I set down with great pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from Mr. Adams dated February 8th, with a poscript from you, which through a Mistake, or neglect in the post Offices did not reach me 'till the 10th. of this instant.1 I hope it is not too late to thank you for them both. The remedies you have demanded to releive the anguish of your mind occasioned by parting with your dear Mr. Adams have now become unnecessary from my hand. You have drawn comfort from a hundred resources since he left his native shores. You have heard of his safe arrival in France, of the marks of respect with which he was introduced into that kingdom, and of his zeal and industry in promoting the liberties, and adding to the Stability of the independance of his country. To greive at the Absence of a husband thus honoured, and thus employed, would partake of the weakness of those people who bewail the premature translation of a friend from the humble pursuits of earth to the beneficent employments of heaven.

I am led by the many amiable traits I have received of your Character from Mr. Adams, to call upon you to rejoice in the happy changes that have taken place in the Appearance of our Affairs since my correspondence commenced with Mr. Adams.—An Alliance has been formed with the first Monarchy in Europe. The haughty Court of Britain has been forced to sue to her once insulted colonies for peace—the capital of Pennsylvania the Object of the expenses and blood of a whole campaign has been evacuated—the flower of the british army 75has been disgraced—and above all, a french fleet now hovers over our coasts, and adds its Strength to the Arms of the united States. These madam are great and unexpected events, and call for the gratitude of our country to the great Arbiter of human Affairs. When the Duke D'Avignon,2 After having witnessed the destruction of a whole Army by Sickness, the war before last, at Hallifax, saw his last Ship perish in a storm, he cried out “God is resolved to have all the honor of conquering us to himself.” In like manner it seems as if heaven was resolved to have all the honor of our deliverance to itself. The wisdom of our counsels was often foolishness, and the strength of our Arms was too often weakness. Even the capture of Burgoyne which produced this wonderful revolution in our Affairs was the effect of a Mistake in Congress. By recalling General Gates from Ticonderoga they gave the enemy a post which led him into the heart of our country. The restoring of General Gates to his command was not the effect of the wisdom of Congress, but the result of the spirit and clamors of the people.

Soon after my last letter to Mr. Adams I was forced to resign my commission of physician General to the military hospitals having no prospect of being supported in doing my duty by the Congress, or the Army. This prepared the way for my returning to Philadelphia as soon as the enemy left it, where I am now setled with my family in the business of my profession, and wholly taken up in the duties of private life. Our city has undergone some purification, but it still too much resembles the Ark which preserved not only the clean, but the unclean beasts from the effects of the deluge.3

This Moment your favour of August the 62 is come to hand. My Heart reproaches me that I have not before this time told you that according to the Scotch Song “I had banishd all my Grief for I was sure the News was true and I was sure he's well.”—Indeed Sir I have been so much absorbed in my own happiness and so selfish that I have scarcly thought of communicating it.

But a debt of gratitude is due to you who not with standing the weight of publick cares which must engrose all your hours, have frequently devoted those which Nature requires for repose, to the Benevolent purpose of giving ease and dissapating the fears and anxieties of your greatly obliged Friend. No additional proof was wanting to convince me that the Native Sensibility, tenderness and Benevolence of Mr. Lovell could suffer no alteration or dimunation, by any buisness or employment in which he could be engaged—that it is an innate principal and displays itself in every action of his life and of this he may be assured if it will give him any satisfaction that the happy talent he possesses in the Manifestation of those virtues will ever attach the fair Sex to him and in a perticuliar manner.

I really began to feel very uneasy at your long Silence and feared Sickness or some disaster had befallen you. I have been a journey, and absent about a fortnight as far as Haverhill,1 and upon my return I expected to have found Letters in Town, for so long a Space has not intervened since your absence, but to my no small dissapointment I could not hear any thing from you, but I will not complain since Last nights Express brought me so ample a compensation, for which accept my thanks and for the publick papers enclosed which beguile some 77of my lonely Hours. Six months have elapsed, in the whole of which time I have received only two short Letters from abroad. You may judge how painfull to me this long interval appears when I compare my present Situation with my former indulgence. Tho I could not expect such frequent intercourse yet I had flatterd myself with a much freer communication. I cannot help exclaming sometimes, O! that I had the wings of a Dove.2

I was in hopes that I should have had some very agreable intelligence to have communicated to you before this time from Rhode Island;3 the Spirit I assure you is greater here than you ever saw it. Gentleman of rank and fortune have joind that Army in the capacity of volunteers, the spirit caught from Town to Town surprizeingly. Portsmouth, Newburyport,4 Salem, Boston, all their chosen Sons, have marched with a spirit and vigor that does Honour to America. Hitchbourn, Welsh, Mason, Smith, Bradford, Codman are those you know of the independent company5 and all of them are gone to earn Lawrels I hope, and wear the victors Crown.6

We are very anxious for the French Fleet, which saild after How, the day before the severest North East Storm ever known at this season of the year.7 Nothing has been heard of them since and to day is 9 days since they went out.

The commissioners of Britain make not only a small but an ignominious figure. I cannot help considering them in the Light of the Fallen Angles in Milton who meditating upon their own miserable State and lost Liberties are desirous of involving this New world, this paridice of Freedom in the same chains and thraldom with their own and thus consulting,

They too like the Grand Deceiver must be making use of the same instruments to effect their diabolical plans by tempting a Modern Eve to taste the forbidden Fruit. But tis with pleasure I find in the General and Statesman a more rigid virtue and incorruptable Heart than our primitive parent discoverd, tho perhaps it may be happy for the Gentleman that his own Eve was not imployd, and she the only Female on Earth, or that unbounded knowledg was not the Bribe, instead of the paltry Gold.

You have heard before this time of the recovery of your worthy parent and mine from the small pox.9 They are both in Health.—I believe I did not mention to you that I have a new Nephew at Haverhill (betterd I hope by the Mothers side).10

You do not tell me how you do, nor how you like the city, the Metropilis as she calls herself of America.

Masters Charles and Tommy present their respects to you. Charly is learning to write and hopes soon to let you know it. Miss Nabby is at Boston. I have reminded her of a debt she owes you but she is backward in paying it. General Hancock you see is gone to Rhode Island, so is another General from this Town as volunteer.11 May they be calld to action and acquit themselves with Honour.

Continue to write by every opportunity. I love to know what is passing in the world tho excluded from it. I asked you several questions in my last, an answer to which is expected by your Friend