I this day received a letter from my Mother enclosing one from you to her dated in April in which you express so much interest in my situation, that I am induced to endeavour if possible to eface from your mind some of the disagreeable impressions which may be made upon it, by your ideas of a Camp Life—1 Colln Smith has ever been attached to a Military Life and whenever his Country has occasion for the services of a Soldier will be ready to serve it. he has made the Profession more of a Study than most others and has had opportunities to observe more of foreign service than any Officer in america who has not been actually engaged in it. the Field Officers of this Brigade are gentlemen of respectable characters in private Life, and most of them have families. the younger are generally gentlemen of Education, and have in general conducted themselvs with great propriety. it cannot be expected that in a society so numerous that every individual should be regular, and virtuous. but it has been observed that there has in this encampment been a greater degree of good order and regularity observed than was ever known in this Country before in the same situation. their stations are so divided and sub divided and each having his particular Duty to perform that a proper order and regularity is observed through the whole, and I assure you that from the observations I have made, I can easily suppose that a Number of Persons engaged in the same pursuit and amongst whom a good Harmony prevails—that they may soon become attached to this Kind of Life

the Common idea of a Camp—is that it is a continual scene of riot and dissorder—and that every vice and irregularity is practiced in it— but I assure you it is far otherwise no Officer or Soldier can commit any crime or be guilty of dissorderly Conduct with impunity—and I do not beleive there can be a more regular society found, of this kind than here, at least I can answer for such parts of it as have come within my own observation—

but in this Country whare I hope we shall never have occasion for a standing army—it is not a very advantageous profession, and there appears so great a prejudice against the Military Profession that it is not probable it will ever become a permanent establishment—and if […] can be supported without its aid we shall exhibit a happy example to the World

I hope my dear Cousin that I shall not suffer in your good oppinion—by endeavouring to exculpate the Military Profession from some of the prejudices excited against it

I am Sorry to hear that you have been indisposed I hope ere this your health is perfectly established— that you and yours may enjoy every blessing is the sincere wish / of yours Cousin

I returned to the City the night before last on the 18th: day after my departure. My Father sat off on Tuesday and I found the house turned inside out. My own things were carefully packed up by Mr: Briesler and yesterday I had them removed to my lodgings in the same family that I was with last year.1

Mr: Briesler & family will be ready to sett out on Tuesday and will leave the house in good condition. I received from him the two demijohns of Wine, which were drawn off by your direction, for which I kindly thank you.

My journey was safe & agreeable and has conduced much to my health, though even my complection is several shades darker for it. The Country thro’ which I travelled was rude enough; but growing daily in population & improvement. The land is excellent in many places—fertile & where the settlements are considerable, very well cultivated— I passed through the Shire or County towns of nine different Counties on the route & met with hospitable treatment every where, though the Company I kept was pretty generally with federal people— But the sovereign people of several Counties through which I passed are deeply and generally Antifederal in their politics. At Huntingdon 200 miles from the City, we met two of our Supreme Court Judges and several of the Country Lawyers— Being detained on the road a day by the rain, prevented our arriving so seasonably as we could have wished.

On our return we passed through Northumberland and took a survey of Dr: Priestleys house & garden, externally. The house 270 consists of a two story frame building—painted white, with small wings on each side, pleasantly situated, and commanding a good prospect of the River Susquehannah— It is very much in the style, altogether, of a plain, neat & well finished New England Country house—2 I neither saw the owner, nor enquired if he were at home, but on my arrival at Sunbury was informed by my friend Mr: Charles Hall that the philosopher was on the spot—

I hope my jaunt has furnished me with a stock of health sufficient to last me the Summer through— In the Fall I shall make another excursion.

I have not heard when my father intends to return from Washington, but I presume in the course of a month, if not sooner—

Present me kindly & affectionately to all our friends at the Eastward and believe me with all love & duty / Your Son