As it is a rainy morning which of Cource prevents my going to Church—I feel a greater propensity to scold you first—then read my Bible— did you not Say you wou’d return in August— how then coud you let so favorable an Oppertunity pass, as Thomas Adams and not fulfill your engagement— when I heard his Name announcd I ran with eagar expectation to meet you—but to my great disappointment 114 he told me you was at Quincy— nothing Short of Indisposition can paliate this disappointment—altho he told me you was very Well I must Suppose he left you in too debilitated a state of health to undertake the Journey—or you surely woud have come with him—for charity wrote me you was Ill with the Ague & fever— now untill I have your own reasons why we were thus disappointed I shall Suppose you are still Sick or too weak to return— I will therefore thank you to relive my mind as soon as you can— I shoud have wrote you long before—but for the above pleasing expectation—

I will now attend to your letter to Nancey respecting your dear little Girls—1 you say you have some thought of leaving abby & bringing Susan—and request my opinion—for me to select either wou’d be a painfull task— I love them both—therefore cannot do it—but wou’d rather as you have now a full oppertunity of Judging what is most Conducive to the Childrens comfort and advantage—act as you think—for their best good— I know you will be happier to have them both with you—so if you think we can do equal justice to them, it will be a mutual pleasure to have them brought up togather— my dear Susans energetic speach often occurs to my Mind pray dont part us again Granmamma—let us be togather—bring them both with you. and we will do the best we can for them I am sure their little hearts will spring for Joy, & we have good schooles here— you can put it upon the footing of wishing to have them with you this Winter & when you Visit them again they shall come again— this they cannot object to—and I shall be gratified in their & your happiness— I wish you woud write me particularly about Charity—how she conducts, and how esteem’d in Society I am anxious for her— tell her—as I wrote her last Week Mr Bailey Was Ill—he is now dead—Was brought to New York & buried on Monday last— he was sick only six day— this is an Irraparable loss to the Community at large both as an eminent phician & health officer—and to my family Individually— his death was in consequence of severe exertions amongst the sick on statten Island, the very warm days we had the Week before when your brother William Saw him in full health— how frail a flower is man—2

give my regards to Mr & Mrs Adams— Mrs Smith & Caroline are here & well—and so through mercey are we all— kiss the dear Babes for me, and dont omit making their little hearts, Glad my dear Sally says your affectionate Mother.

I received your kind and Friendly Letter of the 2d, and beg you to accept my thanks for your kind invitation to your Hospitable Mansion. I know not any Visit from which I could promise my self more pleasure “from Friends of more than 20 summers ripening grow not thick on every Bow,”2 Friends whom no change of political Sentiments have warped, nor party Spirit deluded—

I have frequently inquired after you Since my return and was sure You went a Route quite distant from Quincy or we should have seen you here; where you would have found Your old Friends attending to the buisness of Farming, enjoying a tranquility undisturbed by the responsibility of Public Life, having neither addresses or Remonstresse to reply to, nor paying any Homage but to the Great Ruler of the Universe by whom Kings Reign and Presidents, should decree justice.

I dare not promise you My dear Madam that I shall make you the visit I so much wish to, yet Should I see two or three days when I can absent my self from Home with Louissa who is equally desirious of paying you her Respects I really feel as tho I would strive to. I have been very unwell this very warm weather with a return of the old fever, but through the Summer I have had better Health than formerly, but whether I accomplish my wishes or not be assured my dear Madam that it will afford both to mr Adams and myself the highest gratification to see the good judge and yourself at Quincy. I heard his old Friend express a wish a few days since, that the judge might live to the Age of His Father and retain in vigor the office he now sustains, for mo[re] than ever is it of concequence that no unclean thing be admitted amongst the Sons of God3

if the fountain of Justice should become impure, our only Sheet Anchor is gone—

my Sincere Regards to the judge and affectionate attachment to you both / I am your Friend