This Day seven Years I first took my seat in Senate and I hope I shall not sit there seven Years longer. The H. continues constant—some Conjecture that by one means or another they will comply after sometime: but I see no present appearance of it. I pray with you for the Prosperity of Zion but that is all I can do.

The Town of Boston is under a bad Influence in the Hands of unwise and I fear unupright Conductors.

The despicable story of st. Hillaire, I have learn’d from Charles but the Event upon Smith I had not heard, It is the Decree of Fate that I should be connected by two Branches with a weak Family and I must make the best of it. Nothing can happen from it worse than my fears and long Expectations. I am determined it shall not plague me.

As to Copeland He knows that my Contract with him was for 8 Dollars a Month for the Year and I told him expressly I would give him no more.

If you can have Billings, I dont desire any other.

You may let even the Corn field to the Halves if you will. I will let out the home Place for the future all but the House & Gardens.— I am determined to reduce my Family at Quincy, and do nothing at farming but occasionally.

I am glad the Hill is cross ploughed— I expected it would be worse in the Spring than it was in the fall.

You must buy Hay if it is wanted: but there must have been Waste.

I shall fat two Yoke of oxen upon the Island, I shant keep more than one Yoke at home & a Yoke of steers—perhaps.

You call your Letters a Jumble but they are my Delight and mine are not half as good as yours.

Our Constitution is coming to a Crisis— I calculated at its Commencement about ten years for its duration. The People will this summer have to determine whether it shall Survive its Eighth Year. 261 The H. of R. seem determined to dictate to the whole Govt and Virginia is equally desirous of dictating to the H. and thro the Ignorance, Weakness and Wickedness of Boston New York & Philadelphia she is but too successfull. I am / most tenderly yours

I believe I never have acknowledged the Rect of your favour of March 21.— In Dexter and Ames We lost the Lyre of Aphion in our H. of R. and Jaring Discords have led Mydas astray ever since.

The Rout before us is very thorny and very rugged and very Steep and what is worse than all the End of it is far behind the Hill, out of our sight, and may be more dangerous and impracticable than any Part of it that We see.

There are too many of the Members from N. York Mass. and especially Pensilvania bent on desperate Courses.

There is no Way of reconciling Parties. The Constitution ought to have provided against such Cases as these and have given the President Power to dissolve the House and call a new Election. As it is, the Country may be ruined before the People can interpose and decide.

What is become of St. Hilaire? What has happened to Mr shaw? What to Col. Smith?

I send you a Post Note for 100 dollars but I know not how I can make out to pay my own Expences to the next Quarter. Write me as often as you can if it be only a Line. Let me know wn you receive this.

On the 19th: inst: the packets entrusted by you to the care of Erving, were handed me by Mr: Skinner. The letter for Messrs: Willink was sent them the day following, at which time I made application for a Bill in your favor as desired.1 The enclosed letter for Messrs: 262 John & Francis Baring & Co will be equally efficacious as a Bill; & the reason why this mode is prefered will readily strike you.2 I understand that the mere presentment of it will be sufficient, & I wish it may reach you seasonably.

In my last letter of the 17th: Currt: I acknowledged the receipt of all the Articles, which at different times you have had the goodness to procure for me. The Newspapers too, have, been a treat to some of my friends, & were chiefly valuable upon that account.

In case a fresh draft shall appear from Charles, I shall follow your directions respecting its acceptance. As your letter of authorisation to him is on board one of the vessels, which was so long detained, it is doubtful whether it has yet reached him. I enclosed you a letter from him by my last & I now forward a few lines which were recd: at the same time, but were not thought material.3 It is pleasing to hear of his success both from himself & others; some young men do better after marriage than before.

The letter, which you sent me from my Father, reminds me, that the second year of my absence from Country, friends & profession had commenced; it is now more than half expired, and as the original period of my residence in Europe was calculated in my own mind not to exceed two full years, it is a duty which I owe to you, to myself & our mutual friends, that my sentiments & determination upon the subject of my return to our native land, should be fully known. It has been long my wish to communicate them to you, and as it yet remains problematic, when you may be permitted to return here, I embrace this occasion of doing it, in preference to a longer delay for the sake of a personal interview.

The situation in which I have been placed for the last six months, must be regarded as entirely fortuitous; but during its continuance, which circumstances give me reason to expect may be longer than I shall be disposed to occupy it, I do not consider myself as the master of my own conduct, and unless you are directed to resume your station here, & thereby release me of course, I must necessarily ask it of the Government. Though the public letters received, seem to consider you as at present in this Country, the delay, which has already taken place in transmitting the orders for your return, added to other circumstances that might be named, may authorise a surmise, that particular reasons have caused this procrastination, and that a fresh requisition of your person & services may be in contemplation. In this idea I am not entirely singular, though it is confessed that the particular circumstances of the times have chiefly 263 contributed to inspire it. Should it be realized, and your mission to this Country either terminated, or your return protracted, it is very probable that a new Minister may in one case be appointed to succeed you, or in the other, that some new arrangement will commit the affairs of our Country to other hands than those in which they are at present, during your absence. This at least is my wish, for there surely can be no inducement for me to remain here, if you are removed. Independent of the considerations of a private & personal nature, a regard for the public interest would dictate my renunciation of a trust, which may materially suffer in my hands, either from want of experience or capacity to discharge the duties it may impose. With any one but yourself this language might seem like an affection of meekness & diffidence, but as you can best judge of its truth, you can best appreciate its sincerity.

Whatever advantages I may derive from a temporary residence in Europe, especially at this period, it is necessary also to consider those which are relinquished. I am anxious to fix the path of my future pursuits, from which no deviation will be admissible, and as it is my design to return to my profession, when I take leave of Europe, the next year will probably be more usefully employed in renewing my acquaintance with Cooke & Blackstone, than in reading Newspapers, and writing commentaries upon them. As to the benefit obtainable from any connections to be formed in this Country, if a period once existed when such a thing was successfully practised, I regard it as past, and the best Theatre for every species of enterprise, except the trade of an adventurer, seems to me to be our own Country. I know that the return to the Bar, if mine can justly be styled such, will be the commencement of an Ordeal by no means pleasant to encounter. I dread it, but will not shrink from it, both from a conviction of its necessity, & because I well know my Father’s partiality to the idea of having only Lawyers among his Sons. How to avoid its being a return to dependance is what concerns me most. I had rather be a Clerk for life, than subject myself again to that condition. With this sentiment I left home, and it must hereafter guide my conduct.

It was my intention to embark in the Autumn for America, had your return here been certain, but as this event becomes more dubious I must be determined in my movements by the orders you may receive, though after this explanation of my views, which respect myself merely, you will have no small share in fixing my resolution, by the advice & counsel which your fraternal affection shall 264 dictate upon a consideration of their propriety. That you will give it to me without reserve I am confident.

In my letter of the 17th: I mentioned my having enclosed you a letter from Mr: Noël, and as your’s of the 6th: currt does not acknowledge its receipt I am fearful of its having miscarried. In the cover I wrote “enclosed 12th: March.” I now forward one from Mr: D’Araujo; both contain nothing more I believe, than a request to bring with you some Books.4

Will you be good enough to purchase for me a pocket Geographical Dictionary—edition 1795. such are to be had doubtless.

I must finish as the post for Rotterdam will be off, without my Letter.

With unalterable affection, Your Brother