of your edition
of Vattel. It came to us in good season, when the circumstances of a
rising State make it necessary frequently to consult the law of
nations. Accordingly, that copy which I kept, (after depositing one in
our own public library here, and sending the other to the College of
Massachusetts Bay, as you directed,) has been continually in the hands
of the members of our Congress now sitting, who are much pleased with
your notes and preface, and have entertained a high and just esteem
for their author. Your manuscript "_Idee sur le Gouvernement et la
Royaute_," is also well relished, and may, in time, have its effect. I
thank you, likewise, for the other smaller pieces, which accompanied
Vattel. "_Le court Expose de ce qui est passe entre la Cour Britanique
et les Colonies, &c._" being a very concise and clear statement of
facts, will be reprinted here for the use of our new friends in
Canada. The translations of the proceedings of our Congress are very
acceptable. I send you herewith what of them has been farther
published here, together with a few newspapers, containing accounts of
some of the successes Providence has favored us with.

We are threatened from England with a very powerful force to come next
year against us. We are making all the provision in our power here to
prevent that force, and we hope we shall be able to defend ourselves.
But as the events of war are always uncertain, possibly, after another
campaign, we may find it necessary to ask aid of some foreign power.
It gives us great pleasure to learn from you, that "all Europe wishes
us the best success in the maintenance of our liberty." But we wish to
know whether any one of them, from principles of humanity, is disposed
magnanimously to step in for the relief of an oppressed people, or
whether if, as it seems likely to happen, we should be obliged to
break off all connexion with Britain, and declare ourselves an
independent people, there is any State or Power in Europe, who would
be willing to enter into an alliance with us for the benefit of our
commerce, which amounted, before the war, to near seven millions
sterling per annum, and must continually increase, as our people
increase most rapidly. Confiding, my dear friend, in your good will to
us and our cause, and in your sagacity and abilities for business, the
Committee of Congress, appointed for the purpose of establishing and
conducting a correspondence with our friends in Europe, of wh