for;
first and most for the ciphered paragraph respecting myself. These
little informations are very material towards forming my own decisions.
I would be glad even to know, when any individual member thinks I have
gone wrong in any instance. If I know myself, it would not excite ill
blood in me, while it would assist to guide my conduct, perhaps to
justify it, and to keep me to my duty, alert. I must thank you too, for
the information in Thomas Burke's case; though you will have found by a
subsequent letter, that I have asked of you a further investigation of
that matter. It is to gratify the lady who is at the head of the convent
wherein my daughters are, and who, by her attachment and attention to
them, lays me under great obligations, I shall hope, therefore, still
to receive from you the result of all the further inquiries my
second letter had asked. The parcel of rice which you informed me had
miscarried, accompanied my letter to the Delegates of South Carolina.
Mr. Bourgoin was to be the bearer of both, and both were delivered
together into the hands of his relation here, who introduced him to
me, and who, at a subsequent moment, undertook to convey them to Mr.
Bourgoin. This person was an engraver, particularly recommended to
Dr. Franklin and Mr. Hopkinson. Perhaps he may have mislaid the little
parcel of rice among his baggage. I am much pleased, that the sale
of western lands is so successful. I hope they will absorb all the
certificates of our domestic debt speedily, in the first place, and that
then, offered for cash, they will do the same by our foreign ones.

The season admitting only of operations in the cabinet, and these
being in a great measure secret, I have little to fill a letter, I
will therefore make up the deficiency, by adding a few words on the
constitution proposed by our convention.

I like much the general idea of framing a government, which should go on
of itself, peaceably, without needing continual recurrence to the
State legislatures. I like the organization of the government into
legislative, judiciary, and executive. I like the power given the
legislature to levy taxes, and for that reason solely, I approve of the
greater House being chosen by the people directly. For though I think
a House, so chosen, will be very far inferior to the present Congress,
will be very illy qualified to legislate for the Union, for foreign
nations, &c.; yet this evil does not weigh against the good of
pr