[Address panel; diagonal notation at bottom, partially legible: "your / [undecipherable]"] [Hichb[orn?]] [1188] [XXXIV-122] Paris 19^th Oct^r 1793 My dear Friend! I have sent you several letters since I have been in Europe, but did not expect a reply as I never could determine how long I should remain in any one place — I now find it impossible to get out to America this [year?], but intend to be off as early next Spring as my affairs will admit — There are various expectations about the part America will take in the present War, but I am fully persuaded that [she] will — that she must remain quite neutrel, but I am very sorry to hear that our Government are disposed to grubble at pa[rts?] [undecipherable] of the treaty respecting the admission of prizes — I am equally astonished & mortified to hear that courts of law have [near]— nerly adopted the Presidents Proclamation as the law of land, & have prosecuted certain Individuals for entering on board French Privateers — but I rejoice to find that the jury retain such a sense of their own own dignity as to give a verdict upon their consciences, tho' directly against the Opinion of the Court — I am sorry to hear that the Indian War is over & that you are out of that cursed office — the French are the only ally in real friendship [undecipherable] can expect — they are a great People, their commerce & their friendship will build us fast — they are very partial to us & may be continued so — they take our Governments, our politics (at least what they think them to be) [in] our [favor?] — but I am afraid that vile Partiality for our greatest Enemy, which too many of our American Politicians [undecipherable] will finally ruin our country — I am fully convinced that the [undecipherable] ^in America may be accomplished upon much less expense than in Europe I have seen the most of them, [undecipherable] importance & think we may have great Confidence in the [undecipherable] of ours — I do not however feel quite satisfied with its [passing?] [undecipherable], but doubtless the most weighty Reasons will direct its [course?] — I have received from England all the information extant on the subject, & [undecipherable] Gen^l Jackson has received them — my Respects to M^rs [undecipherable] M^rs [undecipherable] & the young ladies of both families — tell M^r [undecipherable] I have not received an answer yet to a letter I wrote him at London, if in case he wishes to write me here, he may direct to me at Hotel de Philadelphia, passage des petits Peres — pray forward the enclosed letters, if in case Sam. Andrews should be nearer to you than Jos^t. be so kind as to send him the one addressed to a Doc^tr & tell him to open it — yours as always Benj Hichborn