As I am in the City for a few days, you may wish me to write rather oftener than usual, to convince you that I am not ill. The weather since the month of June has been generally more than commonly favorable for this climate— it still continues so, and we begin to flatter ourselves that the City may escape the afflicting scourge it has heretofore experienced.

The mortality which lately prevailed on board the friggate Genl: 534 Green, was a very distressing affair— I lament it the more, as I see among the list of victims in the crew several names of persons with whom I made a slight acquaintance, when I was at Newport.1

You will have read the publication for which the Aurora-man has been bound over to appear & answer at the next district Court. It was republished by Brown & Relf in the Philada: Gazette of the [. . .] currt:— His defence, will, I understand, be an attempt to prove the tr[uth] of what he has asserted— The letter under the hand of John Adams is said to be one in which the subject of his recall from the mission in England & Mr: Pinckney’s appointment as Successor, was spoken of & animadverted upon with freedom— The partition of Braintree into three separate & distinct townships, bearing several names and the calling that Quincy in which he resides, is jocosely mentioned in the same letter as having deprived the Duke of his title. I collected these particulars in conversation, a few minutes ago, with a young man, who is in the secrets of the Aurora party, from being one of its patronizers— Truth, said another, of the same sett to me, is no libel— the Aurora man means to justify by proof of the facts alledged.2

I was told further, by the first of these youth’s, that it looked as if there was likely to be a division in the Cabinet— How so? said I— They say, the old gentleman wont go with them— with whom? Why the violent war party, that pretends to dictate all Executive measures— It is further said, continued he—that the violents are in despair, because the President will have an opinion of his own & will not follow the extravagances of any body. If he perseveres he will shortly have the hearts of all the democrats— God forbid! I exclaimed— I dont mean said he, that the P——t must turn democrat, but only if he acts Independently— Has he ever done otherwise—said I— No, but then we were not always sure of him so much as we are now. This pap & sugar, might do to pacify a crying hungry baby, but what else it is good for, I pretend not to know.

Report says that Truxtun has resigned—disputing precedence with Talbot— This, I suppose, is in part, the tale, which you told me, hung upon the report of Talbots resignation— I heard yesterday, the matter had been referred to the President & he had decided in favor of Talbots right—3

You accompanied the P——t, I perceive, to Castle William and assisted at the Baptismal rites of Fort Independence— I was rejoyced to see your name in company with Mrs: Washington—4

I find the Mansion house in Market Street a very comfortable resort when I come to town, even though I meet but poor cheer—even the water pump is dry in the yard— I believe some of the wood has been carried away, though not much— I shall take particular care of the things I use, & see every thing as secure as I found it.

There is a leak somewhere in the room that serves as a passage from the entry to the kitchen— I found the floor almost covered with water, and as I have no keys to the doors, I cannot open them to admit the air— I have left open the inner doors, which were shut, and the floor is gradually drying, though the next rain will probably wet it again— Dust & Cobwebs are plentiful enough—

Present me kindly to my father & every body—

I thank you for your kind letter of the 4th: instt: which came to hand last evening, accompanied by one from Dr: Tufts, enclosed by William. My letters are left usually at Mr: Wistar’s and Sarah when she gave me those of last evening—say’s “Thomas, I expect I have got a rich treat for thee; from the number of packets addressed to thee, I should judge thee a favorite among thy friends”— I enclose for your amusement a specimen of poetic talent in this lady, which though humble is not entirely destitute of merit.1 To explain the occasion, which produced it, you must understand, that during the excessive heat of the weather, for several days after I came to the Country, I found it pleasanter to read under a shade in the open air than in the house—accordingly I explored the adjoining g[rove] & finally pitched upon a little thicket of shrubs & bushes, in which I made a comfortable seat, on the land belonging to the Wistar family— My retre[at] was secret for some days, but at length was discovered by some one, and the enclosed verses attached by a drab colored ribband to a tree, were found one morning on entering my arbor— I only guess at the author, but think it probable I am right in my conjectures on that head. I have returned no answer to this invocation as yet, nor do I expect the muses will gain a votary at my age, since they have deferred their Courtship to so late a period. Yet I some times threaten to make an effort in their service, and am only restrained by pride, which whispers in my ear this wholesome advice— You had better stick to humble prose in which you have some experience, than venture upon hobbling verses, which can do you little credit and may detract from it much— The counsel is salutary & I let it govern me.

I received the letter with the extracts, you enquire for, and thought I had noticed them casually since—however, I was amused by the communication.2

You will observe how full of electioneering all our papers are— The friends of Mc.Kean have come out with a fresh manifesto, as have 537 those of Ross— Each party is sanguine in expectation of triumph, but McKean’s friends say that a schism will happen in the County of York, & that will turn the scale in their favor. I am doubtful of the event, but from former experience of this State, I believe it will go contrary to my wishes.3

Your present society at Quincy is very enviable, and I should delight to participate in it on some accounts, though on others I am better here. It is so common a thing for people to take up their abode in the Country at this Season, that when you meet an acquaintance in town, the question is, well where abouts are you? The Country has in fact become so thickly settled within ten miles of the City in every direction, that one need never to be at a loss for society if disposed to frequent it. I feel more inclined to seclusion than I ever did before, & I hope the same disposition will strengthen rather than diminish. When you come on in the fall, I shall be able to determine how far a compliance with your kind proposal, will coincide with my advantage— It will subject me unavoidably to more company and more invitations to idleness, dissipation & interruption, than if I lodged in another place & family, besides terrifying clients, who would never think of going to the Presidents house for a young lawyer— It seems to me that this is one serious disadvantage under which I shall labor for some time, that most people think I am not in want of business or the reward of doing it, for my support, and they will rather favor a poor man’s son, than me on that account. This is a very serious error & one I am much interested in removing.

With best love to all friends, I am, Your