I have this moment received yours of the 26th of March with respect to mr Porter I should be loth to part with him for the Sake of a few dollors, and as he has been upon the place so long, & is accustomed to it, and I have great confidence in his & Mrs Porters Honesty and integrity, I will consent to give him that sum for Seven Months, but pray that to avoid envy, he would keep the terms to himself and promise to be perfectly satisfied with them. he knows there are people enough hankering after his place, as to mr shipley the terms he asks for a year are altogether inadmissable, and if he will not take the 100 20 for a year, I believe he and his Brother must Seek employment else where. mr Black gave but ten dollors through the best of the Season last year to any hands he hired. I have always [fo]und Labourers more inclined to make high demands at this season than when the price of Labour is fixd, which it seldom is, untill the middle of this Month. if he will let himself for the Year at the sum I considered him engaged at; he may remain & his Brother 8 Months at 10 dollors pr Month. if not I am persuaded help may be had for that Shipley is a good hand, but he will be none the better for higher wages and I do not believe they will get it else where. to the Elder shipley I woud add 100 25, if he cannot be got at the 100 20—but you will soon see when you give them my terms, and these You will however write Me again; and be so good as give me the price of Labour, Surely it cannot be higher than in years past; but the President must pay higher for every thing than any one Else; that we are accustomed to. I will leave to Mr Bates’s judgment the painting. My intention is to make the Room over the Dinning Room 198 a Room to entertain company in, taking off clossets as in the lower Room the size of the Chimneys about the same to those in capt Beals best Room which I wish mr Bates to see. My desire to have the painting done Soon is that I may not be afflicted with it when I return. I wish the exact Dimensions of the keeping parlour next the garden. I am not certain with respect to it—

I mean to sit out on my return the beginning of May. the warm weather is fast approaching. I rode out yesterday. the Grain looks finely the weeping willows are all leaving out & the buds bursting upon the fruit trees. congress do buisness with more expidition than at first, but have many weighty matters yet before them. capt Barry returnd yesterday & brought Letters from our Envoys who were on there way to Paris which they expected to reach the beginning of March— they Sent a courier to Paris informing the minister of the causes of their Delay. this courier they met returning with pasports for them, and a very polite Letter from Tallyrand informing them that they had been anxiously expected & would be received with Zeal, and that no difficuly would arise upon account of the change in the Government, as their Letters of credence would be considerd as equally valid—with strong expression of respect &c citizen Talleyrand concludes his Letter— You will see in the papers a similar account—1 I will in my next give you the price of the seed. I wish to have large preperations for a Garden where the potatoes were last year as well as below.

I must close least the post fail me, as it is near 12 oclock. I trust you have received my replie as it respects mr Clarks House—2 any thing you conclude will be acceeded to both by the President & your truly / affectionate

Yesterday mr Johnson and his Mamma arrived here, in good Health. by her I heard from mr & Mrs Cranch. she poor thing has had a mishap. I rather think it good than ill luck however for, it is 199 Sad slavery to have children as fast as she has. she has recoverd tho she is thin & weak. your son is rising Rising in his own estimation, which was the place where he most wanted it. he plead a cause, spoke three hours against, mr Mason & an other Gentleman, and obtaind his cause. he gaind much applause & Reputation I am informd. having broken the Ice, I hope he will gain courage and be yet successfull and prosperous. he has been born down by his circumstances, & deprest beyond measure. he is now rising above them I hope—

The weather is remarkable fine the Verdure of the feilds and the bursting of the Buds, with the beautifull foilage of the weeping willow, which You have often heard me admire and which is the first tree to vegitate in the spring, all remind me of Quincy, my building my Garden &c. I would have gardning commence upon a large Scale that we may be provided with vegatables sufficient for a large family. I know we want a skilfull gardner. peas I would have put in & of the sort which stutson procured of Major Millar. I am informd here of what is said to be a fact, that the Peas which are first planted bear much the longest and best, taking deeper Root into the Ground I must request You to see mr Porter and desire him to have due attention by stutson to all the vines &c which George planted last year;

I am dissapointed in not getting a Letter from You this morning. Monday usually brought me one. you will have received several from me, all requesting Your attention to Something or other for me. I shall want You to see Bates & hurry him as much as possible the painting must be done in the Room & chamber this Month. the closset in the keeping parlour wants it too, the floor I mean—

Major Toũsard the Gentleman you have seen with one Arm, requested me the other day to inquire if there was any Family in Quincy where mrs Toũsard could be Boarded. he is going to Superintend the fortifications at fort Independance—and wants to have mrs Tousard near him, where he can occasionally be with her. I thought of capt James Brackets. she is a pretty little woman, and received here into the first circles she is an American, has no Family he is much of a Gentleman.1 will you inquire & write me by the first opportunity

I must close not having more time this morning than to assure you of my sincere / affection