I received last evening your favour of the 20th: instt: containing the distressing intelligence of Mr: Johnson’s decease; which I had indeed been in some measure prepared to expect, by a letter from Mrs: Johnson to Mrs: Adams, received a few days before—1 I endeavoured to communicate the melancholy event to my wife in a manner which might soften as much as possible the shock— The agitation into which it threw her, was however so violent that she has been quite unwell last night; and has not yet entirely recovered— She had flattered herself lately so much with hopes, that the stroke was quite unexpected to her.— In addition to her distress at her irreparable loss and that of her family, she was extremely concerned on account of Mrs: Hellen— Your letter of the 22d: however, which I have just given her, has relieved her mind in a great measure on this account, and given her as much joy as she was at this time susceptible of receiving.— We both join in congratulating you upon this new accession to your family, and hope soon to hear of Mrs: Hellen’s perfect recovery.2

The situation in which Mr: Johnson has left his family is a subject of deep concern to our minds; and with you, I shall be happy to make every exertion in my power for their comfort— Just before he left England, he made a Will, in which he constituted you, his son Thomas (upon his coming of age) and myself his Executors for his concerns in America— Of this Will, I have a copy in my possession, and it is attested by my brother as one of the Witnesses— If there has been no subsequent Will, I presume it will be necessary to prove that, in the Maryland Court of Probate—3 I likewise suppose that you have a copy of the same Will, unless another has been 199 made, and will take such steps as will be necessary for the probate; and for making such dispositions with regard to his property as may carry the Will as far as possible into effect— The State of his affairs is much better known to you than to me, and at this distance, it will perhaps be impossible for me to obtain such a knowledge of them as to enable me to act much in the capacity of Executor— I shall however be ready cheerfully to join in any measure which you may deem expedient for settling the Estate in the manner the most beneficial possible to the interests of his family.

With regard to his demands against Messrs: Wallace and Muir, I have heard nothing since I left Washington— I never had an opportunity to go into a complete investigation of all the transactions, but as far as I was acquainted with them, it appeared to me he had suffered such gross and flagrant injustice, that a representation of it properly drawn up, and presented to the legislature of his native State, was the properest expedient he could adopt, and the best if not the only remedy remaining to him— The proceedings of the Chancellor in particular are of such a nature, that a statement of his own decree—with his allegation of motives, his hand-bill, and in short the whole course of his proceedings must I think produce a salutary effect, presented to the impartial view of an honest legislative Assembly, the common protectors of individual rights and of public Justice—4 I suggested this idea to Governor Johnson, when I had the happiness of seeing him at Frederick, and though he did not give a decisive opinion upon the subject, it appeared to me that he did not disapprove it.

If the suit has not yet been decided, his Executors must no doubt be now admitted to prosecute it, and for that purpose the probate of the Will must be made as early as possible— I shall be happy to hear from you on this subject, and to join in any possible effort to obtain that justice for his afflicted and distress’d family which was so cruelly denied to him.

With great regard, and attachment, I remain, Dear Sir, your friend and very humble Servt:

I have been gratified by receiving two kind letters from you.1 No circumstance of joy or sorrow that affects my Sisters, can be uninterresting to me; not from an idle curiosity, but a wish. to heighten the pleasures of life by participation, & lessen the misfortunes by sympathy & sincere affection. The same kind Parents nurtured our Infant Days, & taught us “all the Charities” of social life. In us, with the ties of relationship are interwoven similarity of Temper, & mental Taste, “A generous Friendship, which no cold medium knows, Burns with one love, with one resentment glows”—2 And upon the arms of our family, should be inscribed, One in many I find that my fears were not groundless, that my Sister Cranch’s long silence was occasioned by some afflictive occurrence in her family, for she is always so ready, & so good to write her absent friends, that if any length of time intervene, I conclude they are sick— She has indeed had distressing scenes— To perceive the harbingers of Death rapidly approaching, & to behold the last struggles of expiring nature even in a stranger are solemn, painful realities.—at which humanity shudders! I rejoice in the recovery of the faithful Partner of her life—she has still to sing of mercy—few have their affections more united, or lived happier than our Brother— May their lives be protracted an honourable example of connubial Love—

I was glad you hinted to Mr Peabody your opinion relative to the late donation of our Uncle. It might be received better from you, than from me— The good Dr. likewise has expressed his sentiments very freely, respecting my Son, & wishes it might be put in trust for him— I presume Mr Peabody will not hesitate to consent to a thing, we think really a peice of justice, & indispensable— If my Son only proves a useful good man, I can wish for no greater joy on earth— may angels guard him—

I have indeed been in a dissagreeable, dangerous situation, & a very humiliating one— I thought if I could only walk one step, & bear my weight, & not quiver, I should rejoice but if I only walked to the window it would agitate my whole frame, bring on cold sweats distress for breath, & seem sometimes as if I were dying— Several of those dismal stormy nights I feared I should not see another day— I should sleep a little while, & then wake in universal distress— The Drs. say it is owing to a failure of the nervous fluid— But thanks to a kind providence I am greatly restored; my strength is in some measure recovered, & I can walk from room to room, almost as well as before my fall—

While I was so feeble, it was a comfort to me to have my dear Abby so well but within a fortnight has the bad cold, & she cannot throw of a disorder like stronger constitutions— I hope it will not leave her, as she was last summer— Any check upon the pores, brings on a febrile heat— The measels is in every family in Ha[ver]hill, but have not reached here yet— Abbys lu[ngs] are so weak, that I should be very fearful of [her] taking it now—but I hope not to be very anxious our portion is alloted— If my ancle was as well as it was last Fall, I would take Abby in the Chaise, & make the exhange you proposed with all my heart, but I dare not venture at present—

I should admire to have Cousin Susan, she reads well, & is so sensible, that I hope she would behave finely in the Academy—3 She will have nobody to tell her she is clumsy now—&ca— If you could let my son bring her, & take his Sister, I would endeavour to carry her back, & bring Abby if I am well enough— I should like to know, your opinion, on account of fixing her cloath David Dexter was at Mrs Fosters, but heard nothing of the box of grafts— I hope we shall not lose them—

With sincere affection, I am your Sister