This day, I had real pleasure in receiving the American Papers—as your hand appeared on the Cover. I imputed your long silence, as I wrote many Letters, to your being unwell; our paper (the Court one) gave Several accounts of your being dangerous ill and gone to the Jerseys for a Change of Air, Even a Captain of a New York Vessel declared on our Change that the Letter report was fact. I assure you, Lady Newenham felt as a Sister for you.

The Papers are agreable, as they indicate Such an Unanimity as will consolidate the discording and Local Interests of Eleven States, and as to the two Seceders they must hereafter Join, for I should imagine the European Nations will not readily enter into Seperate Treaties or Alliances with them; besides in Case the United States, of 11, should be engaged in a foreign War, how would these 2 be protected; Neutral they could not remain; Rhode Island would be forced to receive the Navy of one side or the other and the Carolina Rice rot in their Ware-houses. I hope they will still Join and make one Great Republic from Main to the Missisippi; but Speaking of that River, induces me to hazard an Observation, Viz, that your new settlers on its Banks are too precipitate, as the Great Body of the Union is not able to Support their Pretensions untill a Fleet of American Men of War can be opposed to that of Spain, or Such a Treaty with Brittain or France as would Engage their Support. They may conquer by Land, but they could not Export or Trade from the Mississipi, as two or 3 frigates would Guard that River, but Certainly if it could be Obtained that River would be a Noble Boundary to the states.

I anxiously wish for your opinion in respect to what is now transacting in Congress, particularily in respect to Equale Taxation, and raising of Men for the Union &c &c.

For two Months and some days my Life was lately despaired of, and untill within these 2 or 3 Weeks, I could not be said to be out of Danger; I had two fevers Succeeding each other; the last was on my Lungs, which are still affected, and for remedy thereof, I am now going about the Country for a Change of Air; My Diet is solely Milk and Vegetables, and no Wine, directly contrary to my former mode of Living; your s  ?  Well Wisher Lady Newenham, by her Incessant attendance Day and Night on me, took the Fever, but is now recovered and perfectly well.

On account of the distress of France, there has been as much Corn and potatoes exported, as we could Spare, at Present; but should our Harvest turn out well, we shall part ? with them; for Seven Weeks we have had incessant rains, but, as yet, the Corn has not Suffered, though the Meadows have, as our Spring has been remarkably backward. We have not had much thunder and Lightning; the Latter was often fatal in England Last Month.

The Connection between your Country and France and the Principles brought to Europe by those who returned from Amer[ica] have raised the Spirit, and, I believe, fixed the Principles of Liberty in that powerfull Monarchy; nothing can prevent the Completion of it, but being engaged in a War, before the Glorious Fabrick is finished. The Duke of Orleans has turned the Scale, in the House of Nobles and the A:Bishop of Bourdeaux Led the Clergy the road to Honor and Fame. In Ireland we Cannot boast of Virtuous A:Bishops, Bishops or any high Church Dignitaries; they Worship Mammon. On a Late trying occasion, we had only 5 out of that hostile band. I call them hostile, as they threw out an Act last Session, that could not Injure them or their Successors, at the same time, that it would have enriched and Improved the whole Kingdom. The Act was, to exempt, for 7 years, from Tythes all Lands (Mountain and Bog) that were reclaimed within 5 years from the passing of the Act.

The accounts just arrived from the South west of this Kingdom have Created fears for our Corn harvest, as the wheat is Lodges and the oates not filling, the Floods have done much damage. There were four Ships freighted with Potatoes Sent to Bologne and the Mob would not Let them be Landed, so they went to Holland where their Cargoes sold at an amazing Profit; the Cargo was the Property of Some Merchants at Corke. As to Butcher’s Meat, we have Sufficient for Two years, as all the farmers reared a Double Stock this year. Yet the Price of Mutton and Beef is nearly as high as last year.

Our Present Vice-roy (Buckingham) is one of the Most artfull Hypocrites that Ever Cursed this Kingdom; he pretended to oeconomy in all private and public conversation, yet we Shall have an accumulation of Expence and ven pensions, against the Latter he always declared, even in the most Violent Terms; he is doing what Lord Townshend was near being Impeached for Viz, Creating a second Board of Revenue Commissioners—though Parliament had Twice determined against that Measure; our Revenue could be Managed (if our Trade was trebled) by the present Number. Our Custom house is large enough for the Trade of London and Bristol united; Many of the officers are to have suits of Apartments. It is a Noble Building, but situated so low, that the Salt water gets into the Cellars where wine is to be Stowed. The City of Dublin is encreased in Buildings and Inhabitants doubley in proportion to any City in Europe, but the Inland parts are much desolated to Contribute thereto; few Gentlemen reside on their Estates, as they used to do in Good old Times; the Squire does not Spend his money among his industrious Tenants, the Parson leaves his flock, to the Parish Clerke, and attends the Court Levies. Gaming houses are encreasing and Churches deserted; Scarse a Bishop resides more than one Month in a year in his Diocess; and some of them are running their Lives against their Leases; If Derry? was to Compleat that plan, the Revenue would be at least £40,000 a year. I wish they would compleat their plan, for then Parliament would be forced to take it up, and fix their Revenues at a proper Medium. It is well if America at a future Period, does not repent at having Bishops within her states.

Just as I get so far, the Im[por]tant News of a Revolution in France arrived; which you will have heard of before you can receive this, as I see two ships Left Bristol a few days ago bound for New Yorke. This Rev[olt?] is begun in Blood and with more Violence than any former one. Was a Prophet to have come on Earth, and said that the City of Paris would Storm the Bastile, that the Guards of the Gra[cious?] Monarch would fight against him, that Arch Bishops and other Dignitaries of the Church would Support the Cause of the People, that the French King should throw himself on his Citizens of Paris for to Save his Life, that any Body of Men in France should sit in Judgement on, and put to Death Pee[rs?] of the Realm, that the kind troops should refuse to obey the paymaster, that any Assembly of Men should dare to put the word People before that of King in their Resolutions, and de[mand?] the discarded Minister must be recalled, and to Vote, the [pay?] of the Army to be encreased without the Royale Assent, that the Brave Invalide Veterans should join Citizens in Arms against their Monarch, that two Marshalls should refuse the Commands of their Soverign, that a Reward should be of[fered] for the head of a Prince of the Blood by a Committee of Paris Magistrates—If such a Prophet did come on Earth, he would not be believed.

If Richlieu or Mazarine was to peep out of their Grave, and see this Revolution, they would scarsely believe their Eyes or sences.

Many Families have reached Dublin on account of the troubles in France, but on which side they were, [we?] cannot find out, for they do not enter into any conversation on the Subject. One of them has brought over a good Sum in Louis? and Visits your Old Acquaintance Mr. Deane.