to the British minister.  I desired him to leave them with me four and twenty hours, that I might judge whether they were worth our notice.  He did so.  They were two volumes.  One contained all his accounts with the United States, from his first coming to Europe to January the 10th, 1781.  Presuming that the treasury board was in possession of this account till his arrival in Philadelphia, August, 1778, and that he had never given in the subsequent part, I had that subsequent part copied from the book, and now enclose it, as it may on some occasion or other, perhaps, be useful in the treasury office.  The other volume contained all his correspondences from March the 30th to August the 23d, 1777.  I had a list of the letters taken by their dates and addresses, which will enable you to form a general idea of the collection.  On perusal of many of them, I thought it desirable that they should not come to the hands of the British minister, and from an expression dropped by the possessor of them, I believe he would have fallen to fifty or sixty guineas.  I did not think them important enough, however, to justify my purchasing them without authority; though, with authority, I should have done it.  Indeed, I would have given that sum to cut out a single sentence, which contained evidence of a fact, not proper to be committed to the hands of enemies.  I told him I would state his proposition to you, and await orders.  I gave him back the books, and he returned to London without making any promise, that he would await the event of the orders you might think proper to give.

News of the accession of nine States to the new form of federal government has been received here about a week.  I have the honor to congratulate you sincerely on this event.  Of its effect at home, you are in the best situation to judge.  On this side the Atlantic, it is considered as a very wise reformation.  In consequence of this, speculations are already begun here, to purchase up our domestic liquidated debt.  Indeed, I suspect that orders may have been previously lodged in America to do this, as soon as the new constitution was accepted effectually.  If it is thought that this debt should be retained at home, there is not a moment to lose; and I know of no means of retaining it, but those I suggested to the treasury board, in my letter to them of March the 29th.  The transfer of these debts to Europe will excessively embarrass, and perhaps totally prevent the borrowing any money in Europe, till these shall be paid off.  This is a momentous object, and, in my opinion, should receive instantaneous attention.