The morning I left Philadelphia I had not an opportunity of making the necessary arrangement with the Secretary of State for the payment of my Brother’s salary, which the Secretary of the Treasury had promised to advance. I should be sorry that this circumstance should defeat my intention of subscribing to the Loan on behalf of my Brother, the sum of 4000 Dls: which each person who subscribes, will be entitled to without deduction. I take the freedom therefore to beg of you Sir, to advance the first payment of 500 Dls: upon the sum of 4000 Dls, which I have desired Mr: Otis Senior to Subscribe in my name to the loan. For this sum I will be responsible accountable to you immediately after my return from Massachusetts, which will be in season to answer the second payment, in person. Mr: Otis is only conditionally engaged to subscribe for me, so that if you should have any objection to making the advance, you will please to destroy the enclosed line to Mr: Otis which was to be his authority for making the subscription, & for calling on you for the first payment. But if you should consent to the advance, you will be so good as to hand the letter to Mr: Otis.1

I had a pleasant journey to this place, where I arrived on Wednesday evening. The roads were better than I expected to find them. I shall, if possible, set off for Boston on Monday next. My Brother & Sister are well & desire to be remembered.

Present me kindly to Mr: Shaw & believe me / Your Son

Is there no method my child you can persue to escape the constant colds to which you are subject it seems to me you have had a succession of them ever since you went to Philadelphia. have you had anything of the Rhumatism? we have had open thawy weather which has given me a touch of old times, a dumb Ague for the week past; I think the News papers might have given us a little more accurate account of the Ball I am sorry your cold prevented you, yet I was amused with what you wrote, particularly mr Dallas’s observations, which were perfectly just; yet there are some Ladies who can make the President talk; of all things I admire dallas’s penetration; I always despised the appelation Womans Man—to be a Gallant a Man must have a little of the Fop. nothing pleases and gratifies me so much as to know myself the sole monopolizer, and Baches Darby and Joan reflected more honour upon me, than any Eulogyum he could have publishd.1

I hear nothing from Atkinson East Chester and Atkinson are places from which I find it difficult to keep up a communication—

I received the papers to the 21— am impatient for the Report. as yet I have not changd my mind. I thought the House would consider it in the light in which Macon takes it up—yet I know not whether my judgment is accurate;2 I do not like to open a Bundle of News papers without finding a line from some one— I always feel a dissapointment; but a Frank is necessary; Mr Adams forgot it on one of his last Letters, for tho the President and I am one in the Eye of the Law and the Gospel, I believe Congress would question both the Authorities, and wrangle a month, if the Question was put, does the Priviledge of the President extend to his Lady, and are Letters to her, & From her free of postage?

Present me Respectfully to mrs Cushing. she is one of the Ladies who will never find any difficulty in leading the President into conversation. I could name a Number of others— my Love to Mrs otis, and to the Ladies of all the Secretaries, an affectionate 393 Remembrance Mrs stoddart I do not know, but I esteem her Husband tell me how Mrs Wolcott’s Health is this Winter. my Compliments to the British & Portugeeze Ladies—

adieu— how is mrs Brislers Health this winter? Remember me to her—

your affectionate