Mr Temple1 was so obliging as to deliver me your Letter of the ——­ of November.  The Day after his Arrival in this City, I offerd him my Service and introduc’d him to Mr President Laurens, to whom he had Letters of high Recommendation, and among others from the Council of Massachusetts Bay.  The President read these Letters publickly in Congress.  I did not fail to communicate the Contents of those which I was honord with to individual Members.  But the Time of his leaving England, his coming in a Packet, the Company which came with him, and the greater Indulgencies granted to him in New York than had been allowd to others fixed a suspicion of him in the Minds of well disposd Persons which could not be removd.  Those of a different Character took Occasion to insinuate that whatever Congress might give out publickly to the Contrary, they were secretly listening to Terms of Accommodation offerd by the British Ministers through their Emissaries in America.  The Minister Plenipotentiary of France could not but be attentive to these Suggestions.  In a private Conversation with him at his House the other Day, when no one was present with us, Mr Temples Name was mentiond.  He said he knew not his personal Character—­he understood that he was well recommended, but as he was under the violent Suspicions of the People here, his Residence so near the Congress might make improper Impressions on the Minds of Persons abroad.  It may reasonably be supposd that he is determind to merit the Character at his own Court, of a vigilant & faithful Minister.  Mr Dean who appears to be inimical to my truly patriotick Friend A Lee Esqr has endeavord to raise the like Suspicions of him that he has a predilection for the Court of London because he showed Civilities to his Friend Ld Shelburne in France.  Such is the force of prejudice in the Minds of some Men or their total Want of political Understanding.  I was my self, pointedly, though not by Name, called upon in a publick Newspaper, to be cautious of making too frequent Exchanges of Visits with J T Esqr.  You know much I have been used to despise Publications of this Kind & I despise them still.  But in the present Instance I confess I was embarrassd, being under the Necessity of violating my own Inclination to pay all due Respect to a Gentleman, whose personal Merit I had formerly been acquainted with, and who was so honorably mentiond by some of my most virtuous & dignified fellow Citizens, or on the other hand of prejudicing the Character which as a publick Man I ought to maintain in the Minds of Congress, of the Minister of France and of the People.  I have done Mr Temple the most substantial Acts of Friendship in my Power, though I could not have the Pleasure of so much Conversation with him as I wishd & intended to have.  He leaves this City suddenly.  I am inclind to believe that the President of this State as well as the Chief Justice, with both of whom I have this day had the pleasure of dining, are satisfied in the Uprightness of Mr Temples Intentions.  Having given you a candid State of things, I conclude with assuring you that I am with every Sentiment of Regard,