I received yesterday your favor of the 15th: and thank you for your attention to my Commissions.1 The Books, I believe, had best be sold, as you suggest, at Auction, and to the highest bidder. I shall regret the sacrifice of the folio Edition of the laws, because they have been heretofore in great demand, and in time, would probably sell for a just price, but I must forego the benefit of a market for the sake of a prompt sale.2 You will oblige me therefore by putting them, one and all under the hammer, as soon as a good opportunity offers—perhaps a few days prior to the sale, an advertizement of them would attract purchasers. Of this you will judge. The share in the 362 Law Library is I believe but a scurvy affair. I thought so at the time I subscribed; but the tyranny of example cost me in this, as in many other instances, my cash against my Conscience. I hope the annual assessments will not multiply, for it is hard enough to have property in so bad repute as to want purchasers and yet involving one deeper in debt.3

If you get rid of my Rubbish from Maxwell’s Shop, and get cash enough for it to pay Morgan for two setts of Giffords Juvenal, I shall thank you to do it—4 I may have some additional wants when I hear you have the means of satisfying them in your hands— But I wont contract debt, if I can help it.

Thanks for your congratulations upon, what you style my promotion— I am indeed of the Quorum, but yet no married-man. I should have been much obliged to His Excellency the Governor and the Honb̃le the Council, if they had put me into the same Commission with a wife, instead of making me Unus. 5

You Philadelphians I find are just like all the rest of the world— I mean the Bostonians &ca: You will have it that I left you to get married, and they will have it, that I came here to be married. Both may be right in the end, but in the mean time, it seems to me that I ought to know something about the probability of such an occurrence and I aver, that of all the world I am the most ignorant, as to the time when it may arrive. But you have left Philadelphia and returned to your native State, say they, and this is proof positive that you are on the brink of matrimony, for who would exchange Philadelphia for Quincy without some such reason? Very well, if it must be so, I can only submit to my fate, but until I have some more sensible demonstration of this change in my condition, I hope to be allowed to differ in opinion from those who will felicitate me, upon my marriage. Sam: Levy having occasion to introduce a gentleman to me the other day, concludes his letter by presenting his compliments to Mrs: Adams.6 You and all the rest of my friends will hear soon enough of this event after it takes place; in the mean time I feel grateful for the lively interest they seem to take in my prospects. But dont let any body publish my nuptials before they are celebrated—if they do, I’ll sue them for scandal.

My friend Cad— is, as he tells me, the happiest varlet alive— Your fair neighbour is deserving as Tom is sterling. Alass the Club! I have little doubt of its dissolution now—but Joe and myself will yet I believe claim title by survivorship, over all the remnant. Sam Ewing holds out stoutly yet, but he has long ago been smitten with an 363 Hebrew’s black eye, whom I hope he will convert or turn to a Christian.7

Your Legislature march boldly onward toward the goal of universal perfectability— McKean’s quibble about 2/3ds wont do— He must stick to the discretionary power given by the Constitution—that is his only ground. The distinction he attempts was tried at Washington and exploded. Are the Judges enraged or terrified— One or other they must be,8 I believe that half the Jacobinism of Pennsylvania is to be ascribed to want of respectable characters and energetick conduct on the bench. Will the McKeanites endeavor to send men to the next legislature, who can read and write? It is my opinion that the whole sect will be discomfited and thrown into the back ground to make way for worse fools than themselves. Democracy has only begun its career—all changes will be from bad to worse, until you reach the bottom, and when you have groped and grovelled about in the filth of the Sty, for a sufficient time, you may begin to rise and slowly crawl up again. We are in New England very little better off than you are— Nothing saves us but a qualification of property in voting—9 If peace and internal tranquility reign another year—we may have a Jacobin Government—

I am delighted to hear that some of my friends talk of visiting my jurisdiction. They shall always receive friendly aid and comfort so long as they behave well here; but if they break the peace—let them stand clear of me— I have already committed one culprit and have found out how it should be done. May I not hope among others to see you and your wife in these parts? I know of none from whom a visit could be more acceptable, to your friend & servt:

I received a few days ago your kind favour of the 10th: instt: with the letter that accompanied, and thank you for the care of it—1 I lament to hear that your health continued so feeble and infirm, but I hope as the Spring advances, you will find yourself better— I approve much of your intention to wean John, and rejoyce at the information that he has recovered.

I have been into Boston only once since my return home; and that was the day, when I wrote you last—2 I was to have gone this day; to a public entertainment given Mr: Gore, on his return from Europe; but the weather which has been these three days and continues stormy, confines me to the house—3 I saw Mr: Gore, when I was in Boston— He has reduced himself by his diet and regimen, more than any man I ever knew. You will scarcely credit me, when I tell you he is at least as thin as Mr: Hellen— His appearance is so much altered, that it was sometime before I recognized his features— He says however that he is in very good health—

The Spring here is so late and so much in arrear, that I have yet scarcely began my career as a farmer— But I have set out an Orchard of nearly an hundred trees; which will I hope one day produce fruit for our children— Mr: Whitney quits the house the first of next month— If I can find a tenant, I shall let it for another year— At least I shall not go to expence to fit it up for your reception, untill I determine to make it my own continual abode— It is not and never can be made such a place as I could wish to provide for your residence; but it may prove a shelter hereafter, and supply means of subsistence, to ourselves and our children, when we shall find none else— My situation and circumstances since we married, have very materially declined— As the alteration affects myself, I would not waste a thought upon it; but as it has taken from me the means, of contributing every comfort and enjoyment that your heart could wish, it is a perpetual source of concern, and anxiety to me— It is with extreme difficulty that I now find the means of defraying our necessary expences as they rise, without intrenching upon the little property which helps to support us— Additional expence, without any prospect of additional income, would infallibly lead to my ruin; and what would be to me ten thousand times worse, to the greatest distress to you and our children— These considerations alone have induced me to wish that you could have reconciled your mind to this place, and to so humble a residence as that house— As however you cannot, you shall at all events reside where you yourself choose— I will bear the charge, as long as I have the means, and trust to Providence for future support.

Mrs: Charles Adams left us last Saturday, on her return to Newark; with her youngest daughter— Susan remains here.

I suppose Mr: Hellen still receives one of our Boston newspapers, from which you will find that Governor Strong has again been elected— The opposition made against him however is greater than it has before been for three years— Mr: Sullivan runs up in numbers at no great distance from him—4 In New-Hampshire, it is probable the present governor Gilman has lost his election, and Mr: Langdon chosen in his stead— From New-York, I suppose you will hear before this reaches you.5

Give my affectionate remembrance to your Mamma, Mr: & Mrs: Hellen—your brother and Sisters—not forgetting all the children— Et pour Monsieur George, Papa s’attend qu’il parlera bien Français quand il reviendra—6

Your’s ever faithfully