I beg you to inform Mrs. Smith, that I have forwarded to Mr Mc.Connell enclosed in a Letter to Miss Margaret Smith the Picture she requested me to send and have reced Information fm. Dr. Crosby of Mr. Mc.Connell's having recd. my Letter—1 By Mr. Gorham who lately went to Philadelphia I sent Mr. Adams's order on Hoñ Thos. Mc.Kean Esq, Mr Mc.Kean was gone on the Circuits—and Mr Gorham failing of seeing him brought it back— it lays on Hand for another Opportunity Mr. Ty——r is somewhere I dont know where—whether at Braintree Boston, or Virginia where it has been said some days since that He intended to settle—But I cant obtain any Settlement from Him— Mr. Doane has repeatedly promised to pay the Debt from his Fathers Estate—but neglects— Lamberts Debt is not yet paid I have ordered the High Sheriff of the County of Lincoln to be sued in Case that Debt is not immediately paid— Our Tender Act operates disagreably with respect to the recovery of Debts—But we must have Patience—it is continued to Jany. next— Great Complaints are made of the Want of Circulation of money & of Inability to pay Taxes, yet our Stile of Living is not reduced to a State that will justify the Complaint. New Houses, new & Large Bridges among which is Penney Ferry are dayly encreasing, one also over Beverly Ferry is petitioned for—2 New Manufactures, revivals of old and New Improvements in Agriculture & the Spirit of Husbandry encreasing these last are the only remaining Symptoms (I had almost said) of Recovery that are to be seen amonst us— I wrote to Mr. Adams by a Vessell that saild a few Days agone for Bristol—acquainting him that Mr Cranch had been informed by Mr. Borland that Mr Quincy had given up the Thoughts of purchasing his Place and having agreed with Tyler to relinquish his Claims he should wish to sell it— I took the earliest opportunity to give this Information as I suspected from some Enquiries in your former Letters, that you had in Contemplation the purchasing it should an Opportunity present— It is greatly out of Repair—and been much abused by bad Tenants— it may however be purchased at a tolerable good buy—by any Person that stands in Need of it—

I have executed Your order in Part respecting the purchase of public Securities, have expended £100 sterling & upwards in several purchases of them—and shall proceed as favorable Opportunities 101present but apprehend that Delay in this Business can be no Detriment as the Prospect here is against their rising and greatly in favour of sinking still lower— There is a Tract of Land adjoyning to yours, owned lately by one Haden decd. laying upon the Hill in the Commons not far distant from John Fields the Tanners—about 56 Acres which may be purchased @ 25s/ per Acre. Mr Cranch has mentioned it to me several Times and wishes to take a part of it—but whether Your Interest will be advanced by further Purchases of Land You are best able to judge, knowing your own future views & Designs &c3

It being Saturday & just proceeding for Weymouth, least Cushing should Sail before my Return, have wrote in Haste omitting sundry Matters which should have mentioned had Time permitted and Am / Your Affectionate Friend & H Ser

On conversing with Mr. Parsons relative to Your Sons entring into the Study of the Law, I found him disposed to take him under his Instruction, and it being the Wish of your Son to live with him, I accordingly agreed with Mr. Parsons on the Subject— After Commencement Vacation Mr John will repair to Newbury Port— Mr. Parsons's Terms are £100— for Thrree Years exclusive of Board, the money to be paid at the End of the Term As he does not incline to 102board his Pupils, I shall procure a Place at my Brothers or some other good Family—

Mr Johns continued & persevering Application to his Studies must in Time injure his Health unless he carefully attends to Exercise, a Doctrine I have frequently inculcated upon Him and shall urge, previous to his going to Newbury Port, a few Weeks of Relaxation—

What shall I say to you My Friend with Respect to the State of my Country, with Respect to the Complexion of our new Court and the Measures pursuing & pursued by it. The Spirit of the Day has brought into public Life Characters that in sober Times would have been hissed off the Stage and been expelled as Members unfit to grace the Seats of Legislaters. Fomentors of the late Rebellion are found in Council, Senate and in the House of Representatives. In the House are some who from the Beginning were Enemies to the late Revolution, secret in Opposition when it could best serve their Purposes and open when Prospects of Success presented, avowed Friends to Monarchy and to Despotism—that have taken every Advantage of Discontents and encouraged every Kind of Faction—Disappointed Whigs, Convention Men & Debtors not a few— The object of the first is to throw all into Confusion and introduce a new Form of Government— the Disappointed Whigs & Convention Men are most of them Mushrooms that have sprung up on a sudden are tools of the Former but in Principle Levellers— The Debtors join their Force hoping for an Annihilation of public & private Debts, among these are some whose Characters once shone with Lustre— But are now meanly courting the Populace and practising the Arts of Corruption— These Characters came to Court with a Determination, and from many Towns with Instructions, if possible to undo the Measures of the late Administration to remove the Troops stationed for the Suppression of the Rebellion and the Protection of the Western Counties—to remove all Disqualifications, to obtain a general Goal Delivery of all State Prisoners and a general Indemnity & Pardon as well to those condemned to Death as those that have not come in and accepted former Terms of Mercy & Pardon—although the latter have been and are dayly making Depredations—The Removal of the Court from the Town of Boston—as more liberal Tender Act—or a Continuation of the Former—with some an Emission of Paper of Money—with others a Discharge of public Securities at the going Price—are favourite Objects— It is doubtful whether, the Court will be removed from Boston— The Tender Act 103so called will be continued till January next— Paper Money is reprobated—and the further Reduction of public Securities is unnecessary will not be attempted this Session—

Among the high handed Offenders that have been capitally convicted and sentenced to Death, not one as yet has been executed—Pardon was granted for all in Berkshire & Hampshire County except Four— These were reprieved for a Month, now again for Six Weeks—one in the County of Worcester was also marked out for the Halter—but is pardoned— the most criminal of the whole a Shattuck by name—of the County of Middlesex convicted several Times during the War of raising Mobs to oppose the Payment of Taxes & the Execution of Laws, was sentencd to have been executed on Thursday last—but is reprieved for a Month— It seems to be the Opinion of most that all these Gallows deserving Fellows will be set at Liberty—1 Resolves have passed this Session, for a new Pardon to all except Nine—and a Removal of all Disqualefications— it was with great Difficulty that a Vote could be obtained to replace the Troops stationed in the Western Counties, whose Time of Enlistment is just expiring—2 Very little Business of Importance to the Public has been transacted although the we are got in to the 5th. Week of the Session—Nearly Three fourths of the House and a considerable Number of the Senate being new Members— I fear that the Benefits arising from this Session will hardly compensate for the expences— This Court is I believe larger in Numbers than any former by One fourth—3 But I must break off Politics & conclude by informing You; that You have the Thanks of the best Judges & Patriots among us for yr. Judicious & timely Publication, it has already passed through one Impression at New York and is now reprintg at Boston—

Yrs—

I wrote [some time?] since by the Way of Bristol, informed You, that Bor[lan]ds Place may be purchased, if you like—4

By Capt Cushing who will sail in a Day or two, I shall draw in Favour of Mr Elworthy for £100— Folger & Callihan have been expected for some Days but have not as yet arrived—