Your Father received a Letter from you last Evening; full of political information, and judicious reflection’s; there is a darkness visible; upon all our national prospects; which cast a Gloom upon my declining days.1 What of Life remains to me, I should rejoice to pass in tranquility; but danger takes rapid strides; and faction and party Rage will soon involve us in a civil war: or a Lethargy & Stupor render us fit Subjects for Southern despotism; the rising Generation will have more dangers to encounter than there Fathers have Surmounted; Such are your prospects my Son but be not dismayed; at this, or the little Success you have met with hitherto in Your profession; I know it must require a large portion of Patience, and perseverence to preserve an equal mind through so many Strugles. the reflection will obtrude, Why was I Educated to this Profession? Why am I placed in a situation where I cannot with all my assiduity, frugality, and oeconomy provide me an independance? has my Family made no Sacrifices for the benifit of their Country? have they lived for themselves only? You have the consolation of knowing that no mean, or disgracefull action has placed you or Your Father or Brother tarnishd the public conduct of either Father or Brother, that there Reputation and your own are built upon Solid and durable Material Honor Virtue and integrity they will out live the popular Clamour of the present age, and Shine brighter from the Shades with which future Historians must compose contrast them—

My own reflection upon what has been, and now is—are frequently tinged with a melancholy hue—not on my own account, so much, as for those who are to succeed me. With frugality we have enough for 180 all our wants, because we can circumscribe them within narrow bounds. I once wrote you that I had a small matter saved from expences which I curtaild, and which I have been many Years collecting, expecting a time when I might have occasion for it, as I could I have placed it, in the Hands of our good Friend dr Tufts who has managed it for me in such a manner as to yeald me an interest of 200 dollors pr annum—2 this I call my pin money. as I have not had occasion for any of it, I have yearly added the interest to the principle. I have now happily by me half yearly interest which I calld for a few days since, and as I have not an immediate use for it, and can receive more in April, I inclose it to you, requesting you to accept it as a small token of the Love and affection I bear you, wishing at the same time, that it was ten times the value.— I have but one injunction to make you, it is that You make no mention of it; further than to Say You received my Letter Safe of the 28th of Feb’ry—

We have had Winter enough Since the 22d of Fe’bry Snow in abundance, and cold. We are confined to our house by Banks of Snow, Ice and blocked roads— Your Father has been employd in reading a Work of 14 volms of Le Harps which your Brother has furnishd him with. he has lately read the Studies of nature by St P.3 I am happy to inform You that your uncle Cranch has surmounted his late illness so far as to give us hopes he may be spaired to us a little longer; Your Brother and sister have not been here for three weeks they have had the Measles in their Family, and my domesticks have been sick—4 Remember me to all those who inquire after / Your affectionate Mother

I have been confined, with a cold for three Weeks and the family have been generally affected in the same Way: We have not heard 181 from yours for Some time. I long to see you all: but the Weather and the roads will keep Us, at a distance I fear for Some days if not weeks. I have read Seven Volumes of De la Harpe in course, and the last seven I have run through and Searched but cannot find what I chiefly wanted, His Philosophy of the 18 Century from the Beginning to the End—that revival of the ineffable Nonsense of Epicurus as related by Lucretius not as explained by himself in his Letter in Diogenes Laertius.2 I am in love with La Harpe. I knew not there was Such a Man left.— If I had read this Work at 20 years of Age, it would have had, I know not what effect.— If it had not made me a Poet or Philosopher it certainly would not have permitted me, to be a public Man. I never read any Writer in my Life, with whom I so universally agreed in Poetry, Oratory History, Philosophy, Morality and Religion. I find him too perfectly persuaded as I have been for forty years, that Greece & Italy are our Masters in all Things and that Greek & Italian are the most important Languages to study— My Love to L. & G. your / affectionate and respectful Father