I am quite discourag'd writing by the Post I know not if you have ever receiv'd one Letter Which I have sent by them I have sent two long ones the Last I put into the office a month ago last Saturday.1 I should have written oftener if I had not suspected that Letters directed to Mr Adams where taken out by somebody who had no right to them— I hope I am mistaken—but I cannot conceive why you have not got many Letters which have been sent you; Doctor Tufts 408thinks his have met with the same fate as he has receiv'd no answers to many which he has sent you. Mr Cranch wrote to Mr Adams in July & inclos'd a Letter to Mr Bond giving him an account of his sister Ebbits sudden Death.2 mr Bond wrote a Letter to Mr Foster a fortnight after this & had not then heard of it. I inclos'd a letter in my last to you for Mrs Brisler to her Husband she has just receiv'd a Letter from him dated the 30th of August & she says it does not appear that he had receiv'd it which makes me think mine has not reach'd you. I shall be very sorry indeed if it has not as I had written things which I should be unwitting any body should see but you— I wish you would number your Letters for the future I will mine—& I shall write by private hands as much as I can. Mr Charles Ward Althorp will return to new york soon I sha[ll wr]ite by him—.3 we are all well I have heard fr[om] Haverhill Newbury & Cambridg our connexions there were also in health

old Deacon Webb has left us. he dy'd last week.4 Mrs Hall was at meeting a Sabbath day but complain'd much of her Eyes

The last Letter I receiv'd from you was dated the 9th of August & gave me an account of the sick state of your Family I have been waiting impatiently to hear further I hope Mrs Smiths children will not have the cough bad. poor little creatures I feel anxious for them— I do not wonder you were all sick— The weather was so very hot here that I some times thought we should be made sick too but a finer season for every kind of produce I never saw— the air has been remarkably clear tho so very hot—owing I suppose to the thunder so frequent at the south ward

I have seen the Fragment—

Pray write as often as you can— It is one of the greatest comforts I have—to receive such proofs of the affection of my Sister—

remember me kindly to all my Freinds and accept the warmest affection of your Sister

Your Favour of the 1st. Inst. I recd the 11st. and shall give orders to Pratt relative to the Butter &c Not having received an Answer to Mine respecting the Cart &c and finding no Opportunity to dispose of the Cart to Advantage I got Lt. Bates to apprize it which he sat at £7.10.0 and had concluded to take it to my own Use if you approved of it, but as you think it will not be best to sell—I wish to use it till the Spring & will account with you therefore— The Mud Boat I have got to Weymouth and found that it wanted the Eye of a Master— I do not expect that it will fetch more than £10 or £12. if sold as Gondalos that will serve the same Purpose have been sold at that Rate—I shall not However dispose of it without particular Directions tho I am of opinion it will be best to sell it if any Thing near the Worth can be obtained— Adams informs me that He must leave the House (at Boston) if the Rent is not reduced—1 I fear I shall not be able any longer to get £40 per annl from any Person, as Rents are exceeding low and but little Money in Circulation As soon as may be I wish to know your Mind on this Subject as well as with Respect to the Mode of adjusting Our Account whether it is agreable that Mrs. Cranch should audit it as heretofore— You will be so kind as let Cousin John, know that I answerd his Draught on me as soon as I became possessed of it being a Day or two after he left Boston—2

I wish to know what Papers are forwarded to you from the Printers at Boston and whether you would have all of them sent on—

The Author of the scurrilous Poem referred to in yours is well known here and it is generally reputed and considered as the Work of a malicious & disappointed Seeker—3 it appears to me to be a Stab upon the President through the Side of the Vice President and as paving the Way for an Attack upon Him, whenever a favorable Opportunity shall present— Too many there are to our Sorrow, that can never be contented but in Broils & Contests, Wishing to embroil Government, and to throw our publick Affairs into Confusion, they are seeking every Occasion to gratify their restless Spirits and to wriggle themselves into Places favorable to their Desig[ns] But as they are generally devoid of Principle, they sooner or later fall into the Pit which they have diggd for others—

Be pleased to remember me to Mr Adams & your Children—and accept of the best Wishes / of Your Affectionate Friend & H Ser