I have at last heard from atkinson I had just Sent a long Letter to sister when I receiv’d one from her & another from Cousin Betsy— Sister is full of anxiety about her Daughter & well she may be—for by both the letters I think her in a fix’d consumtion— her cough is better but her Fever runs high & She has night Sweats & is So weak she can ride but a few miles in a day. Cousin Betsy Says She sent me a long Letter the week before, but I have not got it yet. Sister Says She feels so agitated She cannot bear to take her pen to write— her mind has been keept in Such painful Suspence for five months past that life has had but few injoyments. She wants her sisters by her to comfort & Support her— my heart is rent for her. She possesses a great Share of fortitude but tho her Spirits Sustains the load of woes & cares, perplexities & aprehentions which providence has Seen fit to exercise her. yet her Body bows under it & I some times fear She will not be able to stand many more Shocks. Should she lose the dear Girl as I much fear She will, it will be the Severest Stroke She has yet met with— She has just arriv’d at the age to become the companion & confidant of her Mother & her charming Spirits have been a cordial in a gloomy hour.— how apt we are to look forward & please ourselves with plans of fancy’d happiness tho we have often had to experince the breaking of the bubble before it had been Swell’d to half its propos’d Size— If we would tast any real 105 happiness we must injoy the good of the present moment & leave to the great arbiter of events whatever is in the womb of Futurety— I fear my Sister you will indeed miss many of your Friends & acquaintince when you return. Mrs Welsh tells mer her Sister Allen is thought to be going fast into a consumtion also—1 to be the last of a Family is a Gloomy thought— These are things I know you are anxious about—but I hate to write them to you.— I am Sure they will depress your Spirits, & they are full low enough already. our publick prospects are dark & distressing our vices make them much more so— they robs us of our confedence. but for them, I should fear nothing that our enemies could design for we are verily innocent towards them—

when Cousin Betsy will return I know not her aunt wants her much never more, & I think it will be impossible for her to deny comfort & assistance to one who has been a parent to her from infancy dear Girl She goes from house to house doing good— by your Sending the wedding Garments I should Suppose you expected her to be married Soon there is no appearence of it that I have seen— however we have at last got the Box. I have not yet open’d it, as we have just receiv’d it. I wish I could get the caps out without for tis a wonder if they do not loose half their value if they Should be view’d by vulgar eyes before the proper time I Shall be careful not to rob them of any of there importance & Shall nail up the Box again

I was in Boston on Saturday mr Smith was absent mrs Smith mention to me what you had written to him about Tom welsh & Said he had not yet given his opinion. she supposed he was considering. I wish’d to have seen him— I was at the Doc: but did not see him She is much more composed & better in health & has no Idea how bad the Doc: affairs are Toms Bills are So behind hand at college that Mr Isaac Smith told Mrs Greenleaf, he would not have his degree [. . .] they were Settled & I do not believe his Father ca[. . . .] it

I hope your house will be done, but they do not get along So fast as I want them to mr Newcomb is very Slow about his part & we have had So much wet weather that it has prevented Some of the works being done So Soon as it ought to be you may tell the President his Farm looks delightfully, & I hear People Say he has a Noble Piece of Barley. there never was a more growing Season

your Brother adams Family are all Well mrs Black has wean’d her baby & the nurse is return’d

I long to hear the contents of the despatches which went on last week. I hope the Gentlemen can give a good reason for their delay to return after they had been so insolantly dispos’d & insulted, but I mean to hear before I censure— extend the Same charity if you do not receive a letter every week— / to your ever affectionate Sister

I return you, with thank’s the Letter You was so good as to communicate, and the Specimin’s of Poetry, which do great honour to the memory of the unfortunate youth; who is the subject of them. at the same time they bear a pleasing testimony to the Talants and abilities of the Authoressess. The Eligy of the Lady of Seventy, I think bears away the palm.1

I have a Mischievious2 inclination to procure, if I can, the Aliens, a poem, as the Author call’d it, and send you; it is written by a senator of the United states, but as I am sure the specimin would not entitle him to a rank in your Biography, either as an Author, or a poet, I have some scruples whether it would be right, to circulate his disgrace, especially, as after having obtaind the copy right, he has stopd the sale, alledging that his Friends have assured him; that the poem is capable of improvement.—3

The President was gratified, in reading the expressions of Friendship, and Kindness, Liberally bestowed, by the Friend and companion of his youthfull years. The School and the College are the sources of the dearest Friendships. The Heart is then open to strong and deep attachments, and where it meets with Congenial Sentiments; forms union’s which death itself does not dissolve. I have Seen these attachments transfered to the Children, and this is one, among many other advantages derived from a publick Education. The President joins his Friend; in the sentiment exprest by Him, that Kings and Princes, have not an equal chance with their subjects, from the responsibility of their station’s, their knowledge and talants are often unjustly estimated they are frequently obliged to 107 hear, with the Ears of those, most interested to deceive them; and to see with Eyes, before which a veil is drawn—

The President directs me to assure dr Belknap, that he has no intention of becomeing an Imitator of Palinures, by falling asleep, and loosing the Helm knaping, tho he will willingly resign it, to a more watchfull and skillfull Pilot.

Dupont, the Consul who was to succeed de Letomb, is the son, as I have been informd of dupont de Nemours, but he is not received by the president, nor will he be under existing Circumstances.

The Book I sent, was designd for your use sir, unless you had been previously supplied.

I am happy to learn from you, what I had every reason to expect, that the Infant orphan, which I had some share in protecting; has found in the Parental Bosom of an uncle, and Aunt,4 that tenderness and sympathy which its helpless situation demanded, and that Heaven in depriving it, of its Natural Parents, under circumstances peculiarly distressing, has given to it, others so well disposed to supply their place.

accept sir my sincere and cordial wishes for your Life Health and usefullness; and a kind remembrance to mrs Belknap, whose Health, I hope is perfectly restored, / and believe me your obliged / Friend and humble servant