Thomas Mullett, Bristol, to Horatio Gates, New York, 24 November 1791. 

Bristol 24th Novemr 1791.

Dear General

   I have devoted an hour, with Mr Garnett, to the examination and settlement of your Account with Farrell & Jones: The Balance due to them appears to be £31.16.4 Sterling, agreeable to their Statement. After the Account rendered, when the balance due to you was £16.7.0, they sent Sundry Articles. [Per] the Restoration & speed with, which added together, with a small sum you reced of Evans in Virginia, makes the Sum they Claim. Mr Jones was anxious to have an Interest on this Sum, but Mr Garnett concurd in Opinion with me, that the disappointment, you had sustaind on your first application to their Agent, and the subsequent Correspondence of Mr Jones, rendered it just & right to resist the demand; and to offer only the balance of the Account Currant. Mr Garnet having some years since made Jones an Offer of discharging any demand on you, chose on the present occasion to convince that Gentleman of the sincerity of that offer, and will give him the Cash for his Bill on you for the balance, which will be to you on receipt in full. If Mr Garnet had not preferd this mode of discharging the balance, I would have paid it for you, to convince Mr Jones that it was your wish, the moment the balance was ascertaind, to pay it, and to avoid the imputation of delay, or of Obligation, to a Man, who had forgotten, not only the regards of Old Society and friendship, but also, in too great a degree, respecting you, the Common Civilities of a Gentleman. I have conversd very freely freely with Mr Jones on this Subject, and told him, it appeard very extraordinary, that on Account of a political difference in sentiment, and for the exercise of a right that every Man was entitled to, he should discover an alienation from an old friend, and indulge a Spirit of resentment; that from his education & habits, was little to have been expected, and very unworthy of him. He seemd conscious of wrong, and said, if he had written in any manner to you unlike a Gentleman, or with incivility, it must have arisen from the impression of a moment and what he could not have deliberately intended. What he was in your juvenile days I know not, but now, he exhibits too uniformly, I am told, the Character of a Bristol Tory – those you know to be Arrogance & Intolerance! I fear your other old friend Chas. Harford is infected with the same Contagion; for the manner in which he enquired after you, and America in general restraind me from the expression of those Sentiments of esteem that you had left to my discretion to deliver or not.

   I have written to you twice already since my Arrival, and since my last nothing materially new has arisen in the public sphere. Peace in Europe. In France, progressing to the perfect establishment of a System that has dethrond despotism, and which has conveyd a Shock to the heart of every tyrant in this quarter of the Globe. Our Court looks with a proportion of Astonishment, and coldly expresses their acquiescence in the ^French^ Kings Acceptance of the New Constitution. They also tremble at the idea of reform—they know it is necessary, but fear to begin, uncertain of the Event. In the present reign it may be force—in the Next it may be more gradually accomplishd. There is an encreasing spirit of approbation of the French—and a visible decay of old prejudices. You would have felt an elevation at the Revolution Society at the London Tavern on the 4th November. 300 set down in the great Room to dinner; amongst them some of the ablest, and most distinguished of the last National Assembly, particular Mr Pethion, who is just elected successor to Mr Bailly Mayor of Paris. He made a short speech of Congratulation to Englishmen on the examples they had often given the World of a hatred of Tyrants; he spoke with all the plainness, and firmness of a Republican, and with all the dignity of a Man. Common Sense Paine was invited—his health was drank, with thanks to him for his able defence of the Rights of Man; on which he thankd the Society, & proposd as a toast—the Revolution of the World! The Republic of North America, and its first Citizen, was amongst the most applauded toasts; and Connected with one expressive of a Wish, that “Revolutions may never Cease—while the Cause of them exists!”  I attended on an invitation of an Old Acquaintance, and Member of the Society, and have never witnessd a popular Assembly of more decorum, or with so much of the “feast of reason, and the flow of Soul.” A Variety of letters, and addresses, from Societies, in France, were read, and Conveying such general information, and expressing such sentiments, as prove in my Opinion, that a people so well informd on the principles of freedom, and who have so gloriously asserted them, Cannot again degenerate into Slaves! I intended you half a Sheet, but you will be tird with a whole one. The subject must be my Apology—You, my dear Sir, have felt the inspiration of it. May you live to enjoy much of that felicity in the Western World, which your efforts contributed to obtain, as well as to hear of, and to applaud that spirit which is extending the freedom & happiness of Europe.  Mrs M unites in respectful salutations to Mrs G. & yourself with, dear General, Yours &c,

                                           Tho; Mullett.

Address: none

Text: Horatio Gates Letters, 1791-94, Thomas Addis Emmett Collection, New York Public Library, New York.