Your Favour of the 1st. Inst. I recd the 11st. and shall give orders to Pratt relative to the Butter &c Not having received an Answer to Mine respecting the Cart &c and finding no Opportunity to dispose of the Cart to Advantage I got Lt. Bates to apprize it which he sat at £7.10.0 and had concluded to take it to my own Use if you approved of it, but as you think it will not be best to sell—I wish to use it till the Spring & will account with you therefore— The Mud Boat I have got to Weymouth and found that it wanted the Eye of a Master— I do not expect that it will fetch more than £10 or £12. if sold as Gondalos that will serve the same Purpose have been sold at that Rate—I shall not However dispose of it without particular Directions tho I am of opinion it will be best to sell it if any Thing near the Worth can be obtained— Adams informs me that He must leave the House (at Boston) if the Rent is not reduced—1 I fear I shall not be able any longer to get £40 per annl from any Person, as Rents are exceeding low and but little Money in Circulation As soon as may be I wish to know your Mind on this Subject as well as with Respect to the Mode of adjusting Our Account whether it is agreable that Mrs. Cranch should audit it as heretofore— You will be so kind as let Cousin John, know that I answerd his Draught on me as soon as I became possessed of it being a Day or two after he left Boston—2

I wish to know what Papers are forwarded to you from the Printers at Boston and whether you would have all of them sent on—

The Author of the scurrilous Poem referred to in yours is well known here and it is generally reputed and considered as the Work of a malicious & disappointed Seeker—3 it appears to me to be a Stab upon the President through the Side of the Vice President and as paving the Way for an Attack upon Him, whenever a favorable Opportunity shall present— Too many there are to our Sorrow, that can never be contented but in Broils & Contests, Wishing to embroil Government, and to throw our publick Affairs into Confusion, they are seeking every Occasion to gratify their restless Spirits and to wriggle themselves into Places favorable to their Desig[ns] But as they are generally devoid of Principle, they sooner or later fall into the Pit which they have diggd for others—

Be pleased to remember me to Mr Adams & your Children—and accept of the best Wishes / of Your Affectionate Friend & H Ser

I write to you my dear sister, not from the disputed Banks of the Potowmac, the Susquehanna or the deleware, but from the peace-full Borders of the Hudson, a situation where the Hand of Nature has so lavishly display'd her Beauties, that she has left scarcly any thing, for her Handmaid Art, to perform.

The House in which we reside is situated upon a Hill, the Avenue to which is intersperced with Forest Trees under which a shubery rather too Luxurient and wild, has taken Shelter, owing to its having been deprived by death some years Since, of its original proprieter who kept it in perfect order. in Front of the House the Noble Hudson rools his Majestick waves bearing upon his Bosom innumerable small vessels which are constantly [. . .]ing the rich product of the Neighbouring soil to the buisy hand of a more extensive Commerce. Beyond the Hudson rises to our view the fertile country of the Jersies, coverd with a golden Harvest, & pouring forth plenty like the cornicapia of Ceres. on the right Hand an extensive plain presents us with a view of Fields coverd with verdure and pastures full of cattle, on the left, the city opens upon us, intercepted only by clumps of Trees, & some rising ground, which serves to heighten the Beauty of the scene, by appearing to conceal a part on the back Ground is a large flower garden inclosed with a Hedge and some very handsome Trees. on one side is a Grove of pines & oaks fit for contemplation—

if my days of Fancy and Romance were not past, I could find here an ample field for indulgence, yet amidst these delightfull scenes of Nature, my Heart pants for the society of my dear Relatives and Friends who are too far removed from me. I wish most Sincerely to return & pass the Recess of Congress at my Habitation at Braintree, but the season of the year to which they have adjourned renders the attempt impractacable, tho I am not the only person who question there making a congress again till April, but the punctuality of mr Adams to all publick Buisness would oblige him strickly to adhere to the day of adjournment, however inconvenient it might prove to him.2 he has never been absent from his Daily duty in Senate a single hour from their first meeting, and the last months Buisness has press'd so hard that his Health appears to require a recess.

Shall I ask my Sister why she has not writen me a line since I came to this place. with regard to myself I own I have been cautious of writing. I know that I stand in a delicate situation. I am fearfull of touching upon political subjects yet perhaps there is no person who feels more interested in them, and upon this occasion I may congratulate my country upon the late judicial appointments, in which an assemblage of the greatest talants and abilities are united, which any Country can Boast of, Gentlemen in whom the publick have great confidence & who will prove durable pillars in support of our Government3

Mr Jefferson is nominated for Secretary of state in the room of mr Jay who is made chief Justice thus have we the fairest prospect of setting down under our own vine's in peace, provided the wrestless spirit of certain characters who foam & frett, are permitted only their hour upon the Stage and then shall no more be heard, off, or permitted to sow the seeds of discord amongst the real defenders of the Faith

Mrs Smith has written to you.4 she is now at Jamiaca with her youngest son. Louissa is well, & soon to be inoculated for the small pox. present me kindly to mr & mrs Thaxter, and to the little Namesake5 God Bless him for his Parents sake & long preserve them to each other. your Nephew J Q Adams hurries me so least he should miss sending his Letters by this post, that I am obligd to break of more abruptly than I designd and subscribe my self most affectionately / yours

Love to mr Shaw & to master & miss Shaw— Remember me to my Neice E Smith and to all other Friends