I have received your favors of the 18th: ult: and 2d: instant, the latter enclosing a valuable communication from my father; for which please to express my thanks.1 I have taken note of those “thoughts on the times,” and will make use of them. I hope Mr: Ames, will continue to expand his thoughts on those topics.2 The Port Folio begins to get into some favor all over the Country, and the coldness which prevailed for a considerable time towards it, in consequence of what was conceived, even by its best friends to be rashness & intemperance, which no party in this Country, dared to countenance, is now gradually wearing away. The politics of the paper, are not changed, but ameliorated; the public judgment & feeling is not now insulted by arrogant contrasts & odious comparisons. The vices and the wildness of democratic councils, are exposed with boldness unmixed with rancour. The main design of the paper is literature, not politics, but there is such an abundance of political fervor throughout the Country; such an avidity to read skilfull strictures upon men & things, that the political department must not be neglected.

I received some-time since, a letter from Mr: van der Kemp, my father’s old acquaintance, accompanied by a voluminous manuscript, purporting to be an history of the Achæan Republick—dedicated to “the genius of France,” to wit the Emperor of the Gauls. The letter expressed a wish that I would undertake to revise the manuscript, which is written in English, such as a Dutchman might be supposed to write. Had it been written in the author’s mother-tongue, the task of translating it into English would have been much easier to me, though I would not have undertaken even that labour for an 276 hundred pounds—poor as I am; so that I shall, after having kept the sheets, a decent length of time, very civilly transmit them to the proprietor.3

I enclose you a small paper, printed at Georgetown (Ptmk) which contains the first part of JQA—s Oration, extracted from the Charlestown Courier, a paper of promise lately established at the Capital of So Carolina. A favorable review of it has appeared at New York and will be republished here.4

I hope the inflamation in your eye, is gone ere this. Present me kindly to my father & the rest of the family, and believe me ever your’s

This is the third attempt I have made, to write to You; since my Eyes have been attackd with an inflamation, in both the others I found it too painfull to proceed. they are now upon the recovery; I have been obliged to put under cover the papers promissed; with the mortification of Sending them, unaccompanied with a line, I now forward the remainder, most Sincerely Wishing You Success in your undertaking, tho personally I can render You very little aid; I can stimulate others. Is there not an astonishing Similarity between the Scenes which have so lately been acted in France; and those drawn from the Historians cited?1

The contents of your Letter of Febry 16th have dwelt upon my mind, the more, for not being able to notice them, and I cannot refrain from chiding You, for suffering so long in Silence.2 Yet I know your motives were pure, and the difficulties you had to contend against, such as you conceived would be augmented by a disclousure; I wish most Sincerely they were all removed, and that your path was plain enough before you, to walk securely on to the compleation of the object You have so long had in view. “Precipitation forms no part of Your plan” in that I think you wise; yet laughing I once heard you say, you would not give a copper to be married after 30, but I must add, few gentlemen are fit to be married untill that age; nor do I think a Lady less qualified to make a good wife with the judgement and experience of even that age. Sure I am too many enter that state prematurely. With experience upon my side, I say of myself that I did, much too young for the proper fulfillment of Duties which soon devolved upon me. I say this for your comfort, but all other things being convenient, I think both you and the Lady quite matured for the Holy State, and Should most Sincerely rejoice in the fullfillment of your engagement, and I look forward to the period when you will become an inhabitant of Quincy with 278 pleasure; property sufficient to live upon and manage a Farm is all that is necessary; Buisness you will attain in your profession by degrees. You know my mind. I will not urge You beyond your judgment; I enter into your thoughts and your feelings. I know and approve your motives for remaining Single; the aid I have promised you may be obtained when ever you chuse to avail yourself of it— Your Father Wishes to get you here. We are improveing our Town of Quincy by a new Bridge and a Turnpike road:3 let not your Heart be Sad. may your latter days prove your best days. Nancy is in affliction I know from the loss of a valuable Brother whose Death I read in a late paper. he died in the East Indias.4 I wanted to write to her to console her, but thought upon reflection I had better omit it. I presume you will not omit fail rendering solace where it is so justly due—who from your own account has been to you, what ever a Friend could be in trouble and in difficulty I love and I esteem her for her prudence, fortitude and discretion— my Heart Acked, and I shudderd at your recital— I hope such trials are at an End. by the I shall wait patiently for the disclosure of your view’s.—

I received your Letter and the olio—5 poor Vanderkemp, has a ploding Head, but his writings are not calculated for our Country— You must write him a civil Letter. he is an old firm unshaken Friend of your Fathers—ah how few such do we find in this worldly world! Your Father will write you soon, but he has been much engaged in the translation. Present my compliments [. . . .]6