Your’s of the 6th Instant I received yesterday together with the Extracts from Bache’s Paper they have not yet found their way in to 166 the Chronicle ’tho it may be expected. with respect to the Charge against the President of Insinserity in the Interval between his Address to Congress and his Nomination I can say that I took notice of the same here two Days only before the Nomination was known in this Town. when it was known the Men were objected against Mr Pinkny say they is a very improper Person because he had been so lately rejected by the Directory Mr Dana is known to be an Enemy to the French Republic and so is Mr Marshall now how can it be expected that a Negociation conducted by the Agency of such Men can be successfull however the Instruction they receive say they will demonstrate this Point.

I was up at Dracut on the 13 & 14th Inst which by the Way was the Reason I did not receive your’s so soon as I should otherwise. This was a Visit to the Middlesex Canal of the Directors. Sullivan is the President1 we had a Meeting of the Directors in March at Page’s Tavern in Charlestown soon after the President’s Proclamation convening Congress was published.2 Sullivan at this Meeting took occasion to vindicate the Conduct of the Directory in not receiving Mr Pinkny upon a Principle as he said of Ettiquette known and acknowledged among Nations that whenever a Minister was withdrawn by any Nation that a Renewal of Intercourse must commence by the Mission of a Minister Extra, that in the Dispute with Great Britain a Minister Extra had been sent and that France would expect the same. Some Warmth took Place between him and some of the Directors upon the Occasion altho’ I remember I said Nothing. After Dinner in our Return from the Canal the Conversation turned upon the same Subject and it was observed that as Matters grew serious people would be obliged to take a more serious Position and that the Measures of the Executive were so fair and honorable there could be no just Room left to the French to refuse an amicable adjustment. I said no and that the objection that the Minister’s were not exactly of a Turn suited to the Views of the French Government could be not justify them in a Perseverance. and that if they wanted an Envoy Extra they must be Satisfied for instead of one they now had three. Sullivan said yes they could not be otherwise than satisfied and he had no Doubt the Difficulties would be settled and that it did concern them who the Men were if We were willing to trust them it is the Character in which they go which will be regarded “though you turning to me was so high when I mentioned it last Spring.” I denied that it was I and here ended the Conversation.

Please to present our respectfull Compliments to the President and remember us all to Miss Luicy and believe me to be with Respect / your Humble: St.

Your Friend Quincy is married, truly married and to a Nyork Lady, by the Name of Morten, without Beauty and without Money, but amply compensated by the accomplishments of her mind and the Virtues of her Heart, as I am informd, for I have not the pleasure of knowing her.1 Having told you this peice of News, I shall proceed and would acknowledge the date of your last Letter to me, but I undesigndly left it, with some others at Quincy.2 that it was a good one I know, because no other comes from your pen. your Last letter to your Father is dated the 17th of March; I have an opportunity of communicating them to some of our Friends here in Congress; the information which both your Brothers and your Letters contain, is So accurate that great dependance is placed upon them; We are not a little anxious to receive Letters of a more recent date, especially when our situation becomes daily more critical, by the Hostile conduct of France. Much conquest has made them Mad, as Festus said to Paul with respect to learning.3 if Peace depend upon our Government, it will be preserved. there is but one wish, it is, to avoid War—if it can be done without Prostrating our National honour, or sacrificing our independance.

Congress are in session. the speech of the President and the answers of the two Houses I would inclose to you, but presume you will have them before this reaches you, as well as two Bills which have passt both Houses, one for the prevention of Arms and Amminition being exported, and an other to prevent citizens of the united states Privateering against any of the powers

The People at large are thinking right, and I hope will act so. there is said to exist in Congress a much greater diversity of opinion, than is to be found without the Walls of that House

I inclose to you Govenour sumners speech that you may learn the Temper of Massachusetts.4

This state you know is always a Dead Weight. the interest of the union is swallowd up in local interests. such a mass, but I forbear.

I hope we shall be more fortunate in our future embassys to France than we have been in some of the former appointments; the three Gentlemen who are now united, will do every thing proper to accommodate the difference which subsist between us— there will not be wanting however persons on this side the water, to represent the Envoys as Enemical to France. nothing can be more false, but of that party. no Man would have pleased them but a voilent Democrat.

Mr Murray will be arrived I trust before this will reach you. you will proceed to England on your way Home. your Brothers new destination will I hope be as agreable to him, as Lisbon, but his own pleasure will never be his object if incompatable with the service of his Country; I hope he will Marry that he may have a companion, or I fancy he will be more unwilling to part with you, and we want you here very much.

Your Friend mr Bourn brought me the Watch safe. it is a very good one—6

I shall write you again soon as there are several opportunities from this place.

I am my Dear son / Your ever affectionate / Mother