I know you will rejoice with me that all was happily over & mrs Smith safely abed before I reachd her She thought she should do as she did before, so told no one that she was unwell, untill mr Smiths mamma & sister could scarcly reach her, and a Negro Woman whom she has was obliged to officiate for her. happily she had on some former occasions assisted some of her own coulour, but all were teribly frightned, however no one sufferd, but mrs Smith & my young Grandson are as well as usual at this period. Master William is the very Image of his Mamma at the same age, except that he has a great share of vivacity & sprightlyness, the merest little Trunchion that you ever saw, very pleasent & good humourd

I find this place a very retired one Rural & delightfull in the summer. mr Smith has a large connection of sisters & Brothers, who as well as his mamma appear very fond of their Sister & her daughter & Grandsons Belinda who keeps chiefly here, is very pleasing & soft in her manners, much like my Friend Mrs Rogers. I was so short a Time at Newyork that I saw nothing of it, and I feel as if I ought to return to my Family again, as soon as mrs Smith gets about, but it is a long journey & the Stages I find are very inconvenient for a Lady & wholy improper on many accounts for me. they are not hung upon springs & they drive very Rapidly over very bad road. I hope you will write me and give me some account of my Family, about which I am anxious you will learn from Esther how she makes out I wish to know whether she is able to take the care which is upon her— I also want to know how mr J Q As health is, I know you will feel a care for all of them in my absence.— mr Adams will Frank your Letters which please to direct under cover to Col Smith

my Love to my dear Neices and tell Betsy I design to be at Home to wedding mrs Smith joins me in affectionate Regard to you & Family.

I am my dear sister affectionately / Yours

I do not know whether you have heard a word from me since I left you, if you have not, I presume it will afford you some pleasure to be assured that I got home well, though we had an uncommon cold time— We found our own Family in good Health— But Miss Lydia Marsh was very sick with the scarlet fever, & good Mrs Marsh was taken the day we got home with a very voilent fever, which threatened speedy dissolution— But to the great comfort of her Friends, & Relations she is again recovered, & her useful Life is a little longer lengthened out to us—1

I heard by Judge Seargant that Sister Adam's was going to New-york, but I doubted whether it were true— But I have since heard that she is gone— Seems to me it was very sudden indeed, for she did not intimate anything of it to me I fear she will always be moving from us— She is so connected in publick Life, & must have so large a Sphere to act in, that it is not likely we shall ever have that sweet enjoyment, in still domestic Life, which we used to experience in the private Circle of dear Friends—

I am glad to hear Mr Adams is better, I should not have thought his Mother would have left him— A journey mig[ht] perhaps, been of eminent service to him—

I am grieved to tell you that our dear Mr Thaxter has had another dreadful fit— It did not last but a few minutes—& he was not so sick afterwards— I really think Mrs. Thaxter suffers more from apprehension than he does in reality— How often does unforeseen Calamity cast a shade over the brightest prospects— The tender affection which subsists between this worthy pair, serves only to sharpen the edge of their affliction— I really fear the distress, & agitation of her Mind, will occasion Mr Thaxter a third dissappointment—2

Next week Mr Adrews is to be ordained at Newbury—3 This I presume will afford me the pleasure of seeing many of my Friends this way— among them may I not hope to see Mr Norton, & my dear Cousin— I look earnestly in the news paper, but have not as yet seen his nutials announced to the publick— Whenever that may be, may my young Friends be blessed, & happy— I have got some fine Turkeys I wish you were here to eat them— Mr White, Mr Osgood, & 310 Mr Bartlet presented us with one—so we have seven for you my friends if you will make haste & come to your ever affectionate