University of Virginia Library

I dined to-day at Colonel Quincy's. They were
so kind as to send me and Abby and Betsey an invitation
to spend the day with them; and, as I had not
been to see them since I removed to Braintree, I accepted
the invitation. After I got there came Mr.
Samuel Quincy's wife and Mr. Sumner, Mr. Josiah

and wife.[2] A little clashing of parties, you may be
sure. Mr. Sam's wife said, she thought it high time
for her husband to turn about; he had not done half
so cleverly since he left her advice; said they both
greatly admired the most excellent speech of the
Bishop of St. Asaph, which I suppose you have seen.
It meets, and most certainly merits, the greatest encomiums.

Upon my return at night, Mr. Thaxter met me
at the door with your letter, dated at Princeton,
New Jersey. It really gave me such a flow of spirits,
that I was not composed enough to sleep until
one o'clock. You make no mention of one I wrote
you previous to that you received by Mr. Breck, and
sent by Mr. Cunningham. I am rejoiced to hear you
are well. I want to know many more particulars
than you write me, and hope soon to hear from you
again. I dare not trust myself with the thought how
long you may perhaps be absent. I only count the
weeks already past and they amount to five. I am
not so lonely as I should have been without my two
neighbours; we make a table-full at meal times. All
the rest of their time they spend in the office. Never
were two persons who gave a family less trouble
than they do. It is at last determined, that Mr.
Rice keep the school here. Indeed, he has kept
ever since he has been here, but not with any expectation
that he should be continued;—but the people,
finding no small difference between him and his

predecessor, chose he should be continued. I have
not sent Johnny.[3] He goes very steadily to Mr.
Thaxter, who I believe takes very good care of him;
and, as they seem to have a liking to each other,
I believe it will be best to continue him with him.
However, when you return, we can consult what
will be best. I am certain that, if he does not get so
much good, he gets less harm; and I have always
thought it of very great importance, that children
should, in the early part of life, be unaccustomed to
such examples as would tend to corrupt the purity of
their words and actions, that they may chill with
horror at the sound of an oath, and blush with indignation
at an obscene expression. These first principles,
which grow with their growth, and strengthen
with their strength, neither time nor custom can totally
eradicate. You will perhaps be tired. No.—
Let it serve by way of relaxation from the more important
concerns of the day, and be such an amusement,
as your little hermitage used to afford you
here. You have before you, to express myself in
the words of the Bishop, the greatest national concerns
that ever came before any people; and, if the
prayers and petitions ascend unto Heaven, which
are daily offered for you, wisdom will flow down as
a stream, and righteousness as the mighty waters,
and your deliberations will make glad the cities of
our God.
I was very sorry I did not know of Mr. Cary's
going; it would have been so good an opportunity to
have sent this, as I lament the loss of. You have
heard, no doubt, of the people's preventing the court
from sitting in various counties; and last week, in
Taunton, Angier urged the court's opening, and calling
out the actions, but could not effect it. I saw a
letter from Miss Eunice, wherein she gives an account
of it, and says there were two thousand men
assembled round the court-house, and, by a committee
of nine, presented a petition requesting that they
would not sit, and with the utmost order waited two
hours for their answer, when they dispersed.

You will burn all these letters, lest they should
fall from your pocket, and thus expose your most
affectionate friend,