Your favour of 15 sepbr I have not yet replied to. with regard to the House, I wish it was as moveable an article as a Carriage I would then get you to send it by Barnard to Newyork where I should meet with no difficulty in getting four hundred Dollors rent. now I should be glad to get as much for the 5 Houses we own in Braintree together with the Farms belonging to them.1 the expence of living here is Double I believe in all most every article, in wood & Hay including the carting three times as much; for Instance, the carts here are very small drawn buy two Horses. they carry only 100 foot of wood at a time so that it costs four shillings to convey a Cord of wood about the distance from your House to mr Nortens. to this you must add four shillings more for sawing it, and your wood costs 5 dollors pr cord, and this is the lowest rate trust the Dutch to make their penny worths out of you.—

the House being in Boston we must take what we can get, say 36 or 34, but let them go out rather than let it for less than 30. the cart you may use when you please. the Scow mr Adams thinks had better lye by than be sold so low provided any shelter can be found. the tools that remain you will let them lye for the present. we have been very near determining to come home & spend the winter, & nothing prevents us but the foolish adjournment of congress to a period 418when they know the Southern members will not come, so that a part of the Body only will be here a useless expence to the states. had they set one month more & then adjournd to April, it would have been much more convenient. by the way I see the Boston Newspapers report that congress agreed to Borrow 50 thousand dollors of the Banks of Newyork & Phyladelphia as the Bill past the Senate the united states were to be at no expence at all. Pensilvania was to erect the Buildings & make every accommodation at their own expence, but the whole is happily posponed.2 it was unwise to bring on a subject which must necessaryly involve them in dispute, before any means was devised for the payment of publick creditors, or any way markd out for discharging the publick debt—

my good sir when do you give me an Aunt? or am I now to congratulate you upon that event.3 be it when it will, I most sincerly rejoice in any circumstance which may tend to augment your happiness. my best Respects to the Lady of your choice. I doubt not that she has great personal merit, and is certainly entitled to my esteem & Regard on that account, but the Relation in which you are about to place her shall be followd by all that respect & Reverence which my Heart pays to worth like that to which she is to be united, and may God Bless you together is the very sincere wish of dear / Sir your affectionate / Neice

Your Favor of July 14th: I duely received,1 and feel myself not a little flattered by your kind remembrance, and shall be ever highly gratified in retaining the friendship which flows from so good and benvolent an heart as you possess: as in this state we have very often occation to lament the seperation from those we esteem: so we have had much reason to regret the loss of yourself, and worthy Family from our society: but shall all ways take great delight in hearing of yours, and their prosperity

Indeed my dear Madam shining abilities: (as well as virtues) are so necessary for the Public Welfare; that they will be drawn forth from the private shade of domestic Felicity, and happy is it for the world when they are; as they cannot fail of stimulateing to Virtue, and all will admire, even where they may fail of invitation— The Friends of America here, are felicitateing them selves uppon the wisdom which their Country have shone in choice of their Senators, and which we sincerely hope, will be productive of its prosperity: as well as of that, of those individuals who are acting for them. Mr: Copley desires to join me in respectful Compliments to your self, Mr: Adams, Colonel, and Mrs. Smith; it gives me pleasure to hear of the increase of Mrs: Smiths happiness; (as I look uppon every addition to her Family in that light) and most sincerely hope that they will be renderd lasting comforts to her, and hers.—

By Captain Scoot I had the pleasure to send the Silk according to your direction, and hope I have not exceeded the price that might have been expected, I found it difficult to get a lutestring with any kind of Figure as that kind of Silk is too thin to admit of it, and the Stripes for Mourning are of so little variety and rather common; so that I have sent a gray Silk of a little better quality with a Spot, which is suitable, either for Spring, or Autumn, as well as for winter, and Shall be very happy if it Should prove to be what might be Wished for. the silk was 6s. 6d pr: Yrd: and as it was not quit so wide as a lutestring have sent 20 Yrd. instead of 18

I should have done myself the pleasure of writing sooner had not my absence from Town prevented my knowing when the Vessels have sailed for New York: My dear Betsys health has required my 420spending the chief of the summer with her in the Country, and I am very sensiable that you my dear Madam; will rejoice with me in the present prospect which I have of her perfect resotration. I left her a short time since with my Father at Tunbridge Wells, as I wish her have all the benefit she can from the country before the winter takes place—2

Prehaps this may find the Docr., and Mrs Jefferies in New York as they where uncertain in what part of America they should fix when they left us, but I hope where ever it may be that Success may accompany them,3 we are now about parting with another Friend, this is indeed not plasant; I had much rather this pleaseing commodity Should be brought to us— by Mr Trumbull you will be informed of every particular with regard to this place as well as of your Friends in it, and therefore I will not intrude farther uppon you at this time, than to beg your acceptance of my best wishes for your / health and happiness / and beleive me to be / Madam, with great estee / Your Friend, / and, Humble Servant