I cannot omit so good an opportunity as now Presents to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter of Nov. my Dear Lucy—,1 my Brother has made us a very agreeable visit and I hope when he returns he will give a favourable account of his friends;—and of New York. he has been danceing amongst the Ladies and has been much approved. but what will you think of their ideas of Beauty, when I tell you that he has also borne away the Palm upon this subject—against the fairer Part of the family—, we are very reluctant at parting with him— but as it is necessary we must Submit—

what a Beautifull Winter we have. the weather here has been very fine. for two months past with very few exceptions we have not had more than one inch of snow at a fall, which has not Continued for any time—and it is almost as mild as April—, but we cannot enjoy the present pleasure without some apprehension least the future should prove unfavourable— the farmers tremble for their Crops, least the spring should prove unfriendly to them, thus it is the past and the future oftentimes prevent us from enjoying the Present Blessings 12with a proper gratitude— it often surprises me to hear Persons of good judgent—regreting the Scences which they have passed—looking back to the pleasures they injoyed in situations in which I recollect to have known them imployed in anticipating the pleasures of those stations in which they are at present placed— there is a certain unsattisfying principle in our dispositions which deprives us of much Sattisfaction,— those who are Conscious of it and indeavour to Correct it have some chance to overcome it and to enjoy the greatest of all blessings a Contented mind—

Mrs Norton wrote me that you were to spend most of the Winter with her.2 perhaps this may find you employed in the gratefull office of Confering, pleasure upon others—which I am sure must be the Case in whatever situation it meets you—

our friend N—— Q.—I hear is soon to become Mrs Packard how do her friends approve of her settling at such a distance from them and how can she reconcile her mind to quit her Native Town to which She is so much attached;— I expect in the Common Course of Human events that Parson W–b–d—will soon drop off, and that some smart young Parson will be put into his Place who will present himself to my friend Lucy—and I hope he will prove worthy of her acceptance this will be very agreeable to all Parties;— you must Compleat the trio—3 be so good when you see Miss Quincy to present my regards to her— present me respectfully to Your Pappa & Mamma—and to all friends who may inquire after your / friend

your letter of December 14th I had the pleasure to receive the last week.1 and by my Brother Thomas who leaves us tomorrow I have an opportunity to Convince you that I am determined to fullfill my late promises of future attention to my Cousin—, Thomas has made us a sociable visit, and we are very Sorry to part with him even 13now,— the necessity of his attending his Studies must reconcile us to it. I beleive he has been gratified with his visit although he does not appear to have received such a favourable prepossession for New York as to determine to return hither when he has finished his Studies at Colledge

we expect that Congress will adjourn in the spring—and Mamma intends if they do, to spend her summer at Braintree which will I am sure be a great addition to your Happiness, as well as all her other friends— it too frequently so happens that such events as deprives some of us of our greatest pleasure Contributes in an equal degree to the Happiness of others, Perhaps it is designed for some wise purposes— I am sure that I have no disposition to doubt upon this Head we are informed that your friend Nancy Quincy is soon to say Love Honour and obey you are I presume acquainted with the Gentleman, does her choice receive the sanction of your approbation!— She expressed a partiallity for the profession when I last saw her;— I know she is very deserving, and I hope she has found a Person of equal Merrit, and who will prove deserving of her;—

there is a great pleasure in renewing an acquaintance with an old friend after we have been seperated from each other by any intervening Circumstances, for any length of time. there is at present a great Collection of persons from all quarters in this City—and I sometimes meet with those whith whom I was formerly acquainted. Mrs Roggers whom we knew in London—Spends the winter here. she is an amiable Benevolent Woman, and we enjoy much pleasure from her society.— the manner of visitting here is not so well calculated to promote intimacies and sociability as in Boston, but when you are obliged to keep up an extensive visitting acquaintance—it may be done with less inconvenience here most of the Ladies whose Husbands are in Publick offices have their particular day on which they are at home to receive Company. at all other times they are at liberty to refuse themselvs if they choose, and they are obliged to keep up such an extensive acquaintance as would take up their whole time otherwise you may return a dozen of thease visits in an evening— it is not expected (if you find the family at home) that you will set more than a quarter of an Hour, and if you do not a Card answers every purpose— in this way you will readily suppose that one cannot form intimate acquaintances—but you are at liberty to make choice of such a Number as please you the most and with them you may Live less ceremoniously—, I have met with some very amiable and agreeable Women, in whose acquaintance I find much 14pleasure, and gratification— when we meet at any of thease Evening Parties we make a little circle amongst ourselvs—and can enjoy our own observations upon the Characters arround us—

there is a Lady here from Virginia who reminds me of our friend Mrs Russell—by a simularity of manners—which has prepossessed me much in her favour.

be so good as to Present my Compliments to Mr Norton, in which Mr. Smith joins me and be assured that I am very sincerely your friend