Your Letter of the 31st Decr was not long ago deliverd to me by the Count Chartres.  He appears to me to be an amiable & fine-spirited young Nobleman.  After a short stay here, he preceded with the Marqs de la Fayette to the Southward.

You will recollect a Design which I mentiond to you respecting our Friend Mr L, & the Omission which, we were informd the Evening before I left Boston, had happend thro Mistake.  I early wrote to you & requested your Influence to have it rectified.  I have heard Nothing of it since.  In my Opinion the most essential Interest of the Town of Boston will be servd by it, & therefore I cannot look upon it as a Matter of Indifference.  Not being acquainted with that Gentleman in the early Times of our Contest, I had by some means conceivd an Opinion of him not so favorable; but having had an Opportunity of critically observing him in the late Convention at Cambridge, I am satisfied he is a Virtuous Citizen, and possessd of the genuine Principles of New England.  That Mr Rivington, if this Letter should fall into his Hands, may not pretend to be at a loss to know what is here meant, I will inform him that the genuine Principles of New England are Republican Principles which have been admired by some of the greatest Characters, whom (if he is an Englishman) his Country can boast of.  You & I, among others, have had the Honor of being abusd by Rivingtons Press.  A labord Performance has lately crept out, called the Times.  I have had a cursory reading of it.  It appears to me so much like the Productions of certain Geniuses who figurd in Mr Popes Time, that had the Author been cotemporary with them, a Page might have been added to the Dunciad, to immortalize his Works.  I will endeavor to get some Parts of it transcribd & carry them to Boston.  I am sure the reading it would serve to divert rather than to give you the least Pain.  My due Regards to Friends.

Your affectionate

TO THOMAS McKEAN.1

[Ms., Historical Society of Pennsylvania.]

Boston Augt 29th 1781

MY HONORD FRIEND

I have not yet acknowledgd your obliging Letter of the 8th of July, deliverd to me by Mr Davidson.  Bodily Indisposition prevented my writing, when he returnd.  I fancy he settled his Affairs here to his own Satisfaction.  He is much esteemd by those who were favord with his Company, & I hope he met with Nothing disagreable to him during his short Stay among us.

Colo John Laurens with our Friend Mr Pain arrivd here a few Days ago from France.  He left the Town the Day after his Arrival.  His Visit to me was so short that I could not converse with him so fully as I wishd.  I hope he will be able to inform you of his complete Success in his Negociation.  Will you be so kind as to give me such Intelligence as you may receive from him or any other Person from