To the most illustrious minister of the united states of the united states in America Paulus Christopher Reiche, master of arts and Lutheran minister, prays all sorts of most fortunate things.

When, because in your country (which,if it has not been from its beginnings certainly now will be America) things were conducted in accordance with the law, I could not prevent myself from greatly rejoicing that a race of men was present who not only perceives what rights are theirs but also excellently defends them; when, in truth, I also examined those laws [which were] passed by the most illustrious and, I trust, most tranquil Congress of the Americans for establishing a republic, straightaway I prayed God that He might ordain the same [i.e. the laws] to be very salubrious not only for Americans but for any nations throughout the world and that it might be permitted to me and mine also to live sometime under arrangements so just and conforming to nature. That I truly prayed and pray still.

For indeed, however, we are not permitted to leave our country, unless secretly, and almost all that we have, of whatever kind and however much, we must leave behind. Also it is perhaps a long and dangerous journey to those regions which God favors [and] also [it] must be feared whether it be permitted to us to live there as well and as pleasantly as we have lived and must be indicated by you, The Most Illustrious Way/Road [n.b. this is apparently referring to BF since all the other words capitalized in the letter are “you” and “your” perhaps imitating the German Sie (?)] and some things will have to be asked and these things [i.e. the following, I believe] I ask to be able to explain?

For my part, I was born in Berlin. I am 36 years old and studied—principally Theology, Philosophy and History—at Halle and Göttingen. At school I held the title of Rector now [word cut off] from the sacred pulpit for nine years I had [i.e. delivered (?)] sermons, as the pastors of our country (from whose company I am) are accustomed [to do]. But although I was born, live and teach among Lutherans, nevertheless I only believe in God and in those things which sound reason teaches; not however, in those things which Theologians, even the most praised, teach, nor do I hate anyone feeling otherwise.

If therefore in YOUR country—that which I do not know; how many there are who willing ly read theological or philosophical or historical writings, or if those who give pleasure even as they pay attention to instructing [hard to get the syntax and words to work here; in addition there is a problem with one word navent or ravent (seemingly) neither of which exist in Lation. Operam dare is a familiar idiom and for the lack of something better I’ve translated it as such, but in fact it is impossible for me to imagine that the first letter is a “d” and there remain other problems in the passage], I hope in these things also to be able to support myself well, together with my household. Nevertheless I would prefer to have regard for YOUR convenience—not only my own—and since I would prefer this and [since] not only is war being waged in YOUR most dear country but now there is a rumor, that the general Howe [? Howium] has almost completed YOUR [pl.] destruction, the same [who] has conquered with great slaughter, I desire to be present in time. For at the same time as I began to love that country of YOURS and I saw so many mercenaries led against your republic, I read zealously the strategies of ancient generals and I provided myself with so great a knowledge of their strategies that, if I were with your armies, I would have the hope, if not pretty often, certainly sometimes, of marvelously harming the enemy. For I believe that these will have to be more safely opposed with cleverness than with force. And these are the things which I thought must be indicated. From the same, indeed, you will gather , how necessary it is that before I prepare my departure, I would ask the following: 1) Whether in YOUR republic, men, such as I have described myself, knowing moreover French but not English, [and] with so large a household, might be able to make a living by either teaching or writing or even by farming, not [word cut out] luxurious but modest, not wretched, not a burden to the republic. 2) Whether, if they cannot, at least what has been said regarding strategies does not seem absurd. 3) Whether, where my love for YOUR country must be praised, I must depart, and to what end, when and with what plan.

For although I value brave men very much who [ut? = as] you do, vigorously defend the rights of men, nevertheless I ought not value them to such a degree that, for their sake, I would think those whom the most benevolent ruler of all things joined with me by a most pleasant and — [cannot make out this word anything ressembling a Latin one] chain ought to be boldly abandoned. In truth, I would certainly be abandoning them if straightaway, uncertain of my fate, I set out from here, and on the journey, I should either perish or be captured by the enemy and if, having crossed the ocean, no opportunity of serving YOU [pl.] and my own family well is given by Congress.

You know therefore what I think and what I wish. I pray, let me soon know what I should do. Above all, fare well, fare well a long while; nay , rather fare as well as I myself pray you may fare [well]. I wrote [this] at Deslau on the 9th day of January 1778. Letters are given to me with this name.