The Anxiety you express (in your kind Letter of Decr 31 which I received this morning1) for your Country and the Happiness of your Children is very amiable. The Prospects of this Country are gloomy, but the Situation of all Europe is calamitous beyond all former Examples. At what time and in what manner and by what means, the Disasters which are come and Seem to be coming on Mankind may be averted I know not. Our own People have been imprudent, as I think and are now Smarting under the Effects of their Indiscretion. But this instead of a Consolation is an aggravation of our Misfortune. Mr Genet has been abusive on the President and all his Ministers beyond all measures of decency, or Obligations of Truth, and in other respects not yet publickly investigated, his Conduct has been Such as to make it difficult to know what to do with him. But I cannot explain myself fully: you must wait for time to bring forth Events and Ecclaircissments

I have read all the Numbers of Columbus, and although I am pleased with the style and Arrangement, the extent of Learning and force of Reason, I thought in some Places a little less Indignation, might have been more becoming. Whether the President has read them I know not. I have been afraid to ask questions or make Observations to any body lest I should be thought to be too much interested. There are Quantum Meruits in a Lawyers Office, but none in a printing office for an honest Man, any more than in a senate.

Thomas inclosed to his Brother at Boston a Check on the Bank for 400 Dollars to pay Gen. L.— but has received no Acknowledgment of it.—2 I must send you Some Money— You must have Hay, and all other Necessaries.— No News of Cheesman.

Mrs Washington always enquires affectionately after your health, and I never forget to present your Respects.

The News of this Evening is, that the Queen of France is no more— When will Savages be Satiated with Blood.? No Prospect of Peace, in Europe, and therefore none of internal Harmony in 36 America. We cannot well be in a more disagreable Situation than We are with all Europe, with all Indians and all Barbary Rovers.

Nearly one half the Continent is in constant opposition to the other, and the Presidents situation which is highly responsible is very distressing. He made me a very friendly Visit Yesterday which I returned to day and had two Hours Conversation with him alone in his Cabinet. The Conversation which was Extreamly interesting and equally affectionate, I cannot explain even by a hint. But his earnest desire to do, right, and his close Application to discover it, his deliberate and comprehensive View of our affairs with all the World, appeared in a very amiable and respectable Light. The Antifoederalists and the frenchified Zealots have nothing now to do, that I can conceive of but to ruin his Character destroy his Peace, and injure his health. He Supports all their Attacks with great firmness and his health appears to be very good. The Jacobins would make a Sortee upon him in all the force they could muster, if they dared. I run on and say nothing so I will conclude your ever affectionate

My Neighbour captain Beals went to Town yesterday and was so good as to bring up, and send me my Letters last Evening, whilst I was sitting mourning that I had no hope of getting them, as the travelling was very bad and the Day stormy. I find the Family an agreable acquisition. we live upon friendly & social terms. I agree with mr Izzard, that we are grown too old to live seperate, and I could literally construe that part of the marriage Service, which says, “what God has put together, let no man put assunder,” for in Youth most people are too young to be Seperated. he understood Humane Nature well; who pronounced that it was [“]not good for Man to be alone”1 our present seperation is much mitigated by the frequent intercourse we are enabled to hold by Letter. Columbus finishd in his 5th Number, and I mean to hint to Barnevelt to close as soon as possible. Americanus is by no means a match for him, but he is a false, fibbing contemptable antagonist, and will with a Brasen front; affirm that white is black, & black white, and tho the publick may 37 be benifitted by shewing the Man in his true light and Character, there is no touching pitch without being defiled, and in order to confute him, he must be followd through his windings, and his inconsistences. these two writers may be compared to the Eagle and the Snake “the Side way and oblique motion with which the Snake goes on, points out the deceit he proceeds with. his Breast fix’d to the Earth, shews his adherence to self interest; the various inflexions and foldings of his Body are descriptive of his crooked Soul; and his conceald venom denotes the evil intention he hides.”2 The generous Eagle aspires to mount through the pure Air, by an honest flight, with his own Native strength, and the shafts which may be thrown at him, will recoil and wound the pursuers. if as you have heard Columbus is republishing both in N york and Philadelphia, he will have opponents sufficient to keep down any vanity which might otherways arise in, his breast. he will find sufficient mortification in beholding so many of his fellow creatures disposed to Ruin and overthrow a Government under which they might live quiet and peaceable Lives. he will see that he has a Herculean task to perform, and as many monsters to contend with. I would not however advise him to notice any of his opponents The Truth of his own arguments cannot fail to carry conviction to every candid inquirer, and like Gold will only shine the brighter the more they are Rub’d. the French Jacobins have united with our dissafected and unprincipald citizens, and will create much trouble I fear. an act of the state of Georgia respecting suits in the Federal Court, breath a spirit of defiance, and Virginia by some of her resolves plainly shews what manner of spirit she is of—3 the great Body of the people are however contented and happy. we know that they may be wrought up to a Spirit of resistance & madness—but it will not be very easy to impose upon them. general Lincoln tells me that in his late journeys he had much opportunity of conversing with them, and that he did so freely, but found them universally pleasd and happy. I find by the Papers that mr Jefferson has resignd, and that the Virgina corps fill the vacant places. it is prudent perhaps that it should be so; I think I have heard you express a good opinion of the Talants of mr Taylor. I should suppose that it ought to be a distinguishd, & solid Law, Character to fill that office with respectability what ever may be mr Jeffersons motives for resigning, I presume he will not be neglected.4 most men grow either Avaricious or ambitious as they advance in Life. It is storied of Pausanias that he inquired of Hermocrates how he might become eminent, and was answerd, by taking of 38 the Head of the most eminent Man;5 Ambition has not yet reachd that Sumit in this Country, but overturn our Religion, and all the rest would soon follow. if these Jacobin Societyes are permitted and countananced in this Country, from the Strides already made we have every thing to fear.

In France they have at length added the Murder of the unfortunate Queen to the measure of their Iniquity, whilst Humanity sickens at the recital of their crimes, her Death is less horible than the cruel imprisonment and indignities she has sustaind.

I think we have great reason to fear that Cheeseman is lost. you had the value of one hundred dollors on board one whole suit of black Broad cloth seven shirts which is a whole peice of Linnen one other coat & waistcoat stockings and your Green damask Gown draws waistcoats &c, and Thomass Boots which I suppose he is in great want of. poor Brisler too is a sufferer—

Mr Pratt brought me his account last week— I told him previously that I could not pay it till I had written to you. the foot of it is 34£ 10s. 7d. Humphries & Porter call’d upon me for their pay for cutting 22 cords of wood two pounds four shilling, which I dischargd. the payment of this Bill, and some small family demands have left me 0. really in such a situation as I never was before— the Dr will discharge 200 this week and in order to do it he appropriates the whole interest due. I have given my word to Savil that he shall be payd this Month. I believe there will be no risk in sending I am told by your Brother who was in Town last week that a great uneasiness prevails on account of this Jacobine club—and that they have for one object the overturning of the funding system, and an other is to rule the comeing Election. the south end politicians have three candidates whom they mean to set up. the present Lt Governour judge Dana & mr Gerry.6 I wish we may have as good Men as the two last, one man, who I know not declares that you are the only man he will vote for tho he should stand alone.

my best Respects to mrs washington with many thanks for the honor done me by her repeated kind inquiries. I honour her for a prudence, which I know I do not possess— I could not keep Silence as she does. to all my other Friends Male and Female present me kindly. I am often with them in imagination.

In reality I am with every / tender affection yours.