I received yesterday your favour of June the 9 with its inclousure, as well as a former Letter, which I felt too much dissapointed to replie to. I have read the sermon with much pleasure and satisfaction.1 the Paralell drawn between the Jewish Nation, previous to & during the administration of Nehemiah is striking indeed and our own situation at this time as portraid by the ingenious pen of mr Porter, whose discources have always given me pleasure. I am indebted to the Clergy and some other Friends for having sent me a valuable collection of sermons deliverd on the day, mr Porters being the Eleventh, all of them breathing exhibiting a Spirit of pure Religion and true Patriotism, tho deliverd by different Religious Sects. I shall 131 preserve them in a vol’m as a specimin to futurity of the Liberal candid, firm and independant spirit which has distinguishd animateed the Clergy of America during the Revolution in which they bore a conspicuous part, and are not less distinguishd in the Present contest.

whilst on that day, sit apart for National Humiliation & Suplication, the Heart of every true American was lifted up to the Great Ruler of Kingdoms & Nations, for the safety and protection of his Country. the more Enlightned mr Giles of Virgina, celebrated it as a festival by Barbacuing one of his excellent fellow Creatures and inviting his Friends to share the Feast.2

Mr Stoddard is arrived, and is to dine with us this day. he must possess much skill and industery, as well as a thousand many amiable qualities to fill the office with satisfaction to the public after they had fixd their minds upon one, whose abilities every one considerd as fully competant to the duties of it, except himself—

Mr stodard is said by those who know him to be an amiable Man, and for a southern Man, A Man of activity & industery— he will have one advantage over a Northern Man that he will not be scarified and dissected anatomized & parilized, by his Southern Brethren, as a Bold active son of the North Would.

I know not when Congress will rise. the President received yesterday a private Letter from Mr Gerry of the 24 March—in which are these words, we shall all leave Paris in a few days, unless it should be agreed upon that I should remain to wait for dispatches from our Government. in that case I shall consider myself as a mere cypher, without any power to act.3 tho I cannot think it to have been the duty of our Envoys to drink any deeper of the cup of humiliation, by one of them remaining to this hour. I am glad to be able to say from mr Gerry himself, that he shall not take upon himself any responsibility.

Present my best Regards to mrs Cabot, and tell her, I know not how to forgive her Husband for declining a Station, which he was thought fully adequate to. the compensation I know is very inedequate to the services required, but we must serve our Country for Nought, fully repaid say our fellow citizens by the honour of it— in such times as the present, every man should lend his Aid, but in our days of prosperous tranquility, the Laburoer is worthy of his hire. Merit ought to be rewarded and talants secured to the publick by a Generous support.

The President, would envy you Your retirement and tranquility, if he did not esteem you as a very deserving Man. he therefore with no small reluctance leaves You to the enjoyment of your shades, for the Present—and joins in the same assurences of Regard with I subscribe your Friend

You and I, my dear Madam have trod together, through one Gloomy scene, of war, havock and desolation; and we have Seen our Country rise superiour to oppression, and Despotism and take its Rank among the Nations,1 presenting at this period, the only spectacle, of a Free Republic, which has not been Revolutionized, by the Gormandizing and insatiable thirst of that power, which like the Grave—crys Give, Give. Whilst the departed wealth, opulence and Liberty, of Batavia, the Cruelly oppress’d Geneva, Genoa, all Itally, and the partitiond, and Barterd Venice, with the Barbarously Sacrificed Switzerland, and Bern, Cry to us with an awefull Warning voice, to behold their Fate, and secure ourselves, by a direct opposite Conduct to that, which has proved fatal to them.

I would hope that the destroying Angel may not be commissioned to visit us in wrath, but that he may visit us on an errant of Love, to warn us against those contaminating principles and abominations,2 which have made all Europe one Golgotha—

May the God of our Fathers protect us, and if we must be scourged, Remember Mercy for Us.

“you observe, That Providence has deposited a high trust in the Hands of the President, and that it is optional, with him: from the confidence reposed in him, by the people; to abuse his power, or to Continue the object for which our Country, has made such costly Sacrifices.”3

Hastening to that period, which in scripture is termed the Life of Man, having every thing at stake which can render the Remnant peacefull, or the future happy, Reputation and honour, Life Liberty, and Property. is it possible to have a wish, or desire which is not interwoven with the Present and future Prosperity, freedom and independance of united America?4 it depends upon the people to say that they will remain a free & happy Republic.

Permit me to transcribe a Sentance from an answer to an address, Presented by the inhabitants of the County of Otsego in the State of New York.

“Your reliance on the good sense fortitude, and integrity of your fellow citizens, I trust will not deceive you. all depends upon these virtues. if these fail us, we are lost. our constitution and administration, all depend upon them. our Government without these aids has no power at Home, or abroad: we have no other Principle of union, or capacity of Defence”5

In an other replie, to the People of Potts Town in (Penn) are these words.

“Your confidence, that I will not surrender the rights of the Nation, Shall not be betrayed. If the Nation were capable of such a surrender (which it is not,) some other Hand must affix the Signature to the ignominous deed”6

with these Sentiments; will my Friend Live and with these Sentiments he will like the Brave avoyer, Steigner of Bern, meet death if decreed to him—7

The stay of our Envoys in France is protracted to an allarming degree for their personal safety—and I had almost Said for our National honour. The decree of the directory respecting Neutrals and the declaration of Talleyrand, that we could only Buy it off, ought to have been the signal for the departure of our Envoys The cup of Humiliation was full, what has since happend, are its overflowings. they have Borne it! but the indignation of their Country spurns it.

I inclose to you the last dispatch Heaven Grant, that it may be the last 8

The testimonials in Approbation of the measures persued by the Chief Majestrate of the Union, with respect to France, which as you observe, have poured in from all quarters of the Union; are indeed an incourageing, and Gratefull reward, for his Labourious and hazardous exertions in the publick service; whilst the rising Generation, upon whom the hopes and expectations of all America is fixed, for their security, and defence are zealous, and sincere, with their profferd Lives, and fortunes. Their Fathers may be permitted to repose; having performed their Routine of active Duty, and spend the remnant of their days—in devoute Suplications for the success of their ospring.

The President directs me to reciprocate the Kind wishes of his Friend Gen’ll Warren, and to assure him that he retains a pleasing remembrance of the past they have acted together in the defence of the Liberties of their common Country.

Mr and Mrs otis the Elder & junr are both well, were with us last Evening. I most ardenly long for a visit to Quincy. the Green feilds, and shady Groves would be a pleasing contrast to the Brick walls, & crouded streets of Philadelphia, particuliarly so, if I could Shut out all the political clouds which darken our horizen

with a kind remembrance to every Branch of Your Family, particuliarly the ittle Marcia / I am my dear / Madam Your Friend and Humble / servant