I received Yours of Sep’br 18th.1 I have Melancholy intelligence to communicate to you respecting poor B Adams. last week of an Evening he had put a Horse into a Waggon for the purpose of conveying three quarters of Beaf to a Neighbours. the Horse was restiff, and he gave him a whip upon which he started, threw him down, and the wheel went over one Side of his face so as to break the jaw bone, and across the neck So as to deprive him of his senses; he was taken up in that state and tho immediate assistance was had, he remains delirious and very little hopes remain to his Friend’s that he will Survive the [sh]ock— his poor Father is inconsolable. all of us are greatly distrest he was a Most Worthy Young Man, and the support and comfort of his Father, a kind and affectionate Brother. I have every reason to fear that my next Letter must inform you of his Death— Mrs Foster lost her Baby last week, a little more than a year old, by the Dysentery2 I never knew Quincy so sickly as it has been for the summer past. more than 30 persons have been down with a slow Billious fever—some have lain six and seven weeks— it has not proved mortal in any instance. it originated in the Neighbourhood of Newcombs & Baxters Slaughter Houses, and has been generally confined there—

Your Father will leave me for the federal city in the course of ten days. Brisler sits out on Wednesday next— he will call upon you as he passes—3 I inclose to You the money paid by you for the wine.4 present your Bill to mr shaw for further Charges when he passes—

Decius has closed with a farewell to his Enemies and Friend’s— His last Number is a sausy insolent overbearing, dictatorial 406 usurpation upon the understanding of his readers—5 he is followd by a Massasoit, and by Junius Americanus—in a stile and Manner, which will make the little frog Swell to an ox—not with Vanity, but Ire.—6 as the Gazzett of the united states has published Decius, “and no Jealous Rival,” it would be but consistant to with his avowed impartiality to publish Junius— but your printers are all soulless, and nerveless, since the Death of poor Fenno—whose asshes Would not rest in Peace, did he know what a Varlet his Boy is— this Chap You recollect undertook to abuse the Marine society of Boston last winter—a society composed of many respectable Merchants as well as literary Characters, a society who had raised from their own purses a thousand Dollors for the benifit of Mr Fennos Family upon the Death of his Father— Mr Charles Sigourney, a kind and benificent Friend to the family, sent on to J W Fenno a list of the names of the Gentleman who had been the benefactors to the Family and the sums Subscribed by them, after he read the Wanton abuse of the Marine Society. Yet did not the insolent Boy Blush—or make the least acknowledgment.7 these are facts and May be depended upon. mr sigourney related them to your Father—

I have not heard from N york Since I wrote you last—

Remember me kindly to all inquiring Friends—

William will send the papers

your ever / affectionate

Since my last to you, I have none of your favors, although I have within a week past received three letters from my Brother with your mark upon them. The last of these came to hand this day & was written while my brother was upon his journey to Silesia.1 The details of his travels are very interesting.

The most remarkable domestic occurrence, since the date of my last, is the discovery of a pretty extensive combination among the Slaves in the Southern States, for the purpose of a practical illustration of those seducing theories—the equal rights of all men, which they have been accustomed to hear discussed, with great zeal, for several years past, at the tables of their owners. The perpetration of the plot was alone prevented by an intervention, almost supernatural. A black cloud arose in the afternoon, preceeding the night when the general Massacre of the white inhabitants of Richmond & its vicinity, was to have taken place; & a flood of rain, which soon burst from it, so deluged the Country, as to render the execution, for that night, impracticable; the sudden overflow of a small stream, cut off the communication of some of the principal conspirators, from the place of rendezvous; in the mean time, the plot was revealed or detected, and many of the principal actors were seized & sent to prison— They have been tried in a summary manner & publicly executed; the particulars, which transpired at their trials, were of a nature to shock insensibility itself— The enterprize was boldly conceived—arms were provided & the whole Country might have been, at this moment, a scene of carnage & desolation, but for the providential discovery— An insurrection of a similar nature has broken out in the neighborhood of Charleston S.C. and though less formidable than at first represented, it forebodes much danger. Even in North Carolina & Maryland apprehensions are entertained. It is said, upon what authority I have been unable to discover, that frenchmen were the secret instigators of the Virginia revolt, and in the examinations of some of the detected blacks it appeared in evidence, that the white french inhabitants were to have been spared in the general massacre. The leader of the whole band, has hitherto escaped 408 although a considerable reward has been offered by proclamation for his head—2 It is hoped that this warning to the Southern proprietors, will produce a favorable effect upon their conduct & alter the style of their inflamatory language on subjects of government— But if they should prefer paying their debts, by having their throats cut, they will yet persevere in despite of all this.

The City of Philadelphia yet continues more healthy than any of the neighboring Cities, although New York has been in a great degree exempt from infectious disorders, this season— All our friends are in health.

I can offer nothing but conjecture upon the subject of our Elections— The Democrats are very strong, both in skill, intrigue & numbers— The failure, (as we hear) of the negociation with France, will I apprehend do some harm to the federal cause.

I am, with esteem, your friend