I received from you two kind Letters which I have not yet acknowledged;1 I am surprized to find that the frost & cold have not yet put a stop to the fever. I hope it will not be permitted to make a renewed visit, at the approach of the summer with a severity never before experienced in our healthy and delightfull Village— I cannot Say that I have enjoy’d So Much health this winter as the last. I am very frequently shut up, tho but for a few days at a time; I fancy we have too much damp here for Rhumatica Constitutions, but my constitution appears to have Sufferd severely from the Ague and fever, and to be much-broken by repeated attacks of an intermitting kind. I patch up, but it is hard Work.— heretofore I have had Spirits which would surmount & rise above bodily infirmity; whether they will be continued to me, I know not; I hope they may, for a groaning whineing complaining temper I deprecate— I have no disposition to Seclude myself from society, because I have met with unkind or 522 ungratefull returns from Some; I would strive to act my part Well and reign Retire with that Dignity which is unconscious of doing or Wishing ill to any—with a temper disposed to forgive injuries, as I would myself hope to be forgiven, if any I have committed— I wish for the preservation of the Government, and a wise administration of it— in the best situation, with the wisest head and firmest Heart, it will be surrounded with perplexities dangers and troubles, that are little conceived of by those into whose Hands it is like to fall. the President had frequently contemplated resigning: I thought it would be best for him to leave to the people to act for themselves, and take no responsibility upon himself— I do not regreet that he has done so— he has had the pleasure of appointing Your son to the office of commissoner for the city, in the place of mr scott who dyed a few weeks since and tho this will be sit down by the Antis—as a promotion on account of Relationship, we care not now what they say. the Senate had nothing to do with this appointment, and therefore could not quibble as they have done upon some former occasions. the principle proprieters in the city came forward in a recommendation of mr Cranch to the President, and I trust the appointment will give general Satisfaction— I think mr Cranch is rising fast and will be one of the first Men in the city in a Short time— the Duties of his office will be arduous, and delicate to give Satisfaction to the contending interests—but I hope he will act impartially tho it may sometimes be difficult to persuade interested people to believe that he is so— the Sallery I think is sixteen hundred dollors a year—2

I hope I shall return to Quincy Sometime in Feb’ry but I own it is a mountain before me— So Many horrid Rivers to cross and Such Roads to traverse— My health very delicate—

I feel most sensibly for our dear Respected and Venerable Uncle— I know not, nor do I think it possible to supply to him the loss he has sustaind; tho mrs Popes temper was not pleasant, She was attentive towards him, knew all his wants and Wishes— She was prudent, and saveing of his interest—and had Many excellent qualities— to a person of his years it is peculiarly urksome to have new faces, new habits new fancies to conform to— it will probably shorten the period of his existance—but it would seem as if there remained but little desirable in this World to him— yet we must live all the days of our appointed time, and when our change commeth, may it be happy to us—

I thank You my Dear sister— I have not any thing Yet to ask for. I rejoice You are in Such health as to be able to assist Your Friends, 523 and I rejoice that our dear Mrs Norten is spaired to her family and Friends— Surely we may sing of mercy as well as judgment

we all send Love. the President has enjoyed very good health ever Since he has been here, and hopes to be a good Farmer Yet. he some times Says he would go to the Bar again if he had the powers of Speech, but of public Life he takes a final farewell—

Betsy Howard and her Lover have chosen to Signilize their Marriage by having it performed whilst in the Family of the President— I did not much oppose it, tho I thought they had better have Waited untill they returnd, as I Supposed it would subject them to reports wholy groundless & unfounded, but they conscious of their innocence, disregarded such rumours and last sunday Evening were married— Richard and Becky have not yet proposed a similar subject, to me—3 I trust they think themselves Young enough Yet—

adieu my dear sister it is My large dinner party to day and I Must dress to sit at table as I have Ladies tho I have not been below for three days— I Make an exertion as it is the last time I expect the pleasure of dinning them

affectionatly Your sister

I received Your kind and friendly Letter of December 15 and thank You for your sympathetic condolence upon an event severely afflicting to a parent—in this case armed with many a barbed arrow. to infinite Wisdom I bow in humble Submission. may the Chastning hand of providence be duly noticed by me, so that those Children who Survive, may be doubly blessed to their parents1

The year past is a memorable one to me, both upon a private, and public account; tho the Clouds are impenetrable, and the Ways of Providence dark and intricate,2 he who permits not a sparrow to fall, unnoticed, assuredly over rules the more important interests and concerns of kingdoms and nations,

an increasing infidelity in Religion, an allarming corruption of manners from the highest to the lowest ranks of society, a wrestless spirit of discontent, and turbulence manifested under the mildest Government, in which a people can partake and prosper, an unchecked spirit of calumny, lieing, and Slander; which has Spread through our country, to its infamy and disgrace, bearing down honour virtue and integrity like a besom of destruction—all portend some Mighty Change.4 when irreligion is demoralizing the world Shall the influence of Government unite to place at its head those whose only religion is benevolence? that the Lord Reigneth is consolation to the Christian, but we ought to deprecate his judgments, and implore his mercy—

I Shall endeavour not to remain here longer than this month. I would advise mr Porter to cut 5 cord of pine wood and get it home. it may be also necessary to get some more oak wood as we shall want more than was calculated upon— there is Something due to mr Frothingham, for mending the wheels of the chariot which will be lost to us unless you can get the Bill and pay it and forward it before the last of Feb’ry. I also wish you to procure from mr Frothingham the price paid him for the Coachee which he made for us— he took in exchange and as part pay a coachee which We had. I think he allowed one hundred pounds for it. the remaining sum I paid him in Money I have his account & receits but they are with My papers at home and blended with other matters of repairs to other carriages. now what I want of mr Frothingham is a Receit for the carriage, which he may call a duplicate Receit for the sum which it cost. it is thought best to leave the two Carriages which have been used in the service of the public to the future President: and I must therefore have a Receit for to file with other papers—and this as early as possible5 You will be so kind as to forward them to mr shaw under cover to the President, as I presume I shall be on my way home before they will reach me.

Mr smith of Boston procured for us Some fish Tongues porter and pork, which we have received. he has an unsettled account which I endeavourd to have adjusted before I came away but faild in doing. I payd him one hundred dollors which he creditted me for, but I presume there will still be a balance due to him upon the 525 articles since furnished. there were three articles the amount of which I do not know. a cask of sherry wine a Bill paid by him to mr Hall for some hams & Tongues, and a Quintal of fish I one day gave him a Bill of a hundred dollors, requesting him to settle the account & give me a Receit. he creditted me for the Money but the account remains unsetled. I inclose a hundred dollors requesting You to pay him the balance due to him— I wish to come home as clear of the World as possible, and with as few debts indeed I know of but one other, which is something due to dr Phips I believe, which however cannot be much. I will request you to settle that also—

I cannot say that my Health has been so good as it was the last winter. I have frequent ill turns, and have Several days been confined. I lose my sleep often, and find my Spirits flag my mind and Heart have both been severely tried— I desire to learn and practise the lesson of the apostle, in what ever state I am to be content—6 I often wish myself again at Quincy: there I hope to arrive in the Month of Feb’ry— With my kind Regards to Mrs Tufts and Family I am dear Sir Your affectionate / Neice