I have lately heard my dear Friends health. Suffers an interruption by
a very painfull disorder! but I hope by this time she is relievd & that inestimable
Blessing returnd. I pleasd myself for some time past, I should have paid her
a Visit at her own habitation, but the excessive heat of the season forbids
our journeying. I still think myself an Invalid & by the infirmities generaly
attendant on advancing life think I can hardly expect to taste the sweets of former
health. However the recollection of past enjoyments realy afford me pleasure.
It woud be a vain thing in me to pretend to give you the tidings, the
occurrences that the fleeting days & weeks present to View, especially as
you are so nearly connected with one who has so large a share in the Present
Scene, & who, I doubt not, communicates freely to you. We who are at a greater
distance & can only behold Events as they take place, have nothing to do but
but wonder, & patiently wait the Issue. We have lately seen vast numbers
of men, hieing away for a field of battle, hurrying thither with the most Sanguine
expectations. but the great Mover of Universal Nature, has seen fit, by the
operation of His stormy winds, to check our fond imaginations, & we daily have
the mortification of seeing the men return without the Palm of Victory. Our Son
the Librarian was a Zealous Volunteer & is not yet come back from Camp.
the British G-l P-s here, kept a day of Festivity on the occasion, & humanely orderd
Mrs Warren
his officers not to insult our men on their return. We who live among them
must expect to meet with Chagrin, as they are always by some means or other Possest
of the secret many days before we are
I have been lately Favord with a Review
which contains some lines which gave me great Pleasure. If you have not
happend to have seen it, or was not the Philomela who sang it, I doubt not they
will amuse you; but I must beg the Favour you would return them, as they Cost
me some time in Copying. Rather than detain you from what will give you
more pleasure than anything of mine, be pleasd to accept
Cambridge August the 29. 1778
[Endorsement]