Auteuil near Paris Dec^t 15. 1784 Sir I have just received your kind letter of the 7 and am much obliged to you for your Information of So good an opportunity, to Boston. M^r Jackson and M^r Tracy will take all our dilites and I hope arrive in London early enough for the Conveyor by Captain young. I wish you a pleasant Passage and happy Sight of your Friends, particularly your Brother, to whom my best Regards. It is hazardous prophesying in Europe any Politicks, but it is easier to judge what is right, if the Faith of Treaties is not binding what Duty is? How many Powers of Europe hold Imperious Right and Possessions under it: it is the great Charter of Europe, it is the Basis of the publick Right of Europe, France holds So much under it, and by Subsequent Treaties founded on it, that I make no Scruple to believe She will Support Holland. nor have I the least doubt that Russia will join on the Same Side, if the Emperor persists. They may negotiate as long as they can, but must finally take a Part, for which Reason I hope there will be an Accommodation before next Spring. I fear not the bad Influence for the Idea you Speak of of a possible Combination among the great Catholick Powers to crush England, and the other Protestant ones, this has been plainly a Combination of Several Englishmen, Irishmen and Americans Refugees to crush England, Holland and America, the 3 most considerable Protestant Powers, and I wish this Papist Combination was at an End. I can make nothing of Ireland, and as to our own Barbarity, the essential want at present is a little less Drinking and Almostgame at home and a little more Steady abroad and to agree upon Taxes to pay the Interest of their Debts. M^r Adams is with me and desires me to make you his Complts. you can Scarely have Spent a Character So high of any Friend and Colleague and Jurors, either in Point of Talent or Virtues. My Fellow, Classmate in Colledge, eight or nine years ago, many and many Councils, particularly in the Draughts of our Declaration of Independence and in the formation of our Code of Articles of War, and Laws for the Army I have found him uniformly the Same wise and publick Man and Steady Patriot. I only fear that his uncommon Extent of Study will injure his Health. I envy you the Pleasure of returning to Boston from whence I have been a kind of Exile for two years. almost Seem have been posted in Europe, and if I had not Some cause to hope that my Country has received more Benefit than those of Natone I Should curse the day that I ever Set my first on board a Friggate. I am at present however very happy in all respects. M^r Knox