Your favor of the 1st ult. reachd me safely. I am very much obligd to you for your attention to me both as to the Paper money & the Grant. It is not a little unfortunate that the person so fit for the business shoud have been visited with so grevious a disorder, for which I am very sorry as well on his account as my own. It is probable that times of more safety in those parts will soon happen, for I think the Enemy can hardly continue the war long, & all parties seem disposd to peace.

   I wish it were in my power to give you any comfort as to the spirit that generally prevails in this Country. It seems as if patriotism was an unnatural feeling, & therefore short-livd; while prostitution & servility, were so congenial with human nature, that they revive & florish with wonderful rapidity.

   By the absolute order of France, Dr. Franklin & Mr Jay were joind in commission with Mr. Adams for negociating a Peace. At this very time Congress had the fullest evidence and conviction that Dr Franklin was both a dishonest & incapable man. Mr. Laurens & Mr. Jefferson were added, but the first was a prisoner, & the latter woud not go. Mr. Jay has with a very becoming spirit desird to be left out of a Commission, which is accompanied with Instructions to obey ultimately the opinion of the french Ministers. This he states as in his apprehension, so humiliating to the Commissioners, so disgraceful & injurious to America that he cannot submit to it. I have movd in vain for a reconsideration of these Instructions. The yoke is riveted upon us, & the man who I am sure sold us in the negociation with France, is the sole adjunct with Mr. Adams, in a negociation on which every thing that is dear & honorable to us depend. He, good man, felt no qualms at such a commission, no sense of dishonor or injury to his Country. On the contrary he expressd the utmost alacrity in accepting it, & I beleive most cordially; since it puts him in the way of receiving money, which is the God of his Idolatry.

   The French therefore are to make a peace for us; we have presumd only to desire Independance; but whether it shall be on secure & honorable terms, whether by the stipulations annexd to it we shall participate in the Fishery, in the navigation of the Missisippi, or in the western territory, whether conditions Trenching nearer, & more shamefully on our rights will accompany the naked & nugatory assertion of Independance, is in the soverign arbitration of the french Court. To judge what is for our own interest, to instruct our Plenipotentiaries, for them to think & act for us, are treason against the Alliance, by which we were acknowledgd independent & soveriegn. In short, the most servile display of the most servile principles, is what alone must entitle us to the patronage of our great and generous Protector. This was not the sentiment, or languge, that commensd the revolution, & I can plege myself it is not the sentiment or language that will bring it to a happy issue. But there seems to be no public here to appeal to. Sordid pursuits & servile attachments have apparently absorbd all the Faculties of our fellow Citizens. In the last resort, I hope the jealousy of G. Britain & of the other Powers in Europe will prevent France from abusing the power which we have thus basely & imprudently confided to her.

   Spain has behavd towards us with very little wisdom, or decency; but it is much to be suspected that the French are at the bottom of it; insomuch that a well-informd person on the spot, writes thus "I have many reasons for believing that the french Court does not wish to see us declard independent by other Nations, lest we shoud become less manageable as we become less dependent on her for support." I have endeavord to inculcate this truth into those to whom it woud be useful, & yet they constantly act in opposition to it.

   The rapacity of a certain person after power & profit, (2) the little caution or wisdom that governs appointments are the reasons for the accumulation of Offices in an unprincipled & suspected Individual. The distress of our Finances which he has the art of colouring high, & plentiful promises of relief from wonderful abilities, operate like a charm upon weak minds.

   I beg you will make my best & most respectful wishes acceptable to Mrs. Warren & believe always, with the most perfect esteem, Dear Sir, your most sincere friend

   RC (MHi: Warren-Adams Papers). In Lee's hand, though not signed.