Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

Responding to Sullivan's suggestions for portions of Baruch's book. "I believe that if you had read the book through, that you would have changed your suggestion regarding the opening … I thought it would be better to say to the reader as I tried to say: 'I want to tell you how this treaty happened to be written, the way it was written, and why it couldn't be done any other way. Just bear with me for a few minutes and let us reason this out together,' rather than to say to the reader, 'This is the very best little treaty in the world,' because as a matter of fact it wasn't the best treaty in the world, but was the best that could be done in the circumstances."

2a. Muster roll of the General Staff of the Brunswick Ausiliar[y] Troops in His Britannick Majesty's Service in North America, as mustered by . . . Wm. Porter at Brooklyn... Signed by Riedesel and commissary W. Porter.

Sermon notes relating to Romans 9:33, "As it is written, Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone, & rocks of offence: & whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." Includes marginal notes identifying Biblical verses referenced in the sermon. Comments on Jesus's mission to be the foundation of God's works, to unify mankind as worshippers, and save them. Remarks on the "stumbling" of man over Jesus via contempt due to his humble beginnings, commenting on the usefulness of his earthly poverty and death.

Draft of a letter to the editor of the Lancaster Journal. Compares personal contracts to alliances made between nations, noting differences between commercial and military alliances. "If I were to enter into such intimate connection with any individual as would imply mutual protection, I ought certainly to enquire into whether the person be meek and peaceable or quarrelsome and insolent; whether he be just and equitable, or cruel and rapacious." Opposes any treaty with Great Britain based on a long record of religious and political oppression. Worries that an alliance would make American sailors "aid her in desolating the fertile plains of India, in depopulating the shores of Africa, in hunting down the few remaining natives of St. Vincents." Includes a note to Mr. A. W. Gayley, stating "this is far from being a fair specimen of the mental productions or manual performance of the late Rev James Latta DD." Accompanied by a clipped title, "Discourses on Important Subjects," with a manuscript annotation, "Jas Latta's, Jan 25, 1759."