Autograph letter signed with initials : Edinburgh, to [William Johnson] Temple, 1775 Aug. 12-14.

Blaming his long delay in writing to Temple on "a pretty severe return this summer of that melancholy or Hypochondria, which is inherent in [his] constitution"; noting that he has "been remarkably busy this summer" and "wrote about threescore law-papers, and got £124 in fees during last session of two months"; admitting that he got quite drunk the other day; offering advice about a book of letters Temple is writing; sending him a copy of the Annals of Scotland by Lord Hailes [David Dalrymple] "with emendations by Dr. [Samuel] Johnson"; discussing various lords and whether they are happy; mentioning Edmund Burke; telling him that his father has reduced his allowance by £100 because he owes his father £1000; commenting on his reading, including "three small treatises on Midwifery," [William] Robertson's Charles V, and "the Lusiad of Camoens, by Mr. [William Julius] Mickle"; reporting that "while afflicted with melancholy, all the doubts which have ever disturbed thinking men, come upon [him]"; writing, "I am growing more & more an American. I see the unreasonableness of taxing them without the consent of their Assemblies. I think our ministry are mad in undertaking this desperate war."