Col. Wadsworth, upon my inquiring after your health gave me the most agreable and favourable Account of it I have heard for a long time. It rejoiced me very much: and the Information he gave me of your present occupation, in preparing for the Press a new Edition of your Writings, gave me more pleasure than any thing I could have heard of you next to the perfect restoration of your health and your return to your Business and the World.1

I should be glad to do any Thing in my Power to procure you a generous Subscription and I hope you will avail yourself of the Laws of your Country to make your literary Property productive to you.

I have of late years arrived at Hartford in the night, after you were, probably, abed and departed in the morning before you was up, so that I have been deprived of the Pleasure of seeing you. But I hope it will not be very long before I shall see you once more.

What think you of the Politicks of France and Spain? Is the System of Brigandage, towards our American Commerce to become universal? And what should be our Conduct under it, or to avert it or to avenge it? It is Mortification and Humiliation to Submit to it. But Sometimes, before honour is humility. Pray what is the meaning to this Proverb? Is it that Humility is more valuable and excellent than honour? or is it that Humility commonly preceeds honour? or in other Words that honour always or commonly follows humility?

I wish you the compliments of the Season and am your Friend and / humble Servant

After wishing you many happy and prosperous returns of the Season, and a Speedy mitigation of the Severity of the Winter, I wish to know whether you have any Letters from my Sons. I have Seen a Short one, from Thomas to his Mother of the 5th Oct.1 which came I Suppose by the Vessell from Rotterdam and gave me hopes that more, might come by the Same opportunity.

I Should be obliged to you, if any News Should arrive at the Eastward, concerning the Conduct of the French or Spaniards, towards our Commerce in the West Indies, that you would give me as early notice of it as possible. The Conduct of Spain, in adopting the System of Brigandage hitherto confined to the English and French is the most cool, and unprovoked Injustice that ever was heard of; if it is true.2

If France Should declare War against Us, or force a defensive War upon Us, are the Printers of the Chronicle prepared to emigrate, like Madam Draper.3 Have the French Tories Stipulated, or obtained Republican Assurances of Compensation, like the old Loyalists in Case of their being obliged to seek an Assylum in Paris? How many in Boston do you think would join the Sansculotte and Jacobin Standard in Case forty or fifty thousand Mounsieur Citizens should come in forty ships of the Line and a thousand Transports to Boston or New york, or Charlston or Philadelphia? Do you think Governor Adams would carry his Republican Zeal So far as to put on the tricouloured Cockade? Would James Winthrop in his Zeal for fulfilling Prophecies vote an Act with the Atheists and Deists who are to pull down Antichrist?4

Remember how confidential these Sallies must be, as they come from one in the critical Situation of your Friend