I received by the last post your favour enclosing a draft upon the branch Bank, for 100 dollars.1

The political speculations of which your fraternal feelings have formed so favourable a judgment, originated in motives at least as disinterested, as are the common sources of patriotism. That a literary reputation is an object of Ambition to the writer, it would be false and absurd to deny. That the public mind, required some light upon the subjects discussed, at the time of their appearance, I believe is true. But political ambition was not in the smallest degree concerned in the production.— If those writings have done any service, to the cause of real Liberty, and of my Country, I am amply rewarded; and if my vanity has been flattered by the approbation of my friends, it was but a momentary exultation, which immediately vanished, and left me in possession of all the humility ever allotted to me.

I know very well, that my own opinion ranks me in the scale of importance, at least as high as I deserve; that it rates my powers perhaps more than at their full value. Yet my success in the world 78 has not hitherto been such as to feed my vanity very plenteously. Though advanced almost to the age of thirty, I have no political existence, and my ideas of Liberty and Government, are so widely distant from the fashion of the day, that they are much more likely to be injurious than beneficial to my advancement. At the bar after nearly four years practice, I remain obscure and unknown; without any expectation of brilliant success, and scarcely with the Hope of obtaining with all the industry in the power of Man, and with integrity unblemished, even a decent subsistence. Surely then as far as success is the criterion of talents, I have no Reason to be vain.

From what I have last said, you will not I trust conclude that I am discontented with my present situation. My greatest fear for myself at present is, that I shall grow too easy, careless and indolent.

My profession at present gives me bread, and my business, however slowly seems gradually to improve. At our late Court of Sessions, I acted again in behalf of the Commonwealth: and again was in every instance of indictment successful.— At the Court of Common Pleas which sat at the same time, I argued three Causes to the Jury, and obtained two verdicts.2 Our Supreme Court, sits here the next week, and I shall be engaged in several Causes which are for trial; two or three of them important. So that you may conclude I am not entirely idle. I am still however upon probation and still consider all my professional employment as accidental and precarious.

We have this day a Town-meeting to consider what measures they will take to secure their carrying trade.— I shall not attend it. The measure is perfectly Jacobin, and I am afraid they will do something foolish.3 I do not like altogether the complexion of this Town’s present sentiments, and the democratical Societies, are much more dangerous than a pestilence. Parties grow warm and bitter. There must be a critical time for the present Government, and that crisis I think is fast approaching.— I will keep myself out of troubled waters as long as possible.

Present my compliments to Mrs: Wilson, and tell her that the Heart which even her charms could not unlock and expand; must have been reserved and unsocial indeed. The frost must be rigorous indeed, which is not disolved by a solstitial Sun.

The other Boston Ladies at Philadelphia, particularly the Miss Brecks’, are often present to my mind, and are very pleasing in remembrance. They cannot be admired beyond their merits And 79 whatever pleasure their presence gives to the new place of their residence, it is at least equall’d by the regret which their absence leaves in that of their former abode.

Adieu

I received last Evening by my obliging Neighbour captain Beals your kind Letters of Febry 4th, and before I reply to them, I would inform you that our venerable Parent has appeard to revive for these two days past. her disorder has proved a Lung fever. the dr advised to a puke two days ago. She was rather averse to it, wishing rather as she expresst herself to dye in quiet. she had labourd under a great sickness at her Stomack which made her loath both food and medicine. it appeard to me likely to give her relief and I urged her to it promising to attend her through it. well she replied [“]if you say So, it must be so. the Girls when they bring me any thing, do not say the dr says you must take it, but Aunt Adams says so, & then they are sure it will go down” We accordingly gave the puke, and it opperated kindly, since which she has rested better, expectorated freer, and for the present appears relieved. She inquired of me a few days since if I had written to you of her sickness. I told her that I had. she took me by the hand, and bursting into Tears, [“]give my Love & blessing—to him I shall never see my Dear Son again” I am 80 happy in having so far anticipated your request as not to have given your Brother occasion to expend a shilling upon her account. I have mentiond to you in a Letter already forwarded what I had done. Should the Melancholy event which we apprehend take place I shall punctually adhere to your directions. such I presumed they would be and that led me to ask them and further I had thought to remove the venerable Remains to this House, as it might be considerd an additional respect to them to have them intered from hence. these circumstances will remain in my breast only, unless circumstances call them into action.

I received by this Post 30£ pounds. as the draught was forwarded to our son, and you made no mention of it in your Letter I am at a loss to determine whether you forwarded it towards the discharge of Pratts account, or whether You conceived I might have [occa]sion for purposes mentiond in your Private Letter. having as you will see by a mem. inclosed discharg’d some debts upon the receipt of the former Bills I have not at present sufficient to spair to make up the 20 dollors, more upon the account, without straitning myself more than I chuse, not because I have expended the other 30£, but because I have lent half of it. a vessel arrived from Germany loaded with 18 thousand calf skins—of a superiour quality and 2 shillings lower than they are to be purchased here Boilstone was desirious of procuring a couple of hundred and for that purpose I lent him 50 dollors to make up his Sum. I wish it had been in my power to have lent him 500. Deacon Webb, purchased 18 hundred of the same skins, kept four hundred for his own use, in less than a week sold the remainder with an advance of only sixpence upon a skin, cleard his own four hundred & put a thousand crowns in his pocket that is doing buisness to some purpose. I have laid by the Money and if I should not be obliged to appropriate some of it, as I fear, it shall be paid to Pratt. The tarring of Trees will speedily commence. I must take Arnold into Service I pray your directions upon the subject of my two last Letters. I wrote to Brisler to inquire the price of oats & Rye. Belcher was in Town this week but he could not purchase oats at less than three shillings & Rye at 8. when you went away almost three months ago I had only three Gallons of Rum remaining of what Brisler bought. that has answerd till this time, but as soon as my Spring work commences I must make large recruits.

The political part of your Letters I must defer replying to till the next post mrs Feild is upon the Recovery. mrs Brisler and Family well, but Sine I have returnd from Philadelphia so many persons 81 have not been Sick in Town Aged and Children, appear to be voilently attackd with fevers— I have happily yet escaped any confinement. am most affectionatly your