I received your kind Letter of Nov’br. 19th by this days post. I had previously received two others both of which I had replied to, but I do not know how to pass a week without hearing from you. at the same time I received your Letter, I also had one from mrs smith informing me that She had received Letters from the col of 2d of Nov’br and that he had written her word that he Should be home soon.1 she accordingly gave up the thoughts of comeing to Philadelphia, which is a very great dissapointment to me. I fear she will be waiting & expecting, expecting & waiting, the rest of the Winter, but I cannot advise her not to stay a reasonable time. she writes me in anxiety at not hearing a word from her Aunt. sister Peabody did not use to be inattentive to her Friends— She knows the Boys are well and happy, but She should know that there Mother is not so, and for that reason is the more anxious for her Children, and wishes to have it to say that she hears often from them; for she may be blamed for placing them at such a distance from her, without considering the utility it is of to the Children— I have written repeatedly so has mrs smith, both to sister and the Children— before I left home I wrote & inclosed in one Letter a ten Dollor Bill.2 I never received any acknowledgment of it. Betsy should write if her Mamma cannot. pray do You represent the matter to her. I have 313 requested that all Letters may be sent on under cover to the President at Philadelphia, and I will see them forwarded.

The city of Philadelphia is very Healthy at this time. I have had my Health much better than for several years past. I have not had a single days confinement since I left Quincy. the President took a bad cold by riding with the carriage windows down a very raw day in complasance to the Military, and was confined ten days after we came here, but good Nursing got the better of it. The senate and House have dispatchd their answers already to the speech. I believe they were asshamd of their delay the last session.3 What said the Duke de Liancourt to the President, soon after the late constitution was adopted in France, do you think of our Constitution? I think replied the President, who was then vice President I think that the directory are Daniel in the Lions Den. the Directory however, saw their Fate, and having an Army at their beck, banishd the Lions, before they devoured them but still the Den ya   for them and will sooner or later have them.

the measure of their iniquity is not yet full, they are instruments in the hands of Providence to scourge the nations of the Earth.

Mr Bartlet from Haverhill attended the Levee.4 I requested the President to ask him to take a Family dinner with us, which he did, and I was happy to learn by him that he brought Letters to Mrs smith, so that I hope her mind is more at ease. I did now however get any, but that as I hear they are well I do not So much care for— I will thank you to make my Bacon for me, and when it is fit to smoak let mr Belcher carry it to the same place he got the other smoakd at but I do not want it here. God Willing I will eat it at Home, & stay not an hour here longer than Duty requires— I should like to have a Barrel of cheese sent if can come immediatly otherways I fear we shall be frozen up— as to Butter I do not know as I am not there to work it myself I fear it will not be put up so as to keep. I hope mrs Pope will not forget me.5 pork I should like to have a plenty of that.

I inclose you a 5 dollor Bill I forgot amongst my Pensioners old Mrs Hayden.6 pray send her two, and get some salt peter & Molasses with the other to do my Bacon. Will you be so good as to see that Pheby does not suffer for wood or any necessary.—

I this moment have received a Letter from your son of 21 Nov’br a 314 very excellent Letter. he writes me that Mrs Cranch was better, that Richard had been sick with the Quincy but was better William had a bad cold. he is doing well I hope. he writes in pretty good spirits. no News of mr Johnsons Family tho they saild the 10 of sepbr. I am under great fears for them

I think Baxters resolution a good one. the next News I expect the parson will be courting— I am sorry to hear Mrs Greenleaf has been so unwell. my Love to her and mrs Norten a kind remembrance to all Friends / affectionatly your / sister

I thank you for your Letter of the 15th of Novbr. before this I hope you have receiv’d another Letter from me but I shall be very cautious what I Say if tis liable to be inspected by the President without your leave he thought he must Say Something I suppose make his 315 peace with me for taking Such libertys. I do not remember what I writ but I believe no treason.

I am glad mrs Smith has heard from the Colln. I thought he could not have neglected her in such a manner. I believe her Boys are well but I have not heard a word since the Letter you receiv’d only by mr & mrs Smith I wonder Sister has not written to mrs Smith I will write to her about it—

Thus far I had written when Mrs Bond came in to make me a visit of a few days. So that I had only time to send you a few lines last week

I have deliver’d your message to mr. Whitman & he returns his very best respects to the President & you with his thanks for your approbation & wishes, & assures you that they have great weight with him: but Still the coldness of mr & mrs Black with the distance of Deacon webb tho they all promise to be very friendly to him will prevent his acceptance of our offer. mr Cranch would have him venture I think he would be very happy here. but he is too nice mr & mrs Black are obstinate mrs Spear admires the man but her Husband does not like him because he Studies law mrs webb has given him her vote & the People in general warmly advocate his Settling1 he din’d with Captain Beal a thanksgiving day & has been in town ever Since: din’d, with Capn. Adams yesterday but mr Black has not taken the least notice of him—yet he says to mr Cranch—I will be very Friendly to mr whitman if he Settles here— mr w will Send his answer tomorrow but it will be in the negative— I am certain Mr Black will be Sorry for his behavior. he Should have Told mr whitman his objections & convers’d upon the Subject mr W gave him Several openings but he wav’d it— there will be warm work at the next town meeting— mr W is too good a Preacher to be lost. so, another difficulty in mr Ws mind is, there does not appear to be Spot of ground for him to Build a House on which would be handy to the meeting house. a Single man he says might take time to accomidate himself but he must have a place to put his Family in— I hope we Shall get fix’d Soon or we Shall split all to peices

What a wretched peice of business was the Slip of paper you inclos’d it cannot hurt the President—but Shews there Spite their gall & venom— there was Something very affecting in the old mans address— I dare Say he went away as much gratified by the obliging 316 manner he was receiv’d tis a wonder if he does not come again & bring his wife to see madam— I hope you invited him— The Presidents Speech is much admir’d but I think it contains a gloomy picture— I was glad to hear of your Sons welfair will you remember my Love to them when you write & offer my congratulations to your eldest upon his marriage— I have had a Letter from mrs Cranch within a day or two She is much better & the children quite well but She was oblig’d to wean her baby my Letters to her had more affect upon her than her medcine mr & mrs Norton & their little ones are well mrs Greenleaf has a Boil gathering under her arm tis very troublesome She is otherways well— Cousen Eliza Sends her duty to you & desires you would not bespeak the cap yet as she fears it will be out of fashon before She shall want it— the Swain has not had any business at mr Marshes Since he brought her from Boston about a month Since Parson Montague has waited upon her this evening to see her mother—2 Sister is nicely

your affairs go on well at your house I des[ign] to go there again soon & see that all is Safe I hope you w[ill be] able to return earley in the spring / to your affectionate Sister