University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MADISON.

Hond Sir,—Since I wrote to you by Mr. Cave I
have taken the freedom to give an order on Mr. Lee
who is at present at Nants for money due to you in
favour of the Revd Mr. Madison who wanted to procure
from Europe a few literary curiosities by means
of a French gentleman just setting out on public
Business for this State, addressed to the management
of Mr. Lee. I take the opportunity by Mr. Harrison

from Culpeper of giving you the earliest notice of this
circumstance that you may not dispose of your Bills
to any other person. As some little return for the
favour I am daily receiving from Mr. Madison I shall
not charge him more than the legal rate of exchange
for the money. I have sent for a few Books also on
my own account and Mr. Lee is requested to transmit
whatever late publications relate to G. B. or the
present state of European Politics. If any Balance
should remain after these purposes are provided for
Capt. le Maire the french Gentlm alluded to has
engaged to lay it out for us in linen &c. We have
no news here that can be depended. It is said by
Mr. King who is just from Petersbg that a Gentleman
was at that place who informed that sundry persons
had arrived at Edenton (which he was travelling
from) from Providence Island who affirmed that they
saw in Providence a London Paper giving an account
that Burgoyne's disaster had produced the most violent
fermentation in England that the Parliament had
refused to grant the supplies for carrying on the war
and that a motion for acknowledging our Independence
was overruled by a small majority only. The
People who bring this news to Edenton, as the story
goes, were prisoners wth the Enemy at Providence,
where they were released by a New England privateer
which suddenly landed her men took possession of the
small fort that commanded the Harbour and secured
several vessels that lay in it one of which was given
up to these men to bring them to the Continent. I
leave you to form your own Judgment as to the credibility
of this report—I wish it carried stronger marks
of truth.

The Govr has just recd a letter from the Capt. of
french frigate I mentioned in my last informing him
of his safe arrival in N. C. with a rich Cargo of
various useful and important Articles, which will be
offered for sale to us. The frigate belongs to a
Company at Nantes in France—We also hear but in
a less authentic manner that 7000 Tents have arrived
at Martinique on their way from France to the Grand
Army (?)—Salt at South. Quay sells at £3–1 a
[illegible] and is falling—A letter from York-Town
this moment read informs us that an Exchange of
Prisoners is at last agreed on between W[ashington].
& H[owe].

I wish much to hear from you, and shall continue
to write by every opportunity.