do you not pitty me my dear sister to be so soon all in a Bustle? and wary of Removing again, as much Boxing and casing, as if we were removing to Europe. our furniture may well be stiled movables. the expence attending the various removals would very handsomely furnish one House. I feel low spirited and Heartless. I am going amongst an other new set of company, to form new acquaintances to make and receive a hundred ceremonious visits, not one of ten from which I shall derive any pleasure or satisfaction, obliged to leave mrs smith behind, and the Children to whom I am much attached, and many other things I have upon my mind and spirits which I cannot communicate by Letter. I live however upon the Hope that I shall come and see you next summer. I hope congress will not set out the Month of April.

I have wrote to the dr respecting the Widow Owen and Rebecca Field.1 I had rather they should be in the House than have it left empty through the winter. they must always remember that they must remove when ever we come to want the House, and that without giving us any trouble.

you wrote me about Rose water.2 if you have an opportunity to send me a dozen Bottles I should like to have it. I forgot to write to you Sooner, but you may have it put up and addrest to col smith Newyork when Barnard comes again we expect to get our furniture on Board by the 20th of the Month. Charles is going to Board with his sister, and Thomas will go into an office in Philadelphia. I wish he could have gone into merchandize as I am sure he has more of a Turn for active Life.

How is mrs Norten & her Boy? we have got one with a Red Head I do not know what part of the family he lays claim to. I forget whether I wrote you that they had Named him Thomas Hollis.

Let mrs Field know that Lucy and mr Brislers children have the small pox.3 it has turnd and they have it very lightly, Lucy not more than 20 pock Nabby not a dozen, Betsy is pretty full but has a good sort and is very cleverly. I had Prince inoculated at the same time. he has about a Dozen, but has not been confined at all, nor sick a little headack excepted. be so good as to send his Father word if you have an opportunity

Mrs Smith is here to day and desires to be rememberd to all her Friends. when did you hear from sister shaw. I think I used to get Letters and write oftner when I was abroad than I do now—

Let me hear from you Soon, and believe me most affectionatly yours

I have received and read with great Pleasure, your modest Sensible, judicious and discreet Letter of the 31. of Septr.1

The Town of Boston is at present unhappily divided into political Parties, and neither Party I presume has tried Experiments enough upon you to discover to which Side you belong. You might very easily induce either Side to make much of you, by becoming a zealot for it: but my Advice to you is Nil Admirari Nil contemni. Admire neither Party—despize neither Party.2 Treat both Sides with Civility and respect but be the Devotee of neither. Be always on the side of 129Truth Justice Honour Virtue and public Spirit. Even S. may be of service to you if you keep him at a distance, and never put yourself in his Power.

The Youth you mention has considerable Advantages, but his Contempt will hurt him, not you. Let me tell you however, once for all, that however painful, the mortifications of Emulation may be, you must learn to bear them and be Superiour to them. You will see one, preferred to you for his Party, another for his Church, a third for his family connections a fourth for an unmeaning fluencey, a fifth for his figure Air, Gate. and some for their Profligacy and Debauchery—others for their Want of Principle. Let not those Things move you out of your Course.

In your Studies, you have yet to begin a system. from all I have Seen and read, I have formed an opinion of my own, and I now give it you as my Solemn Advice, to make yourself Master of the Roman Learning. Begin with Livy.— take your Book your Dictionary, your Grammar, your Sheet of Paper and Pen and Ink. begin at the Beginning and read the Work through— put down in Writing every Word with its meaning as you find it in Ainsworth. You will find it the most delightful Employment you ever engaged in. When you have finished the 35th. Book you will say, that you have learned more Wisdom from it than from five hundred Volumes of the trash that is commonly read.— The Writings of Cicero too, you should read in turn. When I Speak of reading I dont mean holding a book in hand and dreaming over it— take your Pen.—and make yourself Master of every Sentence.— By all means make yourself Master of the latin Tongue and that immediately. Polybius and Plutarch and Sallust as sources of Wisdom as well as Roman History, must not be forgotten, nor Dyonissius Hallicarnassensis.3 Read them all in Latin.— Nor would I by any means consent that you forget your Greek. keep it alive at least, and improve in it by degrees.

My Brother might Supply you with Wood from my Lots as well as Hay. I wish you to ask your Uncle, respectfully as becomes you, how the account Stands between him and me and what Articles he can supply you with on my Account. I will give you the whole Management of my Estate, if you will take it— Yet I will not urge it upon you— perhaps it may interrupt your Studies too much.

Above all Things keep up your Spirits and take Care of your Health.

I long to see you in your office: but the Care of a troublesome Removal to Philadelphia, will prevent me till next year.

Your Letters give me so much pleasure as well as Information that I wish you to write as often as you can to / your Affectionate