I received Your Letter by mr sheafe together with the small trunk safe, and render many thanks to you and Mrs smith for your kind attention. this Morning I received Your favour of Janry the 9th, with the papers inclosed manifesting every testimony of Respect and gratefull remembrance which an affectionate people can pay to the Memory of a Public Benefactor.1 My Native state has never been deficient in this Duty—for surely Gratitude is the duty of a people, as well as of an individual, and upon no occasion has it been more judiciously bestowed than the Present; for to quote the words which I have much admired, “our Washingtons Character was whiter than it is was brilliant” yet the brilliancy of it has dazzeld all beholders—2 even in the Democratic sense he deserved praise, for he was a good and Faithfull servant. I inclose to you a specimin of Virgina democracy— it has Made much conversation here, and I presume we do not yet hear the last of it. the youth will find that old Birds are not caught with Chaff— to form an Idea of the respectfull decent and elegant stile of the Writer, a small portrait may not be amiss— he is a slender person with an Infantine face, and a childs voice. if he had not been sent from the old dominion as a Member of congress, not a person who should see him, could possibly take him for a Lad of more than 17 or 18teen Years of Age. he wears his Hair like a school Boy— his whole dress is perfectly democratic & singular; but you see, as a servant of the public, he is equal to any Man in office— he has been usually spoken of as Little Johnny— with all this youthfull appearence, there is not a Man in congress older More undaunted when he rises to speak, or less embarressd. he chatters away like a Magpye—and in his Zeal for Disbanding the Army he stiled it a Mercenerary Army, an Army of Raggamuffins—and it is Said some officers or officer insulted our young hero— in concequence tho his Letter is not very full upon the subject, or such I presume as would be deemed evidence in a court of Justice— this Letter was known by many of his Party to have been written as early as monday morning. the report was circulated through the city—and the design evident. I fully believe mr Randolphs assertion, that he never intended it should come before congress— the public will make their comments upon it, as the President has not thought proper to do it— I leave it to those who do— the Lad is not without tallents.3

your Letter of the 7th I show’d to the President. he directed mr shaw to carry it to the Secretary of the Treasury; that if any difficulty should arise respecting capt Brooks comeing from France he might have some knowledge of the buisness—4

Mr Shaw says he is attentive to furnish you with every publication of any concequence

with a kind remembrance / to all Friend— I am dear sir Your affectionate Friend

I thank You my Dear Mrs Smith for your obliging Letter, and for Your care of mine & mrs smiths Cloaths, which came safe to hand.1 the Trunk I presume is Yours. it shall be duly returnd to You— Mrs Otis and Mrs Lee have just left me. Mrs Lee is innoculated for the small pox, so that she will not be able to go into company very Soon. she appears a pleasent amiable Woman. mr Lee is much esteemed 106 here.2 I have never had so little leisure time for writing any session of congress that I have been here. the Philadelphians think it will be the last opportunity they will have to Shew their personal respect, and I have received visits from those who never before visited me, and all who ever did. I cannot get a morning to write to a friend, unless I deny myself to company. all these visits must be returnd, and what with dinning company always twice a week, frequently three times, I find My time altogether occupied; I can read only newspapers enough of them, in all conscience, but I find leisure for little else and My Friends have reason to complain that I do not write to them. I have great cause for thankfullness that my Health is so much restored that untill last sunday, I have not been absent from meeting since I came to the city, or once been obliged to lie down upon my Bed in the Day Time. last week I was attackd with a turn of the old intemitting which unstrung me, deprived Me of my sleep, and made me quite sick I was bled immediatly, and find myself much releived, my sleep restored—and I hope the fever banishd. the Weather of 1800 has been unusually mild and dry—too warm I fear for future Health before this reaches You, you will have seen and admired mrs Washingtons answer to the Letter of the President, so expressive, so dignified so pathetic that either adding or diminishing a word would have derogated from its excellence yet there are persons who will not allow her the Merrit of having pen’d it. I know the contrary. it bears the strong marks of a heart deeply wounded and penetrated, still holding up to view the bright example & disinterested conduct of her Dear departed Friend, and striving to emulate it, by relinquishing the only consolatary hope left her, of Mingleing her Ashes in the same Melancholy Tomb with his; not only her last Letter to me, but many others which upon different occasions and subjects I have received from her—show her to be not only a Good a virtuous a Religious woman, but of a Dignified mind. Such was however the agitated state of it, that she could not see mr shaw whilst he staid. she endeavourd it several times, but perhaps the flood of Grief which had not flowd in the common course previous to her opening, and reading the Letters, and sympathy of private Friendship, gave vent and poured forth in such copious streams that She said she could not behave as she ought, and excused herself by sending particular messages of Regard respect and attachment to the Family— I inclose You the Letter that you may preserve it, as I have Done as an honour to our Sex3

You kindly my Dear Friend inquire after my son and Family at Berlin— Thomas has received a Letter from him of sepbr 7th dated at Dresden.4 he says that he had been visited with an intermitting fever, but that he was quite recoverd, and his Health good, that the Baths had proved very benificial to Mrs Adams health who was much recoverd from her last illness: this is very agreable intelligence to me tho his Letter was four months old. we have not any since his return to Berlin—

I pray You to present my Love to cousin Betsy. I wish she could pass some weeks with us this Winter. the gayety of the city has been much overcast by the universal mourning, and the real grief felt upon the great National dispensation of Providence. as to the fever, or the calamities in concequence of it, except to the personal mourners, little notice is taken of it; and the love of pleasure and amusement, overbalancis the calamities of Life— I fear there is too much levity of Character in this picture, tho drawn from the Life— In the Day of adversity consider, is judicious advice—

Mrs Smith desires to be kindly rememberd. caroline has been threatned with a dissorder very prevelent with Children here, the Hives. she is taking an Emetic to day. I must bid you adieu to dress, for tis after three oclock. I must sit down to day to a table of Antis, the members of this state and N york— but as I am you know the Servant of these good people, I must endeavour to discharge my Duty to them. they will at least manifest as much politeness as citizen Jonny Randolph. I may be allowd however to say that I should follow My present employment with more pleasure to myself.

I am my Dear Friend affecionatly / Yours