I send you enclosed a couple of Profiles one of which I wish you to present to Mrs: Adams if you think they it will prove acceptable I am told mine is a very fine likeness and Caroline who likewise takes this opportunity of offering one to your mother has I think been equally fortunate the other you can keep or give to Mrs. Whitcomb if you do not want it they were taken by a Mr. Todd. a Philadelphian and are very neatly finished—1

Your last charming letter afforded me the sincerest gratification2 I wish when you send your books back for the winter you would put up Madame de Sevigne’s letters it is so long since I read them I am certain I should to reap both instruction and amusement in a reperusal I am at present studying Miss Hamilton on Education I admire her more than any author I have yet seen her system of Education is formed from the best writers on this subject and by being simplified is render’d more easy to execute Lock & Mrs Edgeworth are the two writers she most approves though she frequently differs from their opinions3 had I a daughter it is the only system I would wish to adopt but it requires a Mother of a superior cast to be able to undertake it &. do it justice.—

Mama has recieved very flattering letters from Mess Thorp & Maitland presenting her with a hundred Pounds and assuring her that the creditors of W. J. M. would do something to render her situation more independant for the rest of her life Mr. Maitland tells her the business was not arranged then but he had great hopes of accomplishing it in a short time as a payment of the Interest was soon to be made which would oblige the Creditors to meet &. he trusts he shall then be able to prevail on them to settle it fir[st]4 Ah my beloved friend you know not have no idea of what a consolation it is to us her Children to know that she may at least be removed from the painful state of dependance to which she is now forced to submit &. that Hellen will partly be relieved from a heavy burthen from which he has supported with unexampled kindness—

The heat is excessive since the first of this month untill then the weather was cold & uncomfortable with Thunder gusts every evening we have had both Strawberries &. peas for some time though I understand they were unusually late this year I presume your garden now begins to supply you & if your Dairy supplies you with Cheese I should very much like to have a little of it here it has been so scarce we have never been able to procure any since you left us

George is much delighted with his drum I intend to trouble your mother with a commission in a short time but not immediately Mrs. Whitcomb did not execute hers with exactitude Pray tell her I wish she would write me the prices of the different articles she purchaced and to send me a White Veil by the first opportunity— It will be better to give the enclosed paper to Mrs. Whitcomb She will then know what I want—5

Adieu my best friend it is so warm I can scarcely write and I fear you will have some difficulty to read this letter I have no news Mr. Custis is to be married the 7th of next month to a Miss Fitzchew Sister of Mrs. Craig whom you met once or twice last Winter6 Mr. Thornton le petit Chargé is gone to Baltimore he sails for England in a couple of days &. Mr. & Mrs. Merry are to set off on their journey to the northward some time next week7 She called on me last evening & complained much of the heat indeed she looked very ill Mrs. M. expects to see you in Boston there are a number of Savants at here one of whom is a Dr. Fothergill from England and another a Baron Rumboul from Prussia8 I am not sure that this is the mans name but Kitty who dined with them at Mr. Maddissons yesterday says it was so pronounced—

Remember me affectionately to your father mother &. Brother The Children send you an hundred kisses with as many as you please from her whose greatest happiness and glory it will ever be to subscribe herself your sincerely devoted and affectionate wife

I have now received your favour of the 29th: of last month, enclosing a letter from your Mamma, for Mr: Murdoch, which I shall take care to forward, by the first vessel that will go from Boston to England.—1

You had been so long without an attack of the spasms, that I had flattered my self, they had taken their final leave— I grieve to hear of their return— Perhaps it may only be in consequence of the change in the whole nervous system, by weaning your child— As the fine Season is now in its glory, I hope you will not omit to take frequent exercise, and a change of air as often as you can—

As for George his age for mischief is now come, and we cannot expect he should be exempt from it more than others— Is there no such thing as a day school where he could be sent, and kept quiet?

Tis very unaccountable that the other young Gentleman should 390 be so passionate as you tell me—for you know it could not come from either of his parents— Perhaps he derives it by transmission from some former generation— But upon further recollection and calling to mind what has happened to me this very week, I must confess that I can account for some degree of irritability in a child of mine, without going more than one step upwards to find its source.

I went last Tuesday to Dedham, to attend a Court there on the same old business of a new road in the town of Quincy, which called me there more than once while we lived in Boston— I dare say you will remember to have heard us talk about it— Certain persons wish to make a new road through the town, at the expence of the town, and against the will of the town— They had already been beaten twice of the ground; and Tuesday we had the question for the third Time— They were beaten off again: but still will not be quiet— I suppose we shall have another pull for it in September.2

Our General Court are in Session, but I have not been in Boston since they met— They are employed as usual with an abundance of Turnpikes, and Bridges, and Banks, but they have also some other matter to Amuse themselves with. They are to determine how the Electors of President and Vice-President are to be chosen— Whether By a general ticket to be elected throughout the Commonwealth— By separate districts, or by the Legislature themselves— It makes no difference as to the issue of the Election, which way it is determined, but the parties think it something worth contesting against each other.3

We have had hitherto a very fine Season since the Spring opened, and plenteous rains, which were very much wanted last year— Hitherto there has been no very warm weather— This is the first day of genuine summer heat.

I enclosed in my last Letter which I hope you have before this received, a 50 dollar bill.4

I am my dearest Louisa, ever affectionately yours