I know not what could have become of a Letter written to You upon the 18 of December, that upon the 30th You should not have received it.— I have written You more than once since that period, but do not recollect the Dates— I forget whether it was before or since then; that I inclosed to you a croun of a cap & Band. since, that I have sent the Border and a Cap for Mrs Norten, which I think You could not yet have got. I have not learnt whether mrs Black has got my Letter & the cap sent to her by a mr Whitney—1 I should greatly regreet that any obstical Should prevent the settlement of mr Whitney with us. I would most certainly accommodate him if it was in my power, but my sons whole Library is at the House in which mr Clark lives, beside some cumbersome furniture which I have not Yet any place for—

Thomson Baxter once offerd his House and place to the President for a thousand pounds.2 that is a large sum for a Clergyman, yet if it could be had for that, would it not prove much Cheeper than building. 40 acres of land belongd to it— the poor old incumbent might be had into the Bargain I suppose, but who knows but if mr 99 Whitney could get the place, and marry a woman kind and attentive to the old Gentleman who would clean & brush him up, but that it might prove advantageous to them. I only Suggest the Idea— I received my Gown & mrs smith safe, by mr sheaff Yesterday. I thank you for your care & mr & mrs smith for theres

our Boston Printers are great blunderers in the answer to the Senates address of condolance. they make him say a Trojan, instead of a “Trajan found a Pliny” and in an paper they say the Senate sent a Letter of condolance, where as the truth is, the senate came in a Body and presented the address—which address is said to have been drawn by mr Dexter, a New England Man certain no southern Man quotes Scripture—3 Mr shaw returnd Yesterday from Mount Vernon. he was much gratified by his tour, tho regreeted that he did not see Mrs Washington; she strove the whole time he was there which was two days to get resolution sufficient to see him, but finally excused herself. she had the painfull task to perform, to bring her mind to comply with the request of Congress, which she has done in the handsomest manner possible in a Letter to the President which will this day be communicated to congress—4 she wrote me in replie to my Letter an answer repleat with a sense of my sympathy, and expressive of her own personal grief and anguish of mind.5 mr Lear told mr shaw that She had not been able to Shed a tear since the Genlls Death, untill she received the Presidents and My Letters when she was two hours getting through them, tho they were not Lengthy— on his return he visited your son who he says is in good Health & spirits—as is mrs Cranch. Richard he says is not well—tho not confined. Mr Greenleaf was with them. I fear mr Greenleaf is not a wise counsellor. mr Cranch would a year before he did have taken the step of relinquishing his Property if it had not been for mr Greenleafs advice. he certainly would have been better off as his friends say—I am glad he had resolution enough at last to decide for himself—

I have just closed a Letter to mrs Cranch of west point, having obtaind a promise from the Seretary of War that he shall have a place at Harpers ferry which he expects will be vacant in the sping and that in the mean time he shall be employd where he is—6

I Made mrs Brisler happy yesterday by Your Letter containing the information that mrs Mears was better she had burried her in her own mind, and when I went to tell her, she was so overcome expecting the news was fatal that she shook so I thought she would have 100 gone into fits no two sisters were ever fonder of each other— I hope mrs mears will recover—

inclosed is Genll Lees oration. it is a handsome performance. I will send you the pamphlet when it is out—7 We have charming weather— adieu my dear sister. I am going to take mrs otis out to Ride she has been very unwell with one of her old hoars colds & coughs which still hangs about her—8

I am indebted to you for two Letters, one which acknowledges the Recipt of the three Bills, and one Yesterday received which bears date Decbr 30th.1 I thank You sir for all your kind attention to my affairs— I inclose to You a Bill of the amount which You say will be due to You; as I do not like to be in debt, I should like to have all the Bills due to the Capenters all discharged before we commence a New buisness— with respect to the pump mr French requests: the President thinks it will injure the water, and as our Fathers and we 101 have drawn from the Well, he thinks it best to have it continued in its present State— the President will write to you soon respecting the Farms. I dont recollect whether I mentiond to you, that I thought mr Feild had better be employd in prepareing the stone for the underpinning of the House;2

The Sudden Death of Genll Washington has indeed produced a Chasm, as it respected the Army. his station at the Head of it kept down many passions which will now be brought into opperation, and have ample scope. Rank, Precedency, Right tittle will all contend. envy ambition Emulation and Jealousy will all array themselves— intrigue will work in the dark, but no alteration or addition, will be made at present; as there is no present necessity and the exigencies of the Country do not require it. the vacant place will not be suddenly fill’d. Time will mature the public opinion and the general voice direct Right I hope— As America can never possess an other citizen in whom So Many qualities united to attach the public affection, in War and in Peace, it can never be expected that any other appointment will give such universal satisfaction

Every testimony of affection and Respect has been shewn to his Memory: the Danger is that the gratefull feelings of the public will outstrech the bounds of decency and decorum, and finally tend to injure a Character which they mean to honour— there was no doubt but that every state would voluntarily unite in some Marks of gratefull remembrance; this they have already done, and the call upon them to renew the tribute by public Authority, was altogether unnecessary yet it was what could not have been withstood, without an alteriation which must injure the feelings of the connections and give pain to the President: thus You see sir that in many instances, public Men are obliged to act against their better judgment. The resolution was alterd from its first form; making the thing perpetual, and confined to the Present Year— some Gentlemen ventured to speak their minds upon the Subject, and stated their objections, from the purest motives— Washingtons Character will stand unrivalled; throughout all America—

You will be much gratified by reading Mrs Washingtons answer to the Presidents Letter.3 she was broght to tears upon reading the Letters of Private Friendship which mr shaw carried her; which was a happy effect, for she had not shed one before “the Grief which cannot weep, whispers the o’er fraught Heart and bids it Break”4 she was so melted into Sorrow, that she was two hours getting 102 through the Letter of the Presidents, and one which I wrote her, and tho she strove to See Mr shaw, she finally excused herself You will see by her replie to the President the struggle she had to bring her mind to relinquish the only consolatary Idea She had left her, that of mingleing her Ashes with his

I request your acceptance of Genll Lees Oration. My best Regards to mrs Tufts and all Friends

From Your affectionate