As you are frequently receiving letters from your good Sister, you have in that channel all the news we have in this quarter. We are, at present enjoying a good measure of health, tho’ the Season has been uncommonly severe. we have had a greater quantity of snow upon the earth in these parts for a month or five weeks past, than perhaps has ever been known so early in the Year.—

Miss. Betsy Palmer has been with us a number of weeks, and we are highly pleased with her. She is Sensible, industrious, virtuous, very agreable; and appears to be just such a character as Mrs. Peabody wanted. If she can make herself contented in this Situation, I think we shall be happily suited.

Your grandsons are very well, and appear to enjoy themselves. They are much more studious than they have been, and we are endeavoring to impress on their minds the importance of their being prepared to provide for themselves, as you hinted in your last letter to Mrs. Peabody.—

We have heard but little from Congress, Since the President’s Speech at the Opening of the Session; which is truely excellent, and approved by every friend to the country. I received a letter from Genll. Wadsworth at Philadelphia lately, who says it was reported that there was a French Frigate in the River on her way up with dispatches for our government. I think we shall be prepared for them, as we have had such ample evidences of their deceit, and of the absence of every principle of honor and integrity.—1

Enclosed I send you the quarter Bill for boarding your grandsons. Mrs. Smith left me something more than to answer my demands as you will see, for which I will account.—2

I rejoice to hear of the recovery of your health. For the confirmation of it would it not be advisable for you to take a Journey northward, as soon as you can make it convenient? We should be very 349 happy to see you here. You will be so kind as to write frequently, and let me know, if you please, whether Dexter, is gone on to Philadelphia, and if he is, whether he is doing well there.—

Mrs. Peabody joins me in presenting our most affectionate regards to you, Mr. and Mrs. Cranch, and to our connexion’s with you.— With wishing the Smiles of Heaven may accompany you thro’ life, I take the liberty to subscribe myself / Your cordial friend, / and Brother—

I received your Letters of Decbr 31 & Jan’ry the 1st I am sorry that it should fall to your Lot to nominate Col smith again, and that to a lower Grade than, as a soldier he merrits. I think however that he was placed in a difficult situation. if he had rejected the offer, those who have stiled him a Jacobin, would have attributed it to motives unfriendly to his Country, but as a Man particuliarly calculated for the Millitary department, and having Served his Country with honour and approbation in the Feild, he deserved [a mu]ch Higher Grade of Rank. the New Modelling the Army [. . .] tend to reconcile him to the arrangment, but I think as an officer, he ought not to have submitted to the Nomination, disgraced as he was by the Senate, Some of whom I shall always remember for their consistancy, of conduct.

The Idea which prevails here, is that Hamilton will be first in command, as there is very little Idea that Washington will be any thing more than, Name as to actual service, and I am told, that it ill suits the N England stomache they say He is not a Native, and beside He has so damnd himself to everlasting Infamy, that He ought not to be Head of any thing. the Jacobins Hate him & the Federilists do not Love him— Serious people are mortified; and every Uriah must tremble for his Bathsheba;1 I do not consider G W— at all a happier man, because he has not Children. if he has none to give him pain, he has none to give him pleasure, and he has other sources of anxiety, in full proportion. as to conjecturing what is to be the Lot, and portion 350 of the next generation; my only anxiety is that they may have good & virtuous Educations, and if they are left to struggle for themselves, they will be quite as like to rise up virtuous and distinguished Characters as tho they had been born to great expectations. vicious conduct will always be a source of disquietude to me. if my wishes are blasted I must submit to it, as a punishment, a trial, an affliction which I must bear—and what I cannot remedy I must endure.

Since I wrote you last, mr smith has seen capt Jenkins. He informs him that Thomas a[pplied] to him for a passage on Board his vessel, but captain [Jenkins] advised him not to come in her. tho a fast sailor, she was a very wet ship, and a winters passage in her would have been very uncomfortable. He went with Thomas to examine the vessels there, and found the Alexander Hamilton capt Clark for N york, in which he advised him to take passage, as she was a good vessel, and a Good captain— She was to sail in a few days after Capt Jenkins—

It is now two Months since you left me, and two more I hope, will return you Here again

our General court are in Session we shall see the Govenours Speach in tomorrows Paper I trust2 I have met with some of the Numbers addrest to Genll Marshall in the Chronical.3 they appear to me to be the common place stuff of the party, the same low invective and abuse of the Government for which the Faction are distinguishd. They will not injure Marshall so much as he injured himself— Gallitin and Nicholas have thrown asside, even the veil they used to wear— Harpers observations were good, but too lengthy, and his sarcasms very pointed.4

after the Dismall cold week we have had, last night came a strong south wind, and with out any rain; Swept away all but our Banks, broke up the sleighing, and left half the ground bare—

we are all well, but your Brother, who has his Eyes constantly Bad—one bunch gathering after an other. I am really affraid he will be Blind. he is too inattentive to the concequences—

I cannot write to day to William—

I send you a Green House—

yours affectionatly