-rous, that I can have entire confidence in nothing.
      My last letter to thee, dated Feb. 27. and 28, last, was also
sent by a cartel which carried Portuguese prisoners to Rio Janeiro in
Brazil. I wrote by that occasion to Sir Joseph Banks, and to Standert
but have not time to do the same now. To the latter I enclosed a bill
upon the Navy Board for £268.10, a duplicate ^{the second} of one sent by a prece-
ding letter, and desired him to inform thee of its being received, and
whether the Navy Board had accepted it. It is for that part of my perso-
nal pay due, and I was not certain whether the admiralty considered
me to be upo still upon full pay, though I suppose they will so long
as I am detained here.
      The messenger says he is ready to set off, I must then once
more bid thee an adieu, from this distance! When thou writest to our
friends pray at Boston, Donington, Spalding, Tidd &^c pray remember
me affectionately to them all. To Samuel I beg of thee to write particu-
larly, to say how my affair stands; and if thou hast a correspondence
with Sir Joseph Banks, inform him of the date of this letter and of the
then state of my prospects; adding, that it is very certain, general
De Caen will never release me during the war, even for an order from
his government, so long as that order is not positive, or can admit
of any pretext for invasion.
      I hope our ministry will have requested such an order as I