I have receiv’d two Letters from you since I wrote last. one contain’d the Border & Lace for my cap, & a cap for Mrs Norton—for which We thank you.1 mrs Greenleaf also for hers— how you do love to dress up your Friends! there is certainly More pleasure in it than in adorning our own Persons— we cant wear our Blue ribbons yet we are all in mourning— not a person in our Meeting house but has Some badge of Sorrow. We are as fanciful in our dress as with you. a Black ribbon through our Muffs—& ty’d in a Bow—roses upon the Shoulders & Some upon the left arm Black Bonnits & gloves & The companys Millitary dress in their uniforms with Black crape on their arms—& with Side arms, every Sunday & Sit together in the Side Gallerys. our Pulpit is hung in Black—three yards & an half of Superfine Broad clothe is put over it & drawn up each Side the 113 Cushin in a Festune with large Bows of Love Ribbon the corners which hang down at the edge of the frount of the Pulpit have each a large Black Tassels full of Bugles Suspended at the end of them. The Deacons Seat the frount of it is cover’d with Black Lutstring festun’d with Love Ribbon The edge of your Pew has a Band of Gauze all round it, drawn together at proper distances by knots of Love Ribbon & the lustrings cover’d with Black Flannel The clock has two large Vales put round the Frame & ty’d as we do a Looking Glass a larg Rose at the Top & a very large Bow of Gauze with ends a quarter of a yard long at the bottom Mrs Black Mr & Mrs Green-leaf & I dressd the Meeting House—& tis Said to look very elegant—but Sadly Solemn to me. the People expected a Funeral Sermon: but as we must have a Something on the 22d of next month, we thought it had better be defer’d it looks a little like praying the man thro Purgitary but as they like— I knew what you Meant, as soon as I saw the resolve of congress— it strikes every Body here in the manner it did you. So much has been done already that what remains must be flat

mr whitney will be ordain’d the 5th of February exactly 45 years Since Mr wibird was— captain Beal has taken him by the Hand again & invited him to dine, & nothing can be more gracious than they all are the others will come to of course they were nothing but an echo— The Publick entertainment will be at capn. Brackets I believe. I sent out a Subcription Paper expressing the wishes of a few of us Ladies to present mr whitney with a Ministerial Gown & have colicted about 40 dollrs. already— Mr w will have no reason to complain of Us. Mrs Black Subscrib’d 4 doll. & Mrs Beal 5 doll.2 ambition will answer a purpose in some cases as well as generosity the old Levite is not to be overlook’d a Russel with a warm Baize lining will do him the most good—3 I wish I may be able to get him here that he may be in a place fit to be seen—

Thomason Baxter has offer’d his place for 900 pounds but I cannot say free of all incumbrance, but mr Whitney feels affraid to venture So largely tis by much the cheapest place which has offer’d— I hope the Town will try to get it for him. he does not wish for so much land & they can sell the rest at any time—

I feel very glad I can inform Mrs Brisler that her Sister Mears has recover’d Surprizingly I sent the chaise for her to ride these fine day we have had, & she gathers Strength fast She has been about her House above a fortnight

Tell Cousen Louissa that her Bed has not been unoccupied. I went into the chamber the other day & to My Supprize found that 114 the counterpane was covered with Mice dung: I call’d up mrs Porter & we pull’d […] Bed to Pieces & found they had been between the […] & between the Bed & Mattress & under it. they had […] eat the Bed but had eat a handful of the […] of the Blankits & had eat the hair off a Small trunk in the closet. they came out of the Stove room— We put a cat in & Set some traps—

I went to Boston this week & found that tho Mrs Smith had sent your Gowns She had not sent Mrs Smiths work’d one. She thought it was yours & that you would not have occation for it there & would not wish to have it, but she will send it some way or other

I rejoice to find you have so much health this winter I have reason to be thankful for the great degree of it We have injoy’d—

I had a Letter from Sister Peabody last week they were all well— I have not had a Letter from her before since you went away. Sister Smith complains that Louissa does Not write to her

with Love to all believe me your affectionate Sister

I yesterday received Your Letter of the 19th. I think You have testified Your proportion of Respect in a handsome manner to the Memory of the good and virtuous Washington— that he ought to live in our Memories, and be transmitted to posterity as a Character truly worthy Imitation, is Right; but some Eulogyst have asscribed to him solely, what was the joint effort & concert of Many. to no one Man in America, belongs the Epithet of Saviour of his Country; that Washingtons Character, when we take into view, his Education, the place of his Birth, and the Various Scenes in which he was call’d to act, exhibits a most uncommon assemblage of Modesty, Moderation Magninimity, fortititud perseverence and disinterestedness, will be most readily allowed, but at no time, did the fate of America rest upon the Breath of even a Washington, and those who assert these 115 116 things, are Ignorant of the spirit of their countrymen, and whilst they Strive to exalt one character, degrade that of their country these reflections have arrisen in My mind from reading mr Paynes oration, and a Mad Rant of Bombast in a Boston centinal of a mr Messenger— judge Minots oration is exempt from these reflections— it is the cool mild and wise and judicious observations upon his Character are those only which will out live the badges of mourning.1 Simple Truth is his best his greatest Eulogy— she alone can render his Fame immortal—

The News from France, is not that the Royall standard is raised—but that a Triumvirate exists—2 Buonaparta is an adventerous Man. he is upon a Pinacle and with one foot only— we are yet alltogether in the dark respecting his view’s. Time must develope them—but one volcano burst forth after an other, and what current the lava will take; we must wait to learn—

I send you the report upon citizen Randolphs Letter.3 the young Man is like to cost the Country more Money in the debate by the time it will take up, than all his Services will be worth tho he lived to the age of an Anti-deluvian. I have not a doubt that it was all a contrived buisness, by the Anti feds to raise a ferment, to Spread amongst their constituents— see says the fly upon the wheel, what a dust I raise—4

I have had Letters from Berlin and the pleasure of hearing that both mr & mrs Adams were in good health—the latest date to 30 October5

when I wrote You last, I had had a sleepless Night.6 I then have no spirits to spair— I have had a turn of loosing my Sleep, but am not otherways Sick— I have for the last three Night been very fortunate

Genll Lincoln is about to return home by him I send a little packet which I request my sister to accept.7 pray desire Mrs Porter to look to the Beds frequently— I shall have much to request your care and attention to, as soon as you get through the Ordination. if the spring is not more of winter than the winter itself, I hope the Building will go up early in March the doors which must be cut through the Room & chamber will require the Removal of all the furniture, and the painting of Both which they now want. the glaseing of the front I would have done one of the first things—and the alteration in the kitchin which I contemplated I should like to have done, but the floor must be coverd—or painted again afterwards. when the new building goes up the kitchin will be so darkned that I must let the closset into it & take off a partition where the dressers now are. I think it 117 would be best to run the partition along so as to take the Chamber door the cellar & parlour Door into the entry this will Make the kitchin much warmer & Screne the kitchin from the view of the parlour—but more of this Soon—

Mrs smith is very unwell with a voilent cold Soar Throat & some fever. She has kept her Chamber ever Since saturday. I hope She is getting better— caroline is well. the rest of us in pretty good Health— adieu my / Dear Sister I will write to mrs Black soon / yours