A little well timed and just criticism is sometimes very Salutary. If I had not been conscious that I deserved Your Raillery I should have calld you a very Sausy Lad. however I took it patiently, and have been more attentive since, as I Suppose You have noticed; as to points & comma’s, I was not taught them in my youth, and I always intend my 264 meaning Shall be so obvious as that my readers shall know where they ought to stop;

You have not written to your Father for so long a time, that I am pained when I think of it—1 You might give him some information respecting your state politicks odious as they are; I was delighted with the Editor of the united States Gazettes defence. it was a manly bold and just representation of the Ruling powers;2 whilst its truth & Justice was a two Edged Sword, neither Songs odes or Metamorphosis’s have escaped me; tho I am deficient in my regular numbers of the port folio; I know not how many.—

You have read your Brothers oration with pleasure I am Sure; were he not my Son, I should say that I know not his Equal in the country for composition, and for keen cutting classic Satire;

I have not yet heard from you Since my last Letter.3 William Shaw may have a Letter for me. I Shall know tomorrow—

I have had a very charming young Lady with me for more than a week. can you guess who? four years ago she was here; not a word, not a hint, has past. I had a Mind Your Father should see her. I think he likes her well; She is a Serious solid sensible amiable woman— qualified I think to make a good wife— You will never meet with any obsticals from me when ever you can see your way clear to support a family.—

adieu my dear son / may your happiness be equal to Your wishes / Your affectionate / Mother

I have had the pleasure of receiving your favour of the 18th and congratulate you, on the Success of your labours. Thank you for the 265 Print of Dr Smith, and Should not dislike to have one of my old Friend McKean. Whatever may be said of that Gentlemans Consistency of Conduct, his Uniformity of Principle and System, his Fidelity to his Friends, his conjugal Felicity, his Constancy in his opinions, his Modesty, his Humility, his Meekness or his Temperance; thus much must be confessed, that he Understands the Management of the People of Pensilvania, better than any of the Federalists. I have known So many Men, of far Superiour Knowledge and Talents, to his in whom there has been as little Stability, that I find it is in vain to rail at them or clamour about them. My Advice to you is to treat them all with Civility and do them all Justice. Mr McKean is as far from being an enthusiast for Democracy as I am: Parade, Ceremony, Pomposity and Finery are ten times more in his head and heart too than in mine.1 I never was fond of any of those Things. I always despised and detested them. The Stations I have held demanded them: The World demanded them of me. but I always loathed them. Monarchy and hereditary Presidents and Senates, have been ten times more approved by him than by me. Indeed, neither was ever approved or desired by me, in the Government of this Country: though I know that the great Nations of Europe cannot exist without them but in endless War and Bloodshed. Elections of first Magistrates and Senators, would be nothing but a contention of Bribery: and that Party which would exhaust the largest Purse would carry the Point and then plunder the People to fill it again.

I, however must lie under any Slanders, they please to fabricate: for I have no friends to contradict any thing. I hire no Duanes, Freneaus Callenders, Cheethams, Woods or Paines, to writes Lyes or Truths for me. There is one Lye they have propagated and insisted on for fourteen years, which has never been contradicted vizt that I Sett up John Fenno and his Gazette at New York & Philadelphia. A falshood so entirely without foundation, or even Colour, was never told and so often repeated for so long a time, without contradiction in any Country—2 When I went to take my place in Senate as Vice President in 1789 in April, I found Mr Fenno Settled there with his Family and editing his News Paper. I Scarcely knew the Man. I never contributed one farthing to assist him in beginning carrying on or concluding his Affairs, in any other Way than taking one of his Papers. after I became acquainted with him I esteemed the Man for his, good Sense and honesty, and would have been very glad to have assisted him, with a Loan of Money or otherwise, if it had not been 266 inconsistent with a rule I thought it necessary for me to observe, vizt to avoid every possible Imputation or just suspicion of hiring Libellers to abuse my Ennemies, or to flatter my Friends or myself.

I want to write more largely about your Situation.— I wish you were here upon one of my Farms.— You may be a Man here—and a freeman: you will be a slave for Life in Philadelphia.—