Your’s of the 2d: is in hand, with the enclosures, which receive thanks.1 I am sorry you dislike short letters, because I shall make a excuse therefrom for writing more seldom & only when I have matter enough to fill my paper on all sides. Against this I am sure you will protest & on second reflection, will prefer frequent brevity, to scarce prolixity.

Among my brothers books you will find many belonging to me, which if you are able to distinguish, either by my name being in them or otherwise, please to put them aside— There is a very handsome sett of Pindar’s works, which if you use be careful of it.2 Should the books be put on shelves, I must beg you to take care that the setts be not broken. I went to the house in Market street to day and deposited my trunk there as a precursor to my leaving the City for Germantown. Every thing was in good order but the books & those were quite otherwise scarcely a complete sett on the shelves. There are several odd volumes, Pope among others only four volumes, but I think the other two are at Quincy. One vol: L’Esprit de la Ligue, one vol. Molieres works, (the 1st: vol:) At New York among the books I found, were some belonging to setts at Quincy. I took them away, but they are of little benefit without the rest. Some day or other I hope they will all meet again in one company, for it is vexatious to break the setts of good & rare books, such as are the french authors & editions of Lattin classic’s. I found 3 vols: of Cicero’s Orations at N. Y. French & Eng: Lat: & I think there is one still deficient, perhaps you may find it.3

The alarm which was created a few days since, from the report of the prevalence of the fever, has nearly subsided, and I observe in Brown’s paper of the evening some strictures on that subject, which repel with a sort of indignant triumph the suggestion of its existence.4 I am not, nor have I been much alarmed for several days, since there was no evidence that the fever of which several persons in my neighborhood have died, had been communicated to others by infection; nevertheless I am not one of those who rail at the Doctors for saying that they have had cases of a malignant fever, resembling in every particular except contagion the fever of last fall. It is their duty to tell truth, though its unpleasant quality draws down upon them, the momentary censure of many Citizens.

I am going to the Country for my own health, because I am confident it will be better there than here for some time to come— There are no Courts except the Federal Court in August, which I can attend as well while I lodge out of town as if I stayed in it, and I shall thereby probably save myself the trouble, fatigue & expence of a second removal from any other part of the town I might go to. I hate this unsettled mode of life however, for it distracts one’s ideas, deranges schemes of application both to business & study, and whether the yellow fever is here in fact or only in apprehension the effect at this season is the same—you hear of nothing else.

I have read none of the intercepted correspondence, lately published in Porcupine, because I dont take his paper. Brown is the only one I take. If the correspondence is published separately, I will obtain a copy for you.5 The papers you are so good to enclose me are always very acceptable.

I am fearful that young Mc:Henry was either captured or lost though at the time my brother wrote he had sailed only 10 or 11 weeks, and some chance yet remained of his being safe; I have intended to enquire after him of his uncle, but it has escaped my memory when I saw him.6

With best love to all I am dear William / Your friend & Servt

I address you again after a short interval from the date of my last, having little more to say than that hitherto we are all in health, which I doubt not you will be glad to learn.1 We have had several attempts to conjure up the yellow fever among us, and I have no doubt that cases of it have already occurred, for towards the close of the last & beginning of the current month the weather was excessively hot and I never knew a very warm spell in this City that did not cause many sudden deaths from billious diseases. The weather has again become moderate and our apprehensions have in great degree subsided, though I am fearful the respite will be short. The fever of which perhaps ten or a dozen people died within a fortnight, past, was not contagious, though a month or six weeks later it is conjectured that it would have proved so. Many families have left the City, but they had engaged houses in the Country before the approach of Summer & since they must pay for them they are unwilling to lose the benefit of dwelling in them, but though the town is thin of inhabitants it is not quite deserted. I am about passing a few weeks in the Country, from choice, not from necessity, for I never knew Philadelphia more healthy than it seems to be at this moment. The approach of Autumn must necessarily increase the number of disorders and yellow fever most probably will be in the train. The Cities of Baltimore & New York are as yet healthy and God grant they may continue so throughout the season.

I have to request you would be so obliging as to purchase either ready made or give directions for the making of three large coverlits of down, such as they make at Hamburg for the use of Ships, but large enough to cover a common size American bed for two people. The material used for stuffing these bed quilts is I think called—— down, (I forget the first name) however you will know what I mean I presume, from the above; The Callico in which the down is stuffed is generally very rotten unless particular orders are given to make use of a better quality; you will be good enough to pay attention to 512 this circumstance if you should not find such a business too much out of your way. The application to me is from my Mother, whom I am sure you will oblige with cheerfulness, and if the order can be completed so that the articles can be made to reach Boston Newyork or Philadelphia before the winter, it will be a great accommodation. At the same time you may send me out a clever winter great coat, in exchange for that I left behind me, & which I shrewdly suspect has been appropriated to Consular purposes. The expence & charges of the first order you will please to pass to my account.

The renewal of intercourse between us & certain ports of St: Domingo is the only occurrence worthy of notice of a recent date. At the same instant, that the Presidents proclamation appeared, authorizing this renewal, a report was circulated that Toussaint was dead; we have every reason to believe it was a fabrication.2

The waves of the Mediterranean, must sink beneath the burthen of Ships & Cannon, which we hear have recently passed the streights of Gibraltar.3 What a mighty conflict may we not anticipate from the encounter of such numerous & powerful fleets. Their thunder will make old Ocean tremble for his domain. We are gaping for the sound of victory as if we were within battle.

Our friends in different parts of the Country are generally well. The season is promising beyond example in this State— Trade florishes & increases rapidly in spite of all vexations & discouragements from external causes, and political tranquility was never more predominant. Point to the spot on the map of Europe or turn the globe as you will, can any place be found of the same latitude in point of prosperity with the United States? I bequeath the problem to your solution, and subscribe with great esteem & consideration / Your friend & ob: Servt: