Trenton
October 27. 1799
My dearest Friend
I have recd. yours of 24th and thank you for
your relation of our little domestic affairs at
Quincy. Brisler did not arrive last night as
you callculated. His Children may detain him
longer than you expected. Some of the public Offices are about removing to
Phyladelphia this week. I can
sent James with my Horses and Charriot to meet you at
Hoebucken Ferry or
Elizabeth Town or any other Place you may appoint and at any
time you will appoint, if you can be sure of your Planns and measures. If Mrs.
Smith and Caroline come on, you will want more room and
more horses. Write exactly your determination.
I have been forenon and
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afternoon to
Church to
hearParson Waddell, who gave us two
Discourses good and wholesome for soul, Body and Estate. He is a good Picture
of "Stalled Theology" and said to have a good Estate. Last Sunday I went to the
Presbyterian Church and heard Mr. Grant an ingenious young
gentleman. There is Something more
chearful and
comfortable in an Episcopalian than in a Presbyterian Church .... I admire a
great Part of the divine Service at Church very much. It is very humane and
benevolent, and sometimes pathetic and affecting: but rarely gloomy, if ever.
Their Creeds I could dispense with very well because, the Scriptures being
before us contain the Creed the most certainly orthodox. But you know I never
write nor Talk upon Divinity. I have had more than I could do, of Humanity.
Benevolence and Beneficence, Industry, Equity and Humanity Resignation and
Submission,
Repentance and Reformation are the Essence of my
Religion.
Alass, how weakly and imperfectly have I
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fullfilled the Duties of my own
Religion! I look back upon a long Life very poorly spent in my own Estimation.
Busy as it has appeared to Some, to me it appears to have been very much too
idle, inactive, slothful and sluggish. I fear it is too late to amend .... My
Forces are
far spent and by too much Exertion I should soon exhaust
them all. I am not in the
Vapours but in very good
Spirits notwithstanding this
penetent Confession of
my faults.
Write me every day.
J. A.
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[Endorsement -- see page image]
