I write a line in answer to your’s of the 9th: and to send you the enclosed for J. Hall, though the wind here is easterly since yesterday, and you may have improved it, to sail upon your voyage.1

There are no Russian troops marching towards Pomerania—2 There is a new Edict here against secret Societies, of which I shall immediately forward a translation, though probably not in time to reach you3

You know what the prevailing sentiments concerning the situation of Poland, have long been here— Two days ago, Prince Radziwill’s papers were put under seals, and his apartments shut up, by three 270 Ministers of State.— The cause though not publicly known, is imputed to some suspicious correspondence.— It gives much concern to the Prince’s family and friends.—4 We were last evening at Bellevue, where the family kindly enquired after you as they always do.— Prince Ferdinand is again ill, and for the last fortnight and more has been confined to his room.

The accounts of the fever,5 from America, are deeply distressing.— I would fain hope that some part of the accounts are exaggerated by terror: but at best the disorder must have been this time extremely malignant— God grant, it may be the last of its appearance.

The great Nation continues to plunder our navigation wherever she can find it amidst her ardent professions of peace and friendship.— She resembles too much the Lady of whom Pope says, the only alternative was, to be

Ever your’s

I have rejoiced in the fine weather which we have had Since your absence, and tho to day it threatens a Change, and debilitates me, I hope it will not prove very urksome to you. I received your Letter written at Flags and should have rejoiced more in your progress, if it had not have distanced you further from Mrs smith who was following you with all speed— I fear she did not overtake you untill you reachd Hartford. she will learn by it how [. . .] she can travel in a stage. I wrote you & inclosed you [. . .] letters received the day after you left me.1 I cannot however but reflect upon the stile Language & Manner of the one I apologized about. I do not know how it may affect you but I think, if may be permitted to think that, the language is too contemptouous, tho more may be known to the writer than I am willing to believe is well founded, but you will say I must hold my Tongue, that I shall assuredly do, nor to any Being but you slisp a word upon the subject.

I am as well to day as when you left me having a poor night the last; but hope for a better to night Brother Cranch is very sick dangerously so I fear. inclosed is a Letter for mrs Smith.2 will you let mr shaw address and Frank it if you please for me. I shall wish to hear often from you. it is the only solace I shall have for your absence— but I will not add to your publick burdens personal glooms

affectionatly / Your

Once more my dear son it is permitted me to address you by Letter. thanks to the Great Giver of every blessing

I wrote to you previous to my leaving Philadelphia by Thomas Welch the 20 of July, Since which I have not been able to write a single Letter. I left Philadelphia on the 25th of July; on the 8th of August, I reachd my own Habitation—at Quincy; went into my Chamber, and for Eleven Weeks did not leave it; great part of the time. I hourly expected my dissolution—

I took leave of all my Children, and left with Your Father my Blessing for them; Your sister was with me the whole time, which was a very great Satisfaction to me; her filial affection & constant attention afforded me much comfort and relief amidst the distressing desorder which threatned my Life. the season of my journey was the hottest I ever knew; the fatigue proved too great for my constitution, and brought on a Billious dierea which accompanied with an intermitting fever baffeld the skill of my Physicians. I am releived from the former of my complaints, but the fever I cannot get rid of. it hangs upon me, depressing my spirits, and depriving me of my sleep in a manner which I never before experienced. I have hopes that it will wear away as the cold weather approaches.

This dangerous sickness my dear Son has prevented my acknowledging the receit of your many kind Letters which I have received during my sickness—as well as wholy interupted my communication with you. the Letters which I have received and are yet unacknowledged are No 36 May the 4th 37 may 30th, No 35 June 11th, 39 June 22 No 40 June 27th and this day I have received your excellent Letter of july 25 No 41.1 I cannot sufficiently thank you for your punctuality. if Life is spaired me, I shall be constant in my returns, but my opportunities for obtaining intelligence will not be so good as at Phyladelphia. I am obliged tho most reluctantly to relinquish my Journey this winter, and submit to your Fathers going without me. as the session will I trust be short, I am Supported with that hope— the thought of being Seperated at so great a distance in my low state of Health, has contributed to keep me low spirited, but when duty calls—my own happiness has always been with me; but a secondary consideration.

Since I left Philadelphia it has again experienced that desolating pestilence, the yellow fever, which has raged with greater Malignity than at any former period. Brisler and Family fled as I directed when I left them, but four of my domesticks who belonged to the City fell a sacrifice to it.

Many of my acquaintance have been the unhappy victims, amongst the Number the amiable miss Lucy Breck & the Lovely 273 miss Wescot; tho both out of the city Mr Anthony the Elder, a Greater loss Philadelphia could not have sustaind of a private citizen. death who is no distinguisher of Persons or Characters, leveld with the dust, the disorganizer Bache, & the true Friend of his Country, the honest upright Fenno— His son still carries on the paper, treading in the steps of his Father.2 N york has been severely dealt by, with this same fever, which made the city nearly desolate for several months, by the fleeing of the inhabitants, and the destruction of those which remaind in the city. nor has Boston been exempt from this deadly foe—tho it proved less mortal there; thousands of the inhabitants removed into the Country. they are now returning to it—

Our Country with few exceptions, continues to increase in vigor, and to be ready in spirit to meet the Great Nation; despising both their arts and their Charms. from the most remote and distant parts of the union addresses flew in, speaking the same decided language; and approbating the measures persued by our Government. Powder and Ball are the only tribute talkd of for Tallerand. I cannot omit the pleasure of inclosing to you a Character of him drawn by T Paine at the opening of the new Theatre.3 you know his talent for satire. I wish it could be translated into French without loosing any of its point. the compliment to the President is inimitable, but read and judge for yourself—

In several of your late Letters you have mentiond a subject which has been a source of distress to me for a long time. it is hard upon you to have your prudence and oceonomy thus trifled away—by one and an other—

I have written again upon the subject, and expostulated in such terms as must procure an explanation, and replie. I will write you what ever I can collect, but the poor child is unhappy I am sure. he is not at Peace with himself: and his conduct does not meet my wishes. he has an amiable wife, Prudent and discreet, who has every wish and disposition to render Home the most delightfull Spot two lovely Children— I hope my Letters will in time have their effect. I have discharged my duty, I hope faithfully but my dying Bed was embitterd (as I then thought it), with distress for the only Child whose conduct ever gave me pain

I hoped you would e’er this have sent a power to dr Tufts to have taken your property into his Hands— Dr W—h has never said a word respecting it tho I once wrote him upon it, and my Sickness prevented my doing any thing further for you—4

My Love to mrs Adams to whom I will write. poor Thomas Johnson was very dangerously sick at the same time I was. I think from the nature of his complaints, a spitting of Blood, that he can never be well Nancy is married. I suppose however you get Letters frequently from the Family which give you a circumstantial account of all that concerns them. my Sickness has interupted my intercourse by Letters as formerly— we have had one weding in our Family and it was at this House. Betsy Smith was married to mr Foster—whom I dare say you knew—a worthy young Man in Boston an upholsterer5 my paper only allows me / room to say I am your affectionate