ow with me from Maryland, and I find him a person of
great merit. Respecting the Colonies he is recommended as such by ----
from whom he has received a letter but of no immediate importance; he
proposes seeing me here this month. M. Dumas has written me two
letters from the Hague, but so timid that he has not ventured to sign
either, though he speaks in the highest terms of the American cause.
The pamphlet called _Common Sense_ has been translated, and has a
greater run, if possible, here than in America. A person of
distinction writing to his noble friend in office, has these
words;--"Je pense comme vous, mon cher Compte, que le _Common Sense_
est une excellente ouvrage, at que son auteur est un des plus grands
legislateurs des millions d'ecrivains, que nous connoissions; il n'est
pas douteux, que si les Americains suivent le beau plan, que leur
compatriote leur a trace, ils deviendront la nation la plus
florissante et la plus heureuse, qui ait jamais existe."

Thus freely do men think and write in a country long since deprived of
the essentials of liberty; as I was favored with a sight of the
letter, and permitted to make this extract, I thought it worth sending
you as a key to the sentiments of some of the leading men. I must
again remind you of my situation here; the bills designed for my use
are protested, and expenses rising fast in consequence of the business
on my hands, which I may on no account neglect, and a small douceur,
though I have been sparing in that way, is sometimes of the utmost
importance. The quantity of stores to be shipped will amount to a
large sum, the very charge on them will be great, for which I am the
only responsible person. Five vessels arrived from America with fish,
which is a prohibited article, and the officers of the customs
detained them, on which I was sent to and informed, that if those
vessels came from the Congress to me, they should be permitted to
unload and sell. Here was a difficulty indeed, for the Captain had not
so much as applied to me by letter; however, I assured the ---- that
there could be no doubt but they were designed for that use, and that
the letters to me must have miscarried, on which orders were issued
for unloading and storing those cargoes until further intelligence
should arrive. I mention this case in confidence, and pray that in
future some regulation may be made on this subject, and that vessels
coming out may be directed to apply to me as their agent