[dateline] London Janry 17 1787
[salute] My dear Son
I wrote you so largly by the Newyork December packet, that a few lines must now suffice.
I cannot let a vessel sail without some token from me, and tho I do not insist upon
Letter for Letter, you should recollect how dissapointed you used to be when your
Friends omitted writing.
Your Aunt Cranch wrote me in the fall, that you had been unwell with a swiming in
your Head. I know by experience how dissagreeable that complaint is for I was Seaizd
with it on my return from Holland, to an allarming degree untill I was Bled which
relieved me. As you and I both are inclined to corpulence we should be attentive to
excercise. Without this a Sedantary Life will infallibly destroy your Health, and
then it will be of little avail that you have trim'd the midnight Lamp. In the cultivation
of the mind care should be taken, not to neglect or injure the body upon which the
vigor of the mind greatly depends. Youth are seldom wise, but by experience, and unhappily
few are so attentive in the first portion of Life as to remark with accuracy the causes
of indisposition occasiond by excesses, either of food animal or Mental. A great Student
ought to be particularly carefull in the regulation of his diet, and avoid that bane
of Health late suppers.
I would advise you upon the approach of Spring to lose some Blood, the Headacks and
flushing in your face with which you used to be troubled was occasiond by too great
a Quantity of Blood in your Head. I know you will smile at these precautions, but
if you do not heed them; repentance may come too late. Your Brothers Charles and Tommy
will I hope be equally attentive, particularly the latter of Night damps and dews.
Your sister I have had with me for these ten days suffering under a severe cold taken
at Bath. I have not known her so sick since we left America. She is however getting
better. With the
Beau mond, we have made a Tour to Bath for a fortnight. We made up a party of ten or a Dozen
Americans, Mr and Mrs Rucker and Miss Ramsey whom you know, were a part of the company.
Your Pappa insisted upon my going, tho he could not, as the printers would have waited
for him, not then having compleated
{ 443 } his Book. I returnd to London quite surfeited with Balls concerts &c.
The seditions in Massachusetts induced your Pappa to give to the World a Book which
at first he designed only for a few Friends. He thought it was a critical moment and
that it might prove usefull to his Countryman and tend to convince them that salutary
restraint is the vital principal of Liberty, and that those who from a turbulent restless
disposition endeavour to throw of every species of coercion, are the real Enemies
of freedom, and forge chains for themselves and posterity.
I send you by Captain Cushing half a dozen shirts. I shall have another half dozen
ready for you by Barnard. Let me know if they fit.
To day we have a Clerical party to dine with us, amongst whom are the two American
Bishops
1 dr Price dr Kippis dr disney
2 Dr Rees and several other Clergymen. Adieu my dear son, and accept my best wishes
this and every succeeding year of your Life, for Health of body and peace of mind,
“for peace o virtue!, peace is all thy own.”
3 Affectionatly yours,
Inclosed is a little poetick peice written at the Hyde
4 and the particular description I gave You of the owner and the place, will explain
the peice to you.
Accept the little coin inclosed if this and an other which I sent some time ago comes
safe to your Hand, make a mark in your next letter thus[].