I designd to have written to you by the Monday Post, but I was so very ill on Sunday that I could not set up. I have had the severest attack of the Rhumatism attended with a voilent fever which I have experienced for several years. I have not yet left my chamber, tho I am much releived. the weather has been uncommonly wet and cold, Snow we have had in the course of this fortnight more than through the whole winter. our House has been a mere Hospital ever since Saturday last. I have been confined in one chamber, col smith in an other with a Billious attack Charls is in an other with a fever, my House keeper confind to her chamber with Saint Antonys fire,1 and a servant of col Smiths laid up with a voilent seazure of the Breast & Lungs, but thanks [to] a kind Providence we are all upon the Recovery. I was in hopes [to] have heard from you by last weeks post, & to have learnt how mrs Norten was, for whom I am much concernd. I am anxious for her, from more disinterested motives than Swifts Friend, tho perhaps I can more feelingly sympathize with her for, having “felt a pain just in the place where she complains”—2

my last letter to you was accompanied by one for mr J Cranch which I hope came safe to Hand. I wrote you something respecting Ruthe Ludden, but I wish now to be very particular. if her Time is out with her Aunt as I think it was in March, and she is inclined to come Barnard will return here sometime in May. her Passage by him will be six dollors which I shall pay. there is a mrs Laffen with whom mr Brisler is acquainted who went from here to Boston in Barnard and means to return again with him, so that she would not have to come alone. my terms to her will be three dollors a Months, and to give her the small pox. I wish to have an immediate answer because if she does not like to come, mr Brisler has a sister Betsy in Boston, who would be very glad to come and I shall write to her to 51come immediatly.3 I do not wish to send Polly home till I get somebody in her Room, but send her Home I must, or I shall never have a quiet family. this I must say of her, that I have never found her otherways than stricktly honest and I have not had the least difficulty with her on account of Drink. in short it is next to imposible here to get a servant from the highest to the lowest grade that does not drink male or Female I have at last found a footman who appears sober, but he was Born in Boston, has lived a very short time in the city & has very few acquaintance there. you would be surprizd if I was to tell you that tho I have been long trying to get a Boy here I cannot find one that any Body will Recommend, and I should be very glad to get one from Boston—I mean Peters son. my Housekeeper who on many accounts has been the most Respectable Female I have had in the Family, is so sick and infirm that she is obliged to leave me, partly I know because she will not live with Polly. if I could find any middle aged woman of a Reputable Character who understands Pastry &c in Boston I would send for her. I give 5. dollors a month to my Housekeeper, my kitchen and offices are all below stairs, and where there are a Number of Servants there must be one respectable Head amongst them to over see & take care that they do not run head long as well as to overlook the cooking & to make Tea for me upon my publick Evenings—to make my Pastry to assist in the Ironing &c this is the Buisness which falls to her share. Ruthe I want for a house maid. She will have no concern with cooking at all, as I keep a woman solely for that purpose. I wish you would be upon the inquiry for me. If I had not Brisler with me I should be tempted to give up publick Life. the chief of the Servants here who are good for any thing are Negroes who are slaves, the white ones are all Foreigners & chiefly vagabonds— I really know now more than ever how to Prize my English servants but I think when the cat is once gone I shall do much better do you remember the Fable of the Cat the Sow & the Eagle Scarcly a day passes that I do not think of it,4 yet I have a real value for Polly. She has a great many good qualities, and alone in a small Family would answer very well, but Authority she cannot bear to have the least, it is only by keeping her Humble that she is any way to be bourn with. in many things as mr Althorp observed, she seems as necessary to me as my daily food, and but for that temper, I would not part with her. with that I could deal, but the eternal mischief between others, keeps the whole House in disorder, and gives a bad Name to the 52whole Family— thus having detaild my whole Family grievences to you I bid you adieu with Love to all Friends / from your ever affectionate sister

I received your short Epistle by Mr: Thomas at Ipswich,1 where I was then attending the Court of Common Pleas: and at the same time he gave me very agreeable information respecting your performance at exhibition; which has been confirmed to me from several quarters. From the conversations which have repeatedly passed between us, you will readily imagine how much I was gratified, to hear that you acquitted yourself with so much honour; and to a mind so generous as yours, I am well perswaded, that the idea of having given pleasure to your friends, will greatly enhance the value of your own.2

Your Question respecting A and B. and A's Wife, may be very ingenious; but I confess it is rather beyond my comprehension. And as my imagination in pursuit of your meaning might chance to run foul of Scylla or of the other place, I will even leave it as I found it.

I presume that in the course of six weeks or two months; it will be necessary for me to take some measures in order to obtain my second degree.— But as I do not wish to take the trouble of a Journey to Cambridge; I must request you, to do the business for me.— As soon therefore as the usual advertisements to the candidates for the Master's degree, shall appear in the papers; you will apply to the Steward, the Butler; and the Sweeper, for receipts, which it seems are necessary, though, I have never owed them any thing since I left College: Doctor Tufts will supply you with ten dollars, five of which 53are to be paid to the President, and five to the Steward: and I herewith enclose three questions which you will deliver to the President, who will select from them that which appears to him most proper. These are all the requisites, to be complied with that have ever come to my knowledge— If any thing more should be required, you will give me the information; at any rate I suppose it will not be necessary for me to go to Cambridge, merely for the purpose of securing my degree.3

I should have been very happy to have seen you here in the course of the late vacation; and they had some expectation of seeing you at Haverhill; where I spent, the Sunday before last. I found almost all our friends there unwell. Mr: Shaw's House was a mere Hospital. He was so sick himself that the public services were omitted; they were however upon the recovery; and I presume are before this wholly restored; though I have not heard from them since I came back.

I have a Letter from your father of the 16th: instt:4 and one from your Sister of the 18th: they were then all well; at least as far as may be collected from negatives; I am not told that any of them were unwell.

Coll: Smith moves into New York in the beginning of May. They have taken a House in Nassau Street. Perhaps you know where it is.

Have you as yet determined upon your future profession? This Question I have more reasons than one to wish you immediately to answer. I shall decidedly go to Boston immediately after Commencement. If you conclude upon studying Law, and incline to become a fellow-student with me, I hope I shall be able to procure the consent of the Bar. At least you might study the two first years in my office; and the remaining year with a man of more abilities and experience. This plan would be much less expensive, and in my opinion Quite as advantageous to you, as any that could be proposed. I expect, (but this I wish you not to mention) to board with Dr: Welch; and should you adopt this scheme, we might both I suppose, live there together; and at less expence than we could live separately. You will reflect upon the matter and determine according to your own judgment; but I wish you to inform me as soon as possible what your intentions are.

Meanwhile, I remain, your affectionate brother.