I have been so much engaged that I have not been able to get time to write you a line this week. I have paid four visits to the Secretarie’s ladies, and took tea with them, and one to Mrs Senator Read, all of which you know by experience takes up time. we had on thursday 14 couple of young ladies and gentlemen to dine, Bingham, Hares, Whites, Wilsons, Peter’s, Rush’s, Pinckney’s, Breck’s, Reads, and Bard, & Miss Duane from New York.1 Whilst at dinner Thomas, rose, or rather just before I left the table, he came and whispered “suppose we have a dance this evening,” with all my heart provided it is thus accidentally struck up, but you must not sit long at table. They all came to the drawing room to tea, & in the meantime the tables were cleared, the room lighted up, and by eight o clock they were all dancing, they kept it up till 12, when they all retired. A happier or pleasanter circle I have not seen together. Maria Morris, was also of the party, & two Miss Walice’s, several of them expressed great satisfaction, coming so unexpectedly, when it was so little contemplated, said they should place it amongst the happiest evenings of their lives. You will see from the trial of Cooper, from that of three French Pirates Fries that neither calumny, treason, or Piracy, are tolerated by even Philadelphia juries.2 May justice and judgment be the stability of our Government, and Mercy temper justice where it can, may our laws be a terror to evil doers, whilst they encourage those who do well. I believe these decisions will work out our safety. I consider them of much greater importance than the mutiny’s on board a ship or two, one of which was occasioned by a refusal to let the sailor’s have lights,3 it shows however a spirit of disorder and insubordination which must be quelled and by severity if no mild measures will do. I think however that representations should be made, and precautions taken to gaurd against surprize. We should at all times be ready for defence.

Your affectionate / Mother

I received Yours of the 22d Yesterday. I have already written You that the President and I are both well Satisfied with what you have done respecting help— I forwarded to you the Ways, and Means in a Letter of April 17th the receit of which I wish to learn as soon as possible. I have never lost any thing by post, and hope that what I then inclosed went safe— a vessel is now here going to Boston it is too late to send Grass seed, or we might have done it to advantage. the President has authorised me to have a number of Lombardy poplars sit out opposite the House near the wall which was new sit two years ago he says he will have them extended from the gate agains Beals to the corner against Mr Black. I am first for making an experiment of about 50 as far as they will extend in front—and that those Should be of some Size. if Hay is to be purchased at 4/6 pence the President would have three or 4 Ton bought, but thinks we are pretty well for Hay in our stables, but it is not like it can be lower

by this vessel we propose to send the marble for the herths and the Sides and front of the chimny which I request may be made to conform to them. mr Bates is to make a Mantle peice in both the Rooms & the chimnys to be both alike for bigness— the sides of the Jams will also send which will be of cast Iron. the back you will provide I propose that there should be a portico over the back door the same as the front. I believe we had better not purchase any stock for fatning you mention a cow, & there is one Yoke of the oxen must either be sold or fatned. we have so many Horses that they devour all before them. shall we not want a supply of corn? will it not be best to get 50 or 60 Bushel & Rye. the price will rise as there is Such a scarcity in England that they are obliged to go to their Enemies to 223 feed them. 20 dollors pr Barrel is offerd for flower untill sep’br next, which will cause a great exportation of it from hence.1 I shall write to you immediatly upon the Sailing of this vessel. she is expected to go on saturday the 3d of May tho I wish the buisness expidited.2 I do not wish to have it so hurried as not to be well done—

I hope to leave here the week after next the President will soon follow— I am most concernd about Garden Stuff enough—

we are all well Mrs smith and cousin Betsy surprized us with a visit we were very glad to see them3

affectionatly / Yours