects, and he has had it in contemplation to write as full an account of these, as Buffon has written of birds, beasts and fishes. But beginning with caterpillars, he has filled a folio upon that species, and he drew and engraved the plates himself. Thus he rode his hobby horse and lived. Without it he would have died fifty years ago. Have you an inclination to read and inspect cuts of the anatomy of caterpillars- their nerves, blood, juices, bones, hair, senses, intellects, &c., &c., their moral sense, their laws, government, manners and customs. I don't know whether he teaches the manner of destroying them and saving the apple tree. I doubt not the book is worth studying. All nature is so. But I have too much to do to study men and their mischievous designs upon apple trees and other things, ever to be very intimate with Monsieur Lionet (whom I respect very much, however,) or his book.

LETTER CLXXXVI.

Adieu.

[Hague,] 31 August, 1782.

ALL well-you will send these papers to some

printer when you have done with them.