Since the receipt of your favor of the 18th: ult: I have been absent from the City, a few days, attending a County Court, and tomorrow I expect to set out for another excursion of a similar nature. There is but little immediate benefit, derived from riding the circuit in order to attend the Courts in this vicinity; for the business is principally engrossed by those who reside in the shire towns, and if a City lawyer obtain any, it is chiefly accidental. The exercise however is healthful, and opportunities now & then occur of taking a volunteer part in some of the criminal trials, which afford at least a chance of displaying professional talents, where they exist. I was lately concerned, at the instance of the deputy Atty General, in one of these trials, and it proved to be an important one.1 The prisoner was ably defended, & all the affectation of zeal, which lawyers so well know how to assume on such occasions, was displayed in this instance; but ineffectually as to the acquittal on the merits of the case, for the jury found the prisoner guilty of the charge; an exception was taken to the indictment, however, which proved fatal, and the business must begin again, at the next term. This detail cannot be very amusing to you, but my apology for it is, that I so seldom have an opportunity of mentioning professional business, wherein I had a share. I have an excellent friend in one of the associate judges, of the County, where I am going next week— He lately married one of Mrs: Rutter’s Sisters, and lives within a few miles of the County town.2 I have passed several Sundays at his farm & never was more hospitably entertained in my life. He is a warm federal, and often talks of my father, though he did not know him personally. Your father, said he, is a plain farmer, like myself— Yes— “Well, I like him the better for that— How much wheat or corn does he raise in a year?” I said, no wheat, for it will not grow so near the sea as his farm lays, but he raises corn enough for his own consumption. “Does he send 203 anything to market, as I do,?” I believe not. “Has he got a large barn?” Not more than half so large an one, as you have. The fact is, that the judges barn is one of the largest & best finished I ever saw— It is upwards of an hundred feet in front, by 45, or 6, deep, built of Stone, like the houses at German town.

I will send you by the first opportunity, a copy of the speeches on the bill for repealing the judiciary, delivered in Senate.3 Those of the house are not yet published— Also a book for my father; “Barton on free Commerce,” I have no personal knowledge of its contents, except from the review of it in the Aurora.4 Its doctrines are entirely of the new school; or the modern law of Nations, as advocated by France—

Please inform my father, that the Harleian miscellany, though a single quarto volume, costs fourteen dollars, and I am afraid to venture on the purchase of it, without his direction.

The Books my brother sent me, came safe to hand—

With best love to all friends, I am, dear Mother / Your son

I received, at Norristown, while attending a County Court, your favor of the 25th: ult: with an enclosure for Old-school, which is already delivered to him.1 He is thankful for it, as well as for the translation of Bülow, which you will perceive he has begun to publish. The concluding sentence of the Editor’s introduction will excite your smile, as being the first instance, wherein he has indulged, even a complacent expression, in behalf of Republican freedom. 2 He is now fully convinced, that an Editor of a public paper, in this Country, must learn to sooth, if not to flatter, the ruling passions of the multitude; that he must sometimes coax & intreat opinion, even where opposed to his own conviction; because mankind are very little disposed to hear their foibles censured with the severity of a Cato, or their justice measured by the scale of an Aristides.

Oliver threatens to epistolise you for goodfellowship’ sake, and I assure him, you are not tardy of reply. His patronage, this year, is not equal to that of the last, though, in my opinion, the merit of his paper is greater. Do you ever discuss the topic, in any of your meetings?

In those volumes of letters, which you found in Holland I recollect many, which would bear publication; and Shaw can do nothing better than copy such as you may designate. What a sly old fox, was that Monsieur Franklin. I never read a more wary diplomatic document than the letter you sent.3

I lately received from Mr: Charles Cushing Junr: of Boston, two notes of hand, drawn by the house of Forrest & Stoddert in favor of 205 Mr: Charles House & endorsed by him. Mr: Cushing supposed, that the house of Forrest & Stoddert was established in this City & therefore requests me to present the notes for payment.

I have written to him on the subject & requested further instructions, but have yet received no answer.4 I wish you would take the trouble to see him, and ask what I am to do with the notes. I believe the house of Forrest & Stoddert failed, and think it doubtful whether any thing can now be had from them. I should nevertheless wish to know what disposition I am to make of the Copies of notes. Mr: Cushing informed me, in his letter, that he had other documents in his possession, confessing the debt & promising payment.

With best love to your wife & all friends / I am dear brother / Your’s