I had Yesterday the Pleasure of yours of January 5. I will Send, to Mr Adams a Check upon the Branch Bank for two hundred Dollars as soon as I can get Thomas to transact the Business for me.1

I am glad to find that you have had Applications for the Farms— I wish you to hear them all and enquire their Characters and Circumstances

We are all of Us here, very much concerned for Cheesman. he has not been heard of.

I have not seen Americanus nor Barneveldt. But in the former the latter has to deal with a Man who is the least of a Gentleman of any one in Boston. I hope the latter will not forget that he is one.

Our son will find the Envy of his Friends, the bitterest Drop in the Cup of Life. He must have a Care however not to give them Advantages by indiscreet Exultations, nor by any unmanly humiliations. Let him take no improper Notice, of what he must see and feel. I could entertain even you with a long History of my own Sufferings in this Way.

I have read of a People in Antiquity called The Ephesini who 41 passed a fundamental Law in these Words “Let none of Our Citizens excell others in merit, if he does let him live elsewhere and with others.” For this horrible decree Heraclities pronounced them all worthy of dying in the prime of Life.2

These are Vices to which Democratical Governments are more peculiarly liable than any others. Our son must expect to Smart under them all his Life

yours affectionately

The ice in the Delaware having delayed the post beyond it’s usual period I had not the honor to receive your esteemed letter of the 8th until this moment, but my respect for the writer constrains me to acknowledge it’s arrival before I can be prepared to give an answer to its contents.

in a free country it is so important that the people shou’d entertain just sentiments respecting their public affairs, that I feel myself much more indebted to those who contribute by their labors to rectify public opinion than I do to those who immediately share the administration of the Government, and upon this principle I have expressed very freely my obligation to Columbus.—

as I beleived that the peices under that signature woud be useful I have made it a practice to circulate among my friends the Newspapers which contained them, & thus it happens that at the moment I wish to review them they are not at my command.— I have hopes however that the Vicepresident has them, & with this expectation I have engaged Mr. Otis to procure them.— when this is done I shall reexamine them for the purpose you have suggested & shall shew you by my frankness & sincerity that I am ambitious of retaining the confidence you have so generously bestowed.—1

it was natural enough that Mrs. Cabot shoud be a little alarmed at 42 seeing me read, with a pleasure which I coud not disguise, a letter from a Lady with a feigned signature & without the date of place—but as she discoverd that you expressed all your affection for her & only respect for me, her agitations subsided & she desired me to send back an unfeigned assurance of both2—in which I might join / with every consideration