I returned, this Day the Visit of the ci-devant Duke De Liancourt. He is a Sensible Man. He is a Cousin German of the late Duke de la Rochefaucault, and inherited his Estate and for what I know his Titles: but neither the Estate nor Titles are of any Use at present.— What will be, the future destiny of these high Personages is a curious Problem.

I endeavoured to impress upon him as I have upon all other French men, the Necessity of an independent Senate in France, incapable of being warped by Ministers of State on one hand or by popular Demagogues on the other.

I begin now to entertain hopes of soon hearing from our Sons, to whom I have written by Mr Greenleaf.

This Session of Congress is the most innocent I ever knew.— We have done no harm.

The English are so beaten and the French so tryumphant that I wonder, there are not some Projects for War.— But it seems Popularity is not now to be gotten by Spirit.

I know not what to write to you, unless I tell you I love you, and long to see you— But this will be no News. I wish I had a farm here— I would give you my Chronicles of Husbandry in return for yours.

Three long months before I can see you. Oh! What to do with myself I know not.

Brisler has this day shipped 2 Barrells of flour and the Medallion—by Ames.

My Duty to My Mother and Love to Brothers & sisters & Cousins.

Mr Morris enquired of me the Character of William Cranch— besure I gave him a good one.

How is Mr Wiberts Health and Mr Quincys?

Adieu

Your kind favours of the 19th 23 & 26 of Nov’br came safe to Hand, together with the pamphlet. the writer appears to have ransakd Pandimonium, & collected into a small compass the iniquity and abuses of Several generations, “sitting down all in Malice & Naught extermating.”1 If the representations of our Democratic Societies both of Men and measures, for these two years past, were to be collected into one pamphlet, and could obtain belief, some future Jefferson, might cry out, that it containd [“]an astonishing concentration of abuses.” in a Government like that of Great Britain, we know that many abuses exist, both in the Governors & Governed, but Still in no Country, America excepted, has there ever existed so great a share of personal Liberty & Security of property.

You ask what I think of France I ruminate upon them as I lye awake many hours before light. my present thought is, that their victorious Army will give them a Government in Time, in spight of all their conventions, but of what nature it will be, it is hard to say. Men Warlike and innured to Arms and conquest, are not very apt to become the most quiet Submissive Subjects.— are we, as reported, to have a new Minister from thence? I presume Munroe is to their taste. it will be well if he does not take a larger latitude than his credentials will warrent.

I am anxious for our Dear Sons. There prospects are not very pleasent, even tho the french should not get possession of Holland. This Whirligig of a World, tis difficult to keep steady in it.

It gives me pain to find you so lonesome in the midst of so many amusements. I know you do not take pleasure in them, but you would feel more cheerfull if you went more into Society. the knitting work & Needle are a great relief in these long winter Evenings which you, poor Gentleman cannot use. like mr Solus in the play, [“]you want a wife to hover about you, to bind up your temples to 289 mix your Bark & to pour out your Coffe,” but dont you know, that you will prize her the more for feeling the want of her for a time?2

The buisness of the Farm goes on, the plowing is all finishd & the Manure all out, the yard full of sea weed, and a little wood.

The News of the day is that mrs Hancock is going to take Captain Scot into her Employ, in plain words that she is going to marry him—an able bodied Rough sea Captain.4

alas dorethy I never thought the very wise, but I thought the proud and ambitious.— do you say I am censorious. it may be so, but I cannot but wonder.

adieu pray write in good Spirits. you know I never could bear to hear you groan and at this distance it gives me the vapours—

I am most affectionatly / Yours