Since you are desirous of a Confidence, in the Breast of your Father, and he is not less anxious to possess one in yours, I will open myself to you as soon as time will permit, upon Several Subjects and without assuming to dictate or controul will give you my candid and frank Advice.

Although you have had a regular Education in the Theory and 18 Practice of the Law, under a Master as eminent as Mr Ingersol, and on a Theatre as conspicuous as Pennsylvania and the City of Phyladelphia; yet, I have many reasons to doubt whether you have ever attended particularly to the manner in which young Gentlemen rise in all Countries to fame and importance at the Bar. This is a Subject which it is of great importance you Should understand and feel, at your first setting out and of which you should never loose Sight.

At every Bar, in which I have ever practised, or had any Knowledge, and indeed at every one I have ever heard or read of, there are commonly four Lawyer of Eminence above the rest, who are generally engaged in all Causes of Consequence; who take the lead, who give the Tone, and who in some measure have the Command and control of the whole Business. There are commonly three or four others of a second order, who come in for some share of Influence and Some proportion Business at particular times and on Special occassions. These form a natural and never failing combination, which excludes young Gentlemen for a long time from all participation in the Employments and Profits and honors of Practice. It is only by engaging the Confidence and Esteem & affection of these or some of them or at least of some one of them in a high degree, that I ever knew any young Man make his way and rise. For to force his Way against these is almost impossible, at least without a Genius, Talents, Steady Labour, and resolution so decidedly Superiour as to Strike all the World and carry all before them. I have known it attempted, but it allways failed, and the mortified Youth found like Phaeton “Non est mortale quod Optas.1

The four first Lawyers, too in a free Country are generally Supported by different political Parties, who are always ready to support them and assist them in depressing all aspiring and disrespectful Rivals.

I am told that in Phyladelphia this Combination is the worst and most untractable in the World, four or five Gentlemen have the entire Monopoly of Practice and that it is even necessary to draw the sword or at least bring its point into Serious View sometimes to obtain even a decent treatment. I have been told that Mr Ingersol himself has been obliged to appeal to his Brethren at the Bar and declare that he would call to the field of honor, the Man who should treat him ill. & Mr Ingersol is a cool, modest decent as well as virtuous honourable learned and ingenious Man.

Mr Ingersol, Mr Lewis, Mr Dallas, and Mr Tilghman are I believe 19 the four Gentlemen, who command at least the principal share of Practice. You know the political Parties that support three of these Gentlemen.2 The new Governor perhaps you cannot rely upon as your friend without flatteries and complyances which you ought not and cannot Submit to. Mr Ingersol and Mr Lewis & perhaps Mr Tilghman will not be your Ennemies. My Advice to you is to be civil and Sociable and obliging to them all. But you must have the heart, the Confidence and real friendship of one of them or you will not Succeed. These Gentlemen are all of an Age that it may be expected they will be promoted to public offices, or be fatigued with Labours and Satisfied with Profits before long. With a total Sacrifice of Pleasures and Amusements with an assiduous Attendance at your Office and in Court, with an ardent devotion to study and indefatigable devotion to labour you may hope to take the place of one of them. I pray you to give me your thoughts freely upon this subject.

with great Affection

I was very glad to hear by the Letter you sent me from Brookfield, that you had got Safely so far.1 the week prov’d so Stormy & disagreable I was affraid I Should hear you were Sick. this week has been in general So pleasant excepting one day very windy that I hope you are Safe at eastchester this evening, & that the President is recover’d from his cold. your children well & the Sweet Caroline rejoicing to see Grandmama

I went yesterday to see mrs Black— it was the first time I had seen your House Since you left it— all was Safe there: but I did not want to 20 stay in it— I mett mr D Greenleaf & wife mrs Black & her Daughter Blake at mr Blacks. mr Blake is in Jail in Boston mr & mrs Greenleaf regret the absence of your Family very much, mr Shaws company especially. I believe they will spend the winter in Boston. mr Apthorps Family mov’d into Boston today:2 I am no great visitor or I should feel deserted So many have left us. mrs Black will be in Boston the Siting of the court with her Husband. if We Should be Well, I may Sometims go to Town With them this is all the excursions I expect to make till you return—

I went over to Weymouth the day you left Quincy & took with me the Gown & Flour for mrs Norton She sends her Duty & many thanks— Richard & willm walk’d over to see the Parade Which Was to have been the next day but the rain disappointed them, as it did hundreds of others

mr [Gunrry] has return’d your Sons Letter which you lent him. I Shall inclose it, as I suppose you would wish to have it with you—3

Judge Cushing call’d upon us this afternoon I gave him my Sons Letter, & mr Cranch talk’d with him upon the Subject— he Says unless the other Judge Should be prejudgicd in favor of some other Person he does not doubt his obtaining the office he wishes for—4 I believe the office is respectable—& if it will Support him & make him cheerful I Shall be glad— He is Scarcly ever out of my mind— I hope my dear Sister you will find time to write to him— he does wrong to be so deprest his misfortuns have in a manner destroy’d his usefulness he is too good to be lost—for want of fortitude & a resolute Spirit— Since cousin Thomas’ visit he feels as if he had a Friend & indeed a Brother—cousins visit was an unspeakable advantage to him—5 I hope they will meet again Somehow or other the very Face of Cousin Thomas will inspire him with courage

Mr Cranch’s cold is much better— Doctor Phipps has lost his Son. Gaius Thayers Wife & two children are Sick with the Fever his Son dy’d off. his Wife he hopes will leave him he says—wretch—I hope he will never have another6

Did you think to leave a pair of St[ockings] for Miss Paine? I forgot to take them if you did.

remember me kindly to the Presidentt your children & all Friends & write as often as you can to— / your ever affectionate & gratefal / Sistr