believe I shall return straight in which case I shall not be absent from Petersbourg above a month. This depends however many circumstances which I cannot enter into a detail of. Be satisfied in the assurance that it is not the pleasure of the present moment that I pursue. My friend Ples: is very ill of a disorder which though not immediately very dangerous yet plagues him a good deal every now and then. It is the asthma. What are the remedies and regimen usually employed in England? He frequently reads over your letters to him with the strongest sensation at the pleasure of having received such a letter from you but of shame at the same time for not having answered it. It is his constant occupation and the habit he has been now for some time in of neglecting by necessity his own affairs that seems to have prevented him.

Mr Carew is still here and will stay I believe the winter at least He is a man certainly of great abilities a vast stock of knowledge and from all opportunities I have had of judging, of a most excellent heart. He is as much attached to his country as possible and Sir James cannot but find a great satisfaction in his political assistance.

I am affraid you wont read all this

Jan y 13th 1781 OS.

We have no news to tell you. It is from you in England that we are anxiously expecting news. What a havock

you must make among the Dutch Ships.

S.B. Lr dat d Petersburg Jan y 13. 1781

rec d 26 Feb. y 1781.