I have not received a Line from You of a later date than the 3d Instant the last week is the only one which has past since you left me, without Letters I hope it is not oweing to any other cause than the difficulty of passing the North River. we have had this Day Something very like a snow storm. it has Bankd some tho not very deep. it is two Months tomorrow since you went away, and we have had only one part of a Day in which any Rain has fallen, and intensely cold the greater part of the Time.

I have something to propose to you on the part of Your Mother. I think the remainder of her Days ought to be renderd comfortable & respectable, that she is not now in such a Situation as she ought to be placed, taking into consideration the station you will soon be call’d to fill. there is but one Grandaughter left.1 she has necessarily the whole Family care upon her which will prevent that constant care and attention which the Age and infirmities of your Mother require. She ought to have a lower Room, and not be obliged to mount up stairs, at the risk of falling. Mears has in His House a Handsome Room which I would furnish for the Good Lady, and Mrs Mears has no children and could attend alltogether to the care and necessary attention of her.2 If I should be calld away and Mears should agree to come & take care of this place we could easily remove her here. I should have proposed taking her here, but we have so little House Room and company would be urksome to her. I think she would be more agreabley placed in a Room which she should consider as her own, and with Authority to call for every assistance she wants. She told Me since the Marriage of Nancy, that if I went away, she should have nobody to take any care of her. I assured her that she might make herself easy for she should certainly be provided for to her comfort and satisfaction, and that I would not leave her untill she was. I was sure it was your desire, and that I had in my Mind Such accommodations as would make her so. if you approve of this I will propose it to her, and engage Mrs Mears to undertake the Charge, and I will see every thing Done to Make her Comfortable.

There is much talk with the Merchants upon petitioning Congress to lay an Embargo. the piracys of the French are very provoking and insulting. we have very few arrivals3 Young Beals got home last week, but was near being lost in comeing upon our coast. we appear to be quiet here. the Election of Mr A. and mr J seems to have quieted for a Time the Spirit of Party. I have not had any further advises from our sons. are there any publick Letters from them? I have read Peters censor. he is a full Blooded English Man. I want to see him craking Pains Bones.4 that Wretch has however written a Book which even the Jacobines will blush to advocate. I think he has Done his buisness in this Country. there are More Persons who will detest him for his abuse of Washington than for his infidelity— adieu My Dear Friend. I will not ask when I may hope to see you, for if you cannot come to me, I will to you, in the Month of May. I am My Dearest Friend / ever, ever Yours

Our Newspapers have announced to us the Choice of a President of the United States and that it has devolved on You. I congratulate You on this Occasion. as an American I feel highly gratified—as a Friend I confess that I feel some Deduction from my pleasing Sensations, when I contemplate the Fatigue Anxiety & Vexation to which you must be expos’d; this is indeed a Misfortune annexed to every exalted Station, I will not however admit this to be of Weight sufficient to deter or prevent a great & good Man, from undertaking the arduous Task when Providence points out the Way, and a Field for the most extensive Usefulness presents itself to his View—

Your enlarged Acquaintance with the World, various & continued Employments, in the great & most important Concerns of the public, have taught You how to calculate the good and the evil incident to the highest Station, and I may add, qualified You for bearing its Burdens & discharging its Duties with the greatest Facility to yourself, and advantage to the Community—

Should You undertake the Administration of Government, You will My Dear Sr. have my most fervent Wish, that it may be attended with the greatest possible Ease, & advantage to yourself, and the greatest possible Good, to the United States of America—

Some Days since I applied at the Loan Office, for the Dividend on 519 your funded Stock, but could not obtain it, for want of a sufficient Power, the last which you gave me extended no farther, than to my receiving the Two Pr. Cent Principal then payable. By a Law of Congress, or order of the Secretary of the Treasury. Powers of Attorny must express an Authority to receive, “the Dividends which are or shall be payable according to Law”— The necessary Powers you will forward if you think proper—

We have had a fine Winter for Business the best of Sledding in Roads, Woods & Swamps for Five Weeks past and still continues Snow level, not exceeding 12 Inches in Depth till Yesterday & the Day before 3 Inches were added Cold in general steady, but some Days severe Viz the 24th December, My Thermometer1 in the open Air at 8 oClock in the Morning stood at 8. below 0 the 4th. of this Month at 2 below 0. the 8th. at 10 below. 0. the 9th. 8 below. 0.—

With Sentiments of Respect & Esteem / am / yours—