As I was going to meeting this afternoon a Gentleman met me in the street, and desired me to fill him a writ immediately which he intends to have served as early as possible in the morning. I accordingly did it, and as it is now too late to attend the afternoon service, I think I cannot employ the leisure time thus thrown on my hands better than in giving you an account of the commercial catastrophe now taking place in this Town, which occasioned the singular application to me, that I have just mentioned.— The bubble of banking is breaking, and I am very apprehensive, that it will prove as distressing to this Town, as that of stock-jobbing was about twelve months since, at New-York. Seven or eight failures of considerable consequence have happened within these three days, and many more are inevitable I think, in the course of the ensuing week.1 The pernicious practice of mutual indorsements upon each others notes has been carried as now appears to an extravagant length, and is now found to have involved, not only the principals who have been converting their loans from the bank into a regular trading stock, but many others who have undertaken to be their security. The stagnation of trade produced in the fall of the year by the small-pox; and very much increased by a remarkably open winter, which has not admitted of the usual facility of communication with the Country, upon the Snow, have undoubtedly accelerated this Calamity, which however would have been the more oppressive, the longer it would have been deferred.

These misfortunes, will undoubtedly, give a degree of activity to my particular profession, which has not for several years been allotted to it. But I shall personally derive but very little immediate benefit from it: I see no prospect of its adding much to my business at present; and if it should, there is no satisfaction in thriving by the misery of others

I received last Evening your favour, with a quotation from the Echo, which has been read here as well as the Hartford news-carrier's wit, with pleasure by those who are fond of laughing at the follies of our great man.—2 The Situation of our affairs is such, and the passions and rivalry's of our most conspicuous characters assume an aspect so alarming, that we have indeed much to apprehend for the fate of the Country. It is a subject upon which my 403mind does not dwell with pleasure; and I am the more desirous to keep myself altogether unconnected with political topics, because my sentiments in general I find are as unpopular, as my conduct, relative to the Town-police, or to the theatrical questions. I have no predilection for unpopularity, as such, but I hold it much preferable to the popularity of a day, which perishes with the transient topic upon which it is grounded, and therefore I persisted in refusing to appear at the anarchical dinner which was denominated a civic feast, though I was urged strongly by several of my friends to become a subscriber, upon principles of expediency Those friends disliked the whole affair quite as much as I did, but thought it necessary to comply with the folly of the day.— Upon the whole however, it appears to me that the celebration of that day, has had rather an advantageous than an injurious effect. The specimens of Equality exhibited in the course of it, did not suit the palates of many, who had joined in the huzzaes. The Governor thought proper to be sick, and not attend; and I believe has ventured to express his disapprobation of the proceedings in several particulars.— We have Jacobins enough; but in this instance they overshot themselves, and shewed their teeth and claws so injudiciously, as to guard even the weaker members of the community against them.

My mother spent a fortnight in this Town, in the course of the last month; and I am very happy to find that her health continues so much improved. We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again in the course of five or six weeks.

I have received, and have now in my hands the whole money, that was due upon Savil's bond, which is cancelled. It will be necessary for you to discharge the mortgage on your return as I have not a power sufficiently ample to authorise me to do it.

I am, my dear Sir, yours with the sincerest / affection.

I received your kind Letters of Janry 28 & 30th 1 I well recollect receiving a Letter from mr Gerry soon after you went first to France informing me of your being Elected a member of the Phylisophic society in Philadelphia and when you received the volm in England of their transactions, I never could account for not finding your Name with the Members.2 the loss of the Records at that time accounts for it. you will hear before this reaches you of the Transactions in England which I consider the begining [of] Trouble. God only know where it will end, and whether we in this Country shall not be involved in the same whirlpool

Febry 18

Thus far I wrote and was prevented from proceeding last night our son came up from Town with the joyfull tyding of the arrival of the col mrs smith & Family. I received a Letter from her at the same time dated Nyork the col you will have seen before this reaches you, and from him you will learn more particulars Relative to the threadned overturn of England, but I will say no more upon politicks at this Time, as I am not able to write much, and a few domestick concerns occur that I wish to mention. dr Tufts desires me to mention to you Clover seed. he wishes Brisler to inquire the price & if it can be purchased as low as 10 pence or a shilling pr pound to procure a Barrel of it & ship it round tis 18 pence here and he says we shall want some & he will take the rest. an other article I would mention is some Porter & some segars for your comfort and the last is whether it would not be adviseable to purchase a strong Farm Horse in conneticut & let Brisler take home the chaise. our great oxen have performd pretty well while they could be used in the Cart, but in the snow without any leader before them they cured & Hawl, is the carters term in such a manner that they cork themselves and have been useless unless when I could prevail with Faxon to let me have a yoke from the Farm to go with th[em] which he has done when we have sent to the Ceadar swamp [. . .] that broke his two Teams which he keeps constantly employd. Shaw was much 405mortified & begd me to buy him a yoke as he had Hay enough to keep them & could not possibly accomplish the work unless I did. I sent him out to see several yoke, but they were too low in flesh & 55 dollors a pr. he solisited me to let him go to Abington & try I consented and he last night brought home a yoke comeing seven years for which he gave 58 dollors— he says they are right Handsome cattle used to make stone wall kind & smart in very good flesh &c. I hope what I have done will meet your approbation—which will always recompence me for what ever exertions I may make.

I was taken sick on that day twelve month that I was the last year. I have been confined to my Chamber for a week, but have not the Rhumatick complaints which I had last year. the fever rather tends to an intermitting I have been Bled which has lessned the inflamitory symtoms and I hope it will terminate without any long confinement. I have very good Nursing, and tho a deaf I believe a safe Physician3

Mrs smith is desirious of comeing on to pass a Month with me before she goes to Housekeeping perhaps she may so contrive it as to come with you. you will see her soon and settle the accommodation. mr Cranch is well again as usual & sends his Love with many thanks for your kind expressions towards him. I caught the opportunity of writi[ng] whilst sister was gone down to dinner but she schools me for it.

adieu in hopes to see you soon / most affectionatly yours