I am much in your debt for letters by mr Knox General Mansell & Mr Broome who seems an excellent citizen1 we had an American dinner all rejoiced in the welfare of America & remember’d our friend & the Patriots of that country.

I have just recd intelligence of the Boxes of Books for cambridge have been recd. the former letter not coming to hand

yesterday the 2 of march I sent on board the Apollo Captn Wm Billing a case for John Adams vice President of the United states containing Book for you particularly the 2 vol of the History of Bologna which you have preserved to the world I sent it in the condition it is in supposing you would make as like your first vol. as might be several tracts which will amuse a parcell for mrs Adams my amiable friend & a fish caught in Dorsetshire for her table to whom I wrote some time agoe for the engaging compliment she with her daughter have made me some tracts to be given to the Library of Philadelphia anonimously all of which you have2

should be glad to know in what state the Libraries are in that city.

many thanks for your tracts every thing from America is interesting & agreable me

some years past your pleasing advice would had great weight with me—

there is no doubt the french will succeed & continue a free & liberal nation the family seems to be taking leave of the country the aunts are gone.

I wished to have sent you a new book additions to common sense but cannot I write this to inform you of the case of books as I could put any note in the box being straitned for time.

we go on in old way— a bill to releive the Dissenting catholicks who will probably be put on a better footing that the protestant Dissenters at which I shall rejoice.3

“Aristocracy has never but one child the rest are thrown to the cannibal for prey & the natural parent prepares the unnatural repast.

“every thing which out of nature in man affects more or less the interest of society so does this—

“Etablish family justice & Aristocracy falls

“Aristocracy is kept up by family Tiranny & injustice”4

Farewell Health & good spirit to you & Mrs Adams and I am as ever Dear Sir / with esteem & affection / yr friend

By direction of your son I take the liberty to enclose to your Care a letter for him, and have to request you to forward it on to him per first post, in case he should have return’d to Boston before this reaches Philadelphia, as it respects a suit which he has undertaken in my behalf—1

This memorable day in the history of America will ever be an interesting Anniversary to Bostonians—particularly to them, being Actors in the important Drama, though it involved every Citizen of the States in its effects— It is a fête peculiar to us & will ever bring up solemn recollection in our minds.—2 From this æra we cannot but admire the workings of that Almighty hand which has conducted us to this period of political happiness—

This sentiment, involving in it the idea of our Constitutions of Government, leads me to mention your defence of them; which I am now reading— I am indebted to you for the gift—& likewise for the important information they contain— By contrast every thing 5 appears most to advantage—and this only history of the Constitutions of Government that have existed in the world, must ever be interesting to Americans, & enforce upon them the necessity of supporting the principles of our present Constitutions—nor can they do this without feeling gratitude to him who has taught them this important secret—

I beg to present my respectfull remembrance to Mrs: Adams—& the family—and to assure you, that with sentiments of esteem & respect, I am, dear sir, / Your friend—if you’ll allow me the priviledge, / & huml: servt: