William Shaw was here to spend the Sabbeth, and brought with him his Letters from you; he shew me that in which you related the Disaster which befell You by a fall from your Horse.1 I shudderd when I found how narrow an escape You had for your Life, and thank Heaven for Your preservation. I was glad that I knew not of it untill you had recoverd; your Brother said not a word of it to me, yet I thought when he askd me if I had received a Letter from you in the course of the week? that it had more meaning than usual in the question—and it frequently recured to me in the course of that day.

I am affraid My dear Thomas that a small Share of vanity in Horsemanship might lead You into the Danger. you might think yourself 207 equal to manageing a vicious restif animal and the Beast prove too powerfull for you. in future do not trust so bad a servant.

I am fully of your opinion with respect to your Brother, and have too frequently exprest it, to be implacated as that part of the Family who would acquiese in his being sit up as a Rep to congress. With you I say, whatever the State may think proper to call him to within the State, I wish him to serve them with his best services and talents—but to give them to the winds, with so little hope of their becomeing a favourable gale, the current & tide Sitting against him I cannot consider it a duty, and I am sure it cannot be his interest Mr Mason it is said will decline going again, and he is talkd of as his successor & will undoubtedly be chosen if he does not prevent it2 If there was a probability of his being seconded even in this state the thought would be more tolerable; I shall soon see how hallow the professions of a Great Man I cannot call him; but of mr Jefferson were, when he told me that if he should be president, nothing would give him more pleasure than to render to me or my Family any Service in his power—and the first Opportunity he has of manifesting it, will be I doubt not, in removeing your Brother as commissoner, and giving the place to one of his own Sect.3 for the time is not yet arrived when the only questions will be, is he honest is he capable?

I cannot however but think that cormarants devour him;4 and that all his better intentions, are Swallowd up in the intollerant Spirit of Malice and Revenge goaded on by those who hold a Rod over him— there is a little corner of my Heart where he once Sit, as a friend whom I esteemed and loved for his real or imagined benevolent propencities, from whence I find it hard wholy to discard him—notwithstanding I pitty his weakness, and abhor those principles which govern his administration—

Since I wrote to you, poor Mr Johnson is gone wounded in mind, dejected and deprest he has fallen a Sacrifice to the perplexity of his affairs; and has left a helpless distrest family I feel for them, most Sincerely—nor do I know what will become of them—

your Brother Sister and George are here. She past the week with me. George is a pleasent child, grave as his father, but quiet and looks wise, fine intelligent Eyes—runs alone— Susan I have put to a Boarding School in Milton to Mrs Cranch. She was B palmer your Brother has gained so much flesh you would hardly think him the same Man— his mind is more at ease—and he will do well. you dont 208 say any thing about becomeing Farmer— yet if you was to see how delightfull the country looks you would be almost tempted—

We are all in pretty good Health. Meazles in the family excepted— we have two of our labouring men Sick with it

My kind Regards to old friends and acquaintance whom I remember with pleasure—

I am my dear / Thomas your affectionate / Mother

I have your favor of the 23d: inst: before me. The Country looks so pleasant and inviting in the vicinity of this City, that I have no difficulty in conceiving the beauties of Quincy farm, at this moment. I have lately passed some days, at different intervals, in the Country, and found much benefit, from the change of air. As to the accident, which befel me, I should scarcely have thought it worth while to notice it, if I had not apprehended the news might have reached you from some other quarter, with exagerations. I feel, at present, no ill effects from it, though the wrist of my left hand is yet somewhat weak. It was no vanity of horsemanship, that caused my attempt to ride a vicious beast; he carried me out very quietly, and I had no suspicion of his unfair behavior, until it was too late to think of any thing, but how I should save my neck. Few people, I think, would 209 have got off better, or with so little injury, as I did. This, you will say, is a proof of my vanity, but I have suffered so slightly, that I must be indulged in a little boasting. One of the evils of poverty, which I experience is the want of an horse. I was compelled to retrench that expence, a twelvemonth ago, and shall not encounter it again, until I can better afford it.

It gives me pleasure to hear of my brother’s good health. His cares are much lessened by being relieved from the arduous duties of a foreign Minister, and finding himself once more in the bosom of his family, among friends & relatives, who take an interest in his affairs. I believe he will prosper very well, where he is, and nothing ought to persuade him from remaining there. It is no privilege to be a Senator in Congress, in these times. Let those who aspire to the honor, take their turn in laboring for the public.

You will hear of Mrs: Washington’s death before my letter can reach you, and mourn, in common with all, who knew her.1 She shared largely in the esteem of the public, both for her own & her husbands merits; and she has left to her descendants a rich inheritance, in her “spotless reputation.”2

The death of Mr: Johnson is an overwhelming calamity to his family, and I am utterly at a loss to divine the consequences, which must attend it. I hear the family intend removing to Frederic, where the greater number of their relatives live.

I send you herewith the Aurora of the day, just as a specimen of his baseness & impudence.3 I do hope it will fall to this villain’s lot to be hanged.

With love & duty to all friends I am, dear mother / Your son