I have not received a Line from Since the last of Jan’ry 1 Betsy is much distresst to hear from her sister and I am not a little anxious. I hoped the twesday post as usual would have given me some information. I must attribute it to the weather for my dear sister, write me a line every post if only to tell me how you all are.

You will see much to your mortification, that congress have been fiteing, not the French, but the Lyon, not the Noble British Lyon, but the beastly transported Lyon. I am of the Quakers mind whom Peter Porcupine quotes “speakin of the Irish, he says, there is no mediocrity, or medium of Character in these people: they are either the most noble, brave generous and best bred: or the most ruffian like dirty and black gaurd of all the creation.[”]2 What a picture will these, 14 teen days make upon our Journals?! yet are the supporters of Lyon alone to blame: the Gentlemen the real federilist would have expeld him instantly, and if it were possible a federilist could be found thus to have degraded himself, he would not have cost the Country 14 days debate, besides the infamy and disgrace of sitting again there I inclose you a paper containing a speach or two upon the subject3 the Brute has not been in the house for several Days, but he is unfealing enough to go again, and if he does, I have my apprehensions of something still more unpleasent.

These Philadelphians are a strange set of people, making pretensions to give Laws of politeness and propriety to the union. they have the least feeling of real genuine politeness of any people with 402 whom I am acquainted. as an instance of it, they are about to celebrate, not the Birth day of the first Majestrate of the union as such, but of General Washingtons Birth day, and have had the politeness to send invitations to the President Lady and family to attend it. The President of the united states to attend the celebration of the birth day in his publick Character, of a private Citizen! for in no other light can General Washington be now considerd, how ever Good how ever great his Character, which no person more respects than his successor. but how could the President appear at their Ball and assembly, but in a secondary Character, when invited there, to be held up in that light by all foreign Nations. but these people look not beyond their own important selves. I do not know when my feelings of contempt have been more calld forth. in answer to the invitation, the President returnd for answer, “that he had received the card of invitation, and took the earliest opportunity to inform them, that he delined accepting it.”—4 that the Virginians should celebrate the day is natural & proper if they please, and so may any others who chuse.5 but the propriety of doing it in the Capital in the Metropolis of America as these Proud Phylidelphians have publickly named it, and inviting the Head of the Nation to come and do it too, in my view is ludicrious beyond compare. I however bite my Lips, and say nothing, but I wanted to vent my indignation upon paper. you must not however expose it, nor me. it will be call’d pride it will be calld mortification. I despise them both, as it respects myself—but as it respects the Character I hold—I will not knowingly degrade it—

Let me know whether a Letter coverd to mr Cranch for dr Tufts has reachd you safely—6 we are all as well as usual. the Baby was here on sunday and is very well. Remember me kindly to all Friends

Your ever affectionate / Sister

I have received the Letter you wrote me on the 7th of this month, and I shall give all the attention to the Subject of it which may be necessary. It is not new to me—

You are too precipitate in my opinion in pronouncing an opinion that the General has been guilty of high Crimes &Ca: 1

There have not been wanting Critics upon your conduct, as severe as you have been upon his It is reported not much to the advantage of your Reputation or mine that you have been to detroit, for Brockholst Livingston and company to Speculate in Lands, and Claims of those who mean to remain British Subjects, and to remove to Canada, and that to cloak your real purposes you gave out, that you had been Sent by me, for ends of government of Some Sort or other, I can scarcely beleive that you could Countenance a report so totally unfounded—2

I am Sir your most obedient & / most humble Servant