on thursday I received a Letter from Col Smith informing me of the Birth of a Grandaughter.1 this You may be sure was much more agreable to me than to have heard of an other Boy. Mrs Smith is finely too, he writes me. this is an additional Blessing, to hear of the safety of our Dear Children abroad, and to receive the news of our Daughters being well abed—and with a Daughter, has given Such a spring to my Spirits, that if your return was a Month later I would meet you at New York—

The climate is reversed— You have all the Snow & winter with you. our people have not been able to go once this winter with a sled into the woods, and but for Some Ice they could not have sleded a single stone. the Harbour has been open the whole season the Rivers froze for about ten days— we have frequent and abundent Southerly Rains— I hope you will not have so dissagreable a Time Home as you apprehend, tho March has frequently bad Roads—

We have as usual a Derth of News— no arrival from abroad, and as to Domestick occurrences I go so little from Home, that I know very little of them.

our Friends here are Well as usual. till within this fortnight it has been remarkably Healthey in Town. our Neighbour mr Blacks Family are very sick a Cousin of mr Blacks is very Bad with the fever and Ague which he took in N york state a Year ago— Jimmy & the other Man are sick with a Lung fever. I believe mr Blacks Cannel and the Situation of his House, are not Healthy.2 Your Mother has past through this Winter very comfortably. She has not misst a single week through the Winter, spending a day with me— I expect her to day as I have sent the Chaise for her—

Sinc I began this Letter a vessel has arrived this Day the News from England I have not yet learnt only that Amsterdam was not taken the 13 December I have a Letter from Mrs Copley Dated 15 Novbr

Many vessels saild for N York and Bosten about the same time. I think we may look for News of importance daily. France must dread a General peace. What will such a Nation do with Such Armies and no Government? it sees to be the Age of Political Wonders—

I hope a few weeks more will return You in Health and safety to Your ever / affectionate

I was So happy in the News of the agreable Circumstances of your Sister and her Infant, and of the Safe Arrival of your Brothers at the Hague and Amsterdam, that the melancholly Account in your Letter of the 5th came upon me by Surprize and afflicted me very much.1 The detestable Cause of your sisters Misfortune the Infidelity or Negligence of the Apothecary, is alarming to every Body. The Violence of the Operation of the hateful Dose, in her weak Condition leaves room for the most allarming Apprehensions. I pray God, that her situation may not be so dangerous, as my fears incline me to forebode. I beg you to write me every day, and let me know the worst. Give my tenderest Love to her and her Family.

I am not without Anxiety on account of your health. You appeared to me, when you were here, to be too plethorick. There are innumerable Disorders which originate in Fulness, especially in a sendentary and a studious Life. You must rouse yourself from your Lethargy and take your Wallk every Day. When you cannot wallk abroad, wallk in your Room: open your Windows and air your Room as often as you can. Make it a rule not to sit long in the Same Place. Rise up now and then, open your Windows & wallk about your room a few Times, then sit down again to your Books or your Pen.

One of the most essential Things for a Lawyer is to study his Constitution and take Care of his Health.— Exercise is indispensible— No Regimen without it, will do. No Abstinence no Medicine, No Diet will Supply its Place. Move or die, is the Language of our Maker in the Constitution of our Bodies. Your Constitution is a very good one, and it will be unpardonable in you not to preserve it.

In my Youth I read a good deal of Physick and among other Books Dr Cheyne whose system is now exploded among Physicians—2 I nevertheless think his Writings well worth reading and that a great deal of Useful Knowledge may be obtained from them. sir John Pringles Diseases of the Army I also read with no small Advantage.—3 Cullens first Lines4—or Buchan— In short I think that every 372 Man of Letters ought early in Life to give some Attention to the Theory of Physick for the Benefit of his own health and that of his Friends. But without immediate Ennergy, Exertion and Activity, Charles your health will decline and your Mind will become weak, heavy and clumzy like your Body. I am tenderly / Your Father