Before I left Philadelphia, I wrote you, expecting the letter would overtake you at Brookfield.1 The rain on monday prevented our leaving the city till Tuesday, as we had previously intended. The great rains, which they have had this way, have made the roads very bad— they are ploughed up, by the heavy loaded German waggons, exactly like the corn fields in New-England, and you might with equal convenience travel over them, as the ground, which we have passed. The accommodations at the public houses, have been generally speaking very good and remarkably cheap. Between two and three dollars at noon—and 7 and 8 at night have been the amount of our 271 bills.— The horses have performed the journey, thus far extremely well. Currie proves himself to be an excellent driver and an extremely obliging and excellent coachman—the two footman do very well.

Notwithstanding the extreme badness of the roads, yet such has been the beauty and fertility of the country which we have passed and such the constant attention of the people—exerting themselves in every possible way to make the journey agreeable, that the President has been highly gratifyed. Our eyes Every inch of the land from Philadelphia to Frederick Town is a perfect garden—luxuriant as any in the world and only equalled, the president thinks, in Flanders and England. Our eyes have been delighted throughout the whole of our journey, with cultivated fields and prospects of a fruitful harvest, and our minds gratifyed with the pleasing reflection, that the people are prosperous and of course ought to be happy.

The inhabitants have appeared to be universally gratified and highly honored by the presidents passing their Country—this they repeatedly expressed and proved in action. His arrival at Lancaster was unexpected and therefore could not come go out to meet him, as they had wished—they were very pressing that he should remain and dine with them the next day which he refused. A troop of horse and many citizens escorted him to the Susquehannah—ten miles. We rode about five miles and were met by another troop of horse from York Town. Little out of the town there was a company of volunteer Infantry, which joined the procession and marched into town, where the President received a very cordial welcome. A very handsome address was presented him—speaking of the great services which he had rendered to his Country and expressing their wishes that he might be continued in office—2 From York a troop of horse accompaned us about four miles. In the evening of the same day, we arrived at a little village called Tauny Town—which soon after our arrival was compleatly and beautifully illuminated—the next morning a troop of horse accompanied us half the way to this place. A very handsome troop of horse, accompanied by a large number of citizens met us at four miles distance from Frederick Town—to which was afterwards added a company of Infantry and thus we marched into the city—the bells were instantly rung and every possible mark of veneration and respect paid. We dont expect to arrive at the federal city till Tuesday, it being upwards of forty miles and bad roads.— General Marshall has accepted of his appointment which gives general satisfaction.

In very great haste I am my dear Aunt / Your very affectionate nephew

Mr Gore came out this afternoon to see me; and informd me that Mr Dexter proposed to sit out tomorrow for Washington. by him I embrace the earliest opportunity of informing you of my safe arrival at Quincy on Saturday the last Day of May; in good health tho Something fatigued I got on very well, met with no accident, Horses all in good order. I found our Friends here well. the Hill looks very well. mr Porter says those parts which were manured will have a good crop of Grass. we have had very plentifull rains grain & grass promise well, but our verdure here, is not So deep, nor our grain so forward by any means.— we are three weeks later— the building progresses, but not so fast as I wish.—

Mr Dexter can give you a More accurate statement of Parties & politicks than I am able to. I met with judge Hobart upon a visit at Fairfield. he came and spent the Evening with me at Penfields.1 upon the subject of a late removal he said there had been some considerable sensation in that state at first, but that thinking people agreed that the President was certainly right in calling to his aid Men who would act with him— the Jacobins in Boston say: or rather certain persons who call themselves federilists say, that it is an Electioneering measure others say that the federilists as well as Jacobins want to get a Man whom they can Manage— Burr means to be voted for in N york and Says that it will be of no use to Sit up Pinckney— several people are disgusted with Harpers letter to his constituents. they consider it as a luke warm buisness—that part of it wherein he appears to think it quite a Matter of indifference whether Mr A or Mr Pinckney is elected—2 I have not got a line from you or mr shaw since I left new york— I hope to hear from You 273 this week.— I say to every body who inquires, that Gen’ll Marshall will accept his appointment I should sorry to believe that he would not deserve as well of his Country as mr Dexter— good old Gen’ll Lincoln call’d on saturday Evening to inquire, if they had not kill’d you yet. I told him no that you would live to kill half a dozen more politically, if they did not stear steady—

our old Neighbour and tennant Elijah Belcher dyed yesterday morning—3 a kind remenbrance to all Friends

affectionatly / Yours &c

Mrs Smith is at Nwark with the cols Mother. she could not come on when I did having arrangements to make, and being uncertain what the col would do this summer.4 if he goes up to the Miami with his Brother, she would be glad to come with You when You return to Quincy— mr shaw can take the stage