every thing to him as a Friend which was proper for me to say.  Perhaps I was too candid to be thought a Friend.  I intended to have been present at the Committee, but was unavoidably hinderd.  He did not call on me a second time.  Mc Neil is still here.  He has called on me twice or thrice.  I know not in what part of the City he lives.  His Friends & his Enemies may be assured that I will give my Voice on the Subject Matter of his Petition according to my best Skill & Judgment.  In this I expect to be justified by those to whose good opinion alone I pay the least Regard—­the candid & impartial.

I heartily despise those small Dealers in Politicks who are propagating idle Stories to injure me.  Little Insects will be for ever playing about the glimmering Light of a farthing Candle.  It is out of their Power to disturb the peace of my Mind.  You took too much Pains, my dear Friend, to stop their Clamor, when you read a Paragraph in my Letter which was designd for your Perusal & not theirs.  I am however obligd to you for your kind Intention.

Your Letter informs me that Mr H is gone on the Expedition to Rhode Island.2 This is also announcd in the Boston News papers, which, to do them Justice I must observe, never fail to notice all the Movements of a Great Man.  I am anxious to know the Event of this Expedition.  But I am called off & must leave you abruptly.  Adieu.  I must write you again very soon.

Be so good as to let Mrs know that I am well.

1 Cf. pages, 41, 57, 59, 63.

2 See page 60.

TO JAMES BOWDOIN.

[Collections of Massachusetts Historical Society, 6th ser., vol. ix., pp. 423-425.]

[Philadelphia, Septr 3, 1778.]

Dear sir,—­A few days ago I received a letter from your son in law Mr Temple dated New York, August 23d, requesting me by the first opportunity to inform you of his & Mrs Temple’s arrival there, & that, for particular reasons he should be exceedingly happy if your affairs would permit you to meet them at Philadelphia, or as near it as might be convenient to you.  He requested this of me, because excepting that letter & another to Mr President Laurens, he had not written a line since his arrival at N. Y., & he had still weighty reasons for declining it.  He also desired me to cause it to be made as convenient as might be (at his expence) for Mrs Temple & her little boy, who had not been well since their arrival, to get to Philadelphia.  His baggage which is both heavy & bulkey, he intended to get transported in a Flag, if any should be suffered to pass, to Boston, or some port as near it as might be, & hoped to see me soon in this city.  His letter to the President was read in Congress.  It was short and contained little more than to sollicit leave to come to Philada to pay his respects to Congress.  This was refus’d upon the idea that he might be a secret emissary from