your letter my Dear Brother of May 1st I received three or four weeks past1—just at the moment when I was removeing, and Commenceing, again Housekeeping it takes three or four weeks to settle our minds to new Situations—and domestick Concerns employ a Considerable portion of the attention of good Housekeepers—even if they are favoured with good Servants— thease causes must Constitute my appology to you for omitting untill this time to answer your letter—which has confirmed my oppinion of your prudence, discretion,—and caution, upon all subjects of importance, when the Heart is so deeply interested it sometimes blinds the eyes of reason, and judgment,— I should indeed be very sorry that a first impression—of partiallity and attachment—and that excited by so amiable and deserving an object—should meet eventually with any efacement,—from Mercenary views—or be repulsed by too wise maxims of Prudence— from Charles account of the Lady who has had the Honour to have inspired you with a favourable opinion of the Sex—you may Worship without Idolitary—for he asserts that there is nothing so like perfection, in Human shape appeard since the World began (—and I presume would add the remainder) but to have done for 69the present with the subject of attachments and to turn our attention to one in which you and myself are some what interested—I mean the question of removeall of Congress to Philadelphia—which is to be decided in Senate in the Course of the week and which you will doubtless hear has passed the House in favour of that City—it is Supposed that the Senate will be equally divided—and that the V P—— will decide the question and I can tell you it will be in favour of going to Phi—— and I presume to add from a mistaken opinion respecting some certains matters things, oppinions, and influential, Characters.2 it will be a disadvantage to Charles to be changeing his office—and particularly as he has become very steady and attentive to his Studies and is very happy in his circle of acquaintance here— but private interest we are taught to beleive should be sacrifised at the alter of Publick good— how they are in this instance Connected I do not see—for it is a Bargain as much as if such a sum was stipulated for the removeall. I mean with the magority—

june 16th—

Mr Charles Storer has arrived here within a few days and sets out tomorrow for Boston by him I shall forward this— the weather has been so warm the week past that it has not been in my Power to Coppy my Letter— you must excuse it— I hope to hear from you frequently—and be assured I am at all times your very sincere friend and Sister

Phillips has this moment handed me yours of the 5th. and I now throw by a Qui tam 1 in which I have been drudging this ½ hour, to 70thank you for your letter.— Whence comes this Listlessness—this depression of Spirits? What can relax the Elasticity of your Mind? I have often found myself in the same Situation. I felt it yesterday without being able to trace the least Cause. The Connection between the Soul & body is so inexplicable that I believe it impossible to account for the peculiar temper of mind which a man will frequently find himself in. I have sometimes puzzled myself much about the matter. I wish I had Shakespear by me that I might turn to the passage you allude to. Whatever may be the Cause, I will not make it a subject of derision; not from the motive of pure friendship alone, but because I think it a disorder or Disease to which a man may as necessarily be subjected as to the Stone or the Gout. The best remedy I believe is determined Resolution opposition. My depressions seldom last more than a few hours. I can generally reason them away. If neither Reason nor opposition will prevail, I take the first opportunity to run away from them. Some trivial Circumstance generally occurs in the Course of a few hours, which I convert into a source of Pleasure and I soon make out to dissipate the Gloom—

Just as I finished the last page I was interrupted in the office & since that time I have spent 2 hours with Betsy Foster, solus cum solâ.2 I should not have mentioned this Circumstance, which is nothing very uncommon, but that it partly concerns you. She said she did not know any person she should be so afraid of, as you. I demanded the grounds upon which she had formed such an opinion. She said she was not much acquainted with you, but that she had in her pocketbook a little piece of satirical Poetry which she thought would justify her fears. She then produced a Copy of the Vision.3 She was charmed with it, but she could not help being afraid of the Author. She read to me several of the Characters. Miss Jones's was very beautiful. She hoped Miss Frazier had profited by the Advice,—& she had been told that you now saw her Character in quite a different point of view. The latter part of Mrs Farris's,4 she thought she could apply to herself and recieve much advantage from the hint. She did not read me that of Miss Bradbury, but said it was very illiberal & tho she did not know the lady, yet she presumed it very unjust,— Upon the whole she thought it an elegant performance; and I was not displeased to find that she discover'd so good a Judgment.

I assured her that you are one of the most like candid young men of my Acquaintance, and that if there is anything illiberal in the Vision I was certain you could not be the Author. She said she had her 71inforation from the lady who loaned her the Copy, but would not tell me who that lady was.

Last thursday I paid my Respects to Mrs Otis. It would be but a common place observation to say that the Bride & her husband made an elegant appearence. I do not think either of them improved by joining their Charms.5 I n[ever] yet thought a Woman look'd better for Finery [. . .]

Jack Forbes is in town. He becomes less erratic [as he ap]proaches the Center of Life.6 he sends you his Love.

Moses Little dined with me on Saturday. In the P.M. Foster & I accompanied him down the Bay in a boat. After we parted in Nantasket Road, he was soon out of sight.

It is a long time since I heard from our friends at New York. Our friends at Braintree & Weymouth are all well—

May cheerfulness & Peace be with you / yours affectionately