I have this moment been conversing with Richard Dexter upon the subject of becoming one in your Family— His Object is to get some property, that he might acquire more knowledge in our Academy, & then go into the country, purchase Land for a little Farm, & by honest industry be stiled a useful member of Society, & a faithful defender of its rights, & Liberties—

He sustains a good Character, & has been a person in whom Mrs Peabody has placed great confidence, proving himself worthy of trust by his uncommon fidelity— He says he will go on tomorrow morning, upon trial for two months; & if it is agreeable will then contract for a year— I think he must please you, as he is modest, has an Idea of Subordination, is obliging, accommodating, & can turn his hand to almost any kind of business— I have told him he might improve in his writing, that you would permit him to write evenings when you had not business for him—1

I have not heard one word from Quincy since I left the Peaceful Vale— There, I hope, will be no occasion for weeping sorrow, to lift a tearful eye; but for manny, very many succeeding years may health, Love, hope, & joy smile in every Eye, & brighten every feature—

Abby’s arm I am happy to say is much better, very weak yet, but has recovered all the motions proper to the Limb— For contracted muscles commend me to Dr Hughes ointment— I co[uld] never perceive her arm straitened till I used [it—]

I have a very bad cold, yesterday I was like a Clock, could not speak a word, but kept in silent motion— I felt such a pressure upon my lungs that I feared I should have a fever, but to day I am much better— I cannot go out of the room to write, so I must sit, & hear a constant buzz—for notwithstanding my recommendations, I cannot perswade any of my acquaintance to become desciples of Zeno—or Phythagoras—incessant talking, singing, playing upon a flute &ce—2 I perceive there is a Gentleman just come in for a certificate, that wants to teach musick in the Evenings— By his conversation, & air I fancy he is one of those unfortunate persons whom Venus, & Cupid have conspired against, & is what some call love cracked— pray tell me? is there anything musical in love, that all those who are dissappointed in the one, fly to the other— He appears in raptures with 288 a young Lady where he has been boarding, & says if he had not been proved, a Phylosopher he should be quite undone—

I am very desirous of hearing from you, as I suppose you have heard when Mrs Smith overtook her Father— I saw, & pitied the struggle between filial & conjugal affection—& rejoiced that in her mind the later prevailed— it was conformable to the rules of the Gospel, to that prudence, & discretion which has in so many instances marked her conduct—

Pray if you cannot write to me, vote Cousin Betsy scribe, & I must intreat her to write soon to your ever obliged, & affectionate Sister

This is our Thanksgiving day. when I look Back upon the year past, I perceive many, very many causes for thanksgiving, both of a publick and Private nature.1 I hope my Heart is not ungratefull, tho sad; it is usually a day of festivity when the social Family circle meet together tho seperated the rest of the year. No Husband dignifies my Board, no Children add gladness to it, no Smiling Grandchildren Eyes to sparkle for the plumb pudding, or feast upon the mincd Pye. Solitary & alone I behold the day after a sleepless night, without a joyous feeling. am I ungratefull? I hope not. Brother Cranchs illness prevented Him and my sister from joining me, & Boylston Adams’s sickness confineing him to his House debared me from inviting your Brother & Family. I had but one resource, & that was to invite mr & mrs Porter to dine with me; and the two Families to 289 unite in the Kitchin with Pheby the only surviving Parent I have, and thus we shared in the [“]Bounties of providence”

I was not well enough to venture to meeting and by that means lost an excellent discourse deliverd by mr Whitman, upon the numerous causes of thankfullness and gratitude which we all have to the Great Giver of every perfect Gift; nor was the late Glorious Victory gained by Admiral Nelson over the French omitted by him, as in its concequences of Great importance in checking the mad arrogance of that devouring Nation.

and here let me congratulate you upon the event, as now made certain. I hope it will prove of Great advantage to us, as well as to all the powers whom France has abused debased and insulted—

I cannot speak of them in the stile of Govr Henry, tho I like his speech, and belive he made it without the aid of Laudanum. the address from thence I like, make a good answer to it—2

I presume you reachd Philadelphia on saturday— I wrote to you twice to N york to the care of Charles & twice I have written to you addrest to Philadelphia I hope you received the Letters—

I am as ever your / truly affectionate