Holden. (Teasl) 9. June 1797 — My dear Friend 25 after two months passively it pleased god that we should land safely & we are this moment come on shore — Riding on Ship to N. York that sails this night aid is now here — I seize the moment to drop a line to the Sec. of State — one to you as one to my brother — a british officer who boarded us about two hours since told us that it was [strikethrough: reported] the Dau: france had made peace — That G. B. was Treating — [strikethrough: tho'] Hammond — & the King of Prussia dead — but as this is not authentic enough for Col. P.'s office I said nothing of it — M^r M^r. Sands has been to B^tM^tH. — he was terribly sick all the way. Dis well. In much haste & pray god to bless you. always a most affectionately J. H^r.