not yet acknowledged by their courts. I had heard here by good luck, that the same resolution was taken by several of them not to return the visits I should make them (as they supposed) when I was first received here as Minister Plenipotentiary, and I disappointed their project by visiting none of them. In my private opinion the first civility is due from the old resident to the stranger and new comer. My opinion indeed is good for nothing against custom, which I should have obeyed, but for the circumstances, that rendered it more prudent to avoid disputes and affronts, though at the hazard of being thought rude or singular. While I am writing, something ridiculous enough on this head has hap pened to me. The Comte du Nord, who is son to the Empress of Russia, arriving at Paris, ordered, it seems, cards of visit to be sent to all the foreign ministers. One of them, on which was written LE COMTE DU NORD ET LE PRINCE BARIATINSKI, was brought to me. It was on Monday evening last. Being at court the next day I enquired of an old minister, my friend, what was the etiquette, and whether the Comte received visits. The answer was, This is done here

Non. On se fait écrire. Voilà tout. by passing the door, and ordering your name to be written in the porter's book. Accordingly, on Wednesday I passed the house of Prince Bariatinski, ambassador of Russia, where the Comte lodged, and left my name on the list of each. I thought no more of the matter.. But this day, May 24, comes the servant who brought the card, and in a great affliction, saying he was like to be ruined by his mistake in bringing the card here, and wishing to obtain from me some paper of I know not what kind, for I did not see him. In the afternoon came my friend, Mr. Le Roy, who is also a friend of the Prince's, telling me how much he, the Prince, was concerned at the accident; that both himself and the Comte had great personal regard for me, and my character,

but that our independence not yet being acknowledged by the court of Russia, it was impossible for him to permit himself to make me a visit as minister. I told Mr. Le Roy it was not my custom to seek such honors, though I was very sensible of them when conferred upon me; that I should not have voluntarily intruded a visit; and that in this case I had only done what I was informed the etiquette required of me. But if it would be attended with any inconvenience to Prince Bariatinski, whom I much esteemed and respected, I thought the remedy was easy; he had only to raze my name out of his book of visits received, and I would burn their card.

All the northern princes are not ashamed of a little civility, committed towards an American. The King of Denmark travelling in England under an assumed name, sent me a card expressing in strong terms his esteem for me, and inviting me to dinner with him at St. James's. And the ambassador from the King of Sweden lately asked me whether I had powers to make a treaty of commerce with their kingdom, for he said, his master was desirous of such a treaty with the United States, bad directed him to ask me the question, and had charged him to tell me, that it would flatter him greatly to make it with a person whose character he so much esteemed, &c. Such compliments might probably make me a little proud, if we Americans were not naturally as much so already as the porter, who being told he had with his burthen jostled the great Czar Peter, (then in London, walking the street,) poh! said he, we are all Czars here.

I did not write by Mr. Oswald to Mr. Laurens, because from some expressions in his last to me, I expected him here, and I desired Mr. Oswald, if he found him still in London, or met him on the road, to give him that reason. am disappointed in my expectation, for I have now received (May 25) the following letter from him.

SIR,

Ostend, May 17, 1782. .

I had the honor of addressing you under the 30th ultimo by post, a duplicate of which will accompany this in order to guard against the effect of a miscarriage in the first instance, and I beg leave to refer to the contents.

On the 10th current, and no sooner, your very obliging favor of the 20th preceding reached me in London. Being then on the point of leaving that place, I deferred a reply until my arrival on this side; this happened yesterday too late to catch the post of the day, except by a single letter, put into my hands, I believe, by Doctor Price, which I sent forward. I sincerely and heartily thank you, Sir, for the cordial contents of your last letter, but from the most mature reflection, and taking in consideration my present very infirm state of health, I have resolved to decline accepting the honor intended me by congress in the commission for treating with Great Britain, and I find the less difficulty in coming to this determination from a persuasion in my own mind that my assistance is not essential, and that it was not the view or expectation of our constituents that every one named in the commission should act. I purpose to repair to, or near to, Mr. Adams, and enquire of him whether I may yet be serviceable under the commission to which I had been first appointed, that for borrowing money for the use of the United States; if he speaks in the affirmative, I shall, though much against my own grain, as is well known at our little court, proceed in the mission with diligence and fidelity; otherwise I shall take a convenient opportunity of returning to give an account there, of having in the course of two years and upwards done nothing, excepting only the making a great number of rebels in the enemy's country, and reconciling thousands to the doctrine of absolute and unlimited independence-a doctrine which I asserted and maintained

with as much freedom in the Tower of London, as ever I had done in the State House at Philadelphia, and having contentedly submitted to the loss of my estate, and being ready to lay down my life in support of it, I had the satisfaction of perceiving the coming in of converts every day. I must not however conclude this head without assuring you, that should you think proper to ask questions respecting American commerce, or the interest of any particular state, I will answer with candor, and the best judgment I am possessed of, but of that judgment I sincerely protest I have the utmost diffidence. God prosper your proceedings in the great work; you shall be called blessed by all the grateful of the present generation, and your name will be celebrated by posterity. I feel myself happy in reflecting that in the great outlines for treaty our opinions exactly coincide, that we shall not want the countenance and assistance of our great, and good ally, and that you have so honest a man as Mr. Oswald to deal with for preliminaries: I know him to be superior to all chicanery, and am sure, he will not defile his mind by attempting any dirty thing.

I intreat you, Sir, to present my humble respects to M. de Vergennes, and thank his Excellency for his polite expressions respecting me, and be so good as to say all that shall appear necessary in excuse for my non-appearance at his court.

Lord Cornwallis called on me the day before I left, London, and was, as you may suppose, very anxious to know, when he might probably hear from me on the subject of his release let me therefore request your opinion in answer to what I had the honor of writing in my last concerning that affair. I wish it may prove satisfactory to his lordship, by enabling me, with your consent and concurrence, to cancel a debt which does not sit easy upon, and which cannot, with honor to our country, remain unpaid. I think we shall

not, 'tis impossible we should, incur displeasure, by doing au act of common justice, and our authority may be fairly implied.

"His lordship declares he has no intention of returning to America, but desires to be reinstated in his legislative and military characters in his own country, and I am of opinion that in the former station he will be rather friendly to us than otherwise for my own part, if the war continues, I should not be uneasy if his lordship were to go to Chesapeke again.

I have a thousand compliments and good wishes to present to you from friends in England, where males and females I am sure you have at least so many, your own remembrance will lead you to individuals of your old acquaintance. To-morrow I intend to proceed for Brussels, and thence probably to the Hague and Amsterdam. My movements must unavoidably be as slow as water carriage. My weak under-limbs cannot bear continual thumping on the pavement in the rough machines of this country, and the feebleness of my pocket will not admit the indulgence of a more convenient vehicle. I beg, Sir, you will write to me at the house of Mr. Edmund Jennings, or under the protection of any other friend in that city, who will be at the trouble of finding out a voyageur who is at all times and in all places, with the highest esteem and respect, Sir, your obedient and most humble servant,

I am now honored with yours of the 17th. I had before received one of the 7th, which remained unan