In this Retreat I promise myself, much Pleasure from the Letters of my Friends in Boston,: and from none more than from yours. I rely upon it, you will not miss any convenient opportunity, of communicating any Thing of Importance that turns up,—even the Tittle Tattle of the Town, and the Anecdotes of private Social Life, will be acceptable.

Your Interest and Advancement in Life, is an Object which I have much at Heart. The Times are very discouraging at present, but never fear. They will be better. They cant be much worse.

I have Several Pieces of Advice to give you, and Proposals to make to you which I Shall communicate, as opportunity serves. One is that you procure yourself another office. The Situation you are now in, is not a good one. I should advise you by all Means, to look out and enquire, and provide yourself, as soon as you can with an Office in King Street,1—in some of the most public Places round the Exchange. You may depend upon it These are the best Places in the Town. The best Spot in Queen Street is not to be compared to them. I have Experience enough of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Situation. And you may depend upon it, that no Gentleman old or 114young can be constant to an office, in any of those Places without Business if he is qualified to do it, as you unquestionably are. A Lawyer is Seen in one of these situations, every Hour in the Day by Multitudes who come from all Parts of the Province, the Continent the World, as well as the Town, and he grows to be considered as a capital Man insensibly. It is my clear opinion, you had better give double Rent there than in any other Place in Town.

Another Thing let me Advise you, to omit no Opportunity of Speaking. Dont concern yourself a farthing whether your Cause is to be obtained or lost. Take care that you do Justice to it—and then let Justice be done it by the Court and Jury in their Departments also. The Loss of your Cause will not hurt your Reputation. Speaking in Public will certainly Serve it. It is necessary that you prepare yourself beforehand, for arguing your Causes, at your first Beginnings. Make a Brief of Minutes in every Case—and if you Set down and commit to writing every Word of an Argument you design to Use it will not be amiss. The Faculty of arguing Causes extempore is not natural to any Body. It is acquired by Use, and Time and Habit.

I intended before I came out of Town to have given you an Invitation to take a Seat in my Pew at Dr. Coopers Meeting House.2 You had better go there than to hear Pemberton.3 You will be seen by more People, and those of more Weight and Consequence, and this will be of no Disservice to you. Besides you will certainly be entertained more according to your Taste, and your Soul will be edifyed full as well. My Pew is ever at your service, and I Should really be obliged to you, if you would fill my Place in it.

It is of Some Importance in Boston to belong to a Fine Clubb and to choose and get admitted to a good one. I will talk with you further upon this Head when I see you.

It is also of Consequence in Town to belong to some other Clubb. Clubbs in Boston are the Nurseries, of Statesmen Lawyers, Physicians, &c &c &c—and the Influence of them is not attended to by many, but it is very great.4

I want to take You into the Political Inquisition and examine your Principles in Government and your System of Politicks. You are like to enjoy a fair Inheritance in your Country, and are qualified to serve it—if your sentiments are like mine you cannot be an inactive Spectator of the Indignities she Suffers, without feeling and Resentment, but of this more hereafter. Keep this secret to yourself.

There never was I believe, a greater Contrast, than I perceive, between the Noise and Hurry of Queen street, and the Serene Retreat, which I enjoy here. No Clients disturb me, no Politicians interrupt me, no Tories vex me, no Tyrants govern me, I had almost Said No Devils tempt or torment me.

The chaste Pleasures of Agriculture, engage me, as much as Cards, or Assemblies ever did a fair Lady. You can Sympathize with me, in all this. You, live in a Land of Rain this Year, as well as I, and it is an infinite Consolation to us both, to see the Wisdom and Benevolence of Heaven, counteracting the Folly, the Malice and Madness of our Tyrants.

It would do your Heart good to see me, mowing, raking carting, and frolicking with my Workmen, as unconcernd as if No Port Bill, or regulating Bill, or Murder Bill,1 had ever existed.

I catch myself however, now and then, among the Hay Cockes bestowing most hearty Execrations, on a few Villains, who have dignified themselves by Superlative Mischief to their native Country the British Empire and the World.

The Demise of the French Crown, is a great Event in the Political System of Europe, and of Consequence, must be a mighty Link in the Chain of Causes in American Politicks. I am not enough acquainted with the State of the French, Spanish and German Courts to predict with any Confidence, what Revolutions will succeed the Death of Lewis 15th.2 But if two young Fellows at the Head of the German Empire, and the French Monarchy, both warm and active dont make Mischief, in Europe it will be a Wonder.

I remember when I was young, and Sometimes amused myself with 117Poetry and Criticism, I used to see it frequently prescribed as a Rule to consider how Homer or Virgill, or Horace or Ovid would have imagined or expressed a Thing. But I believe it requires almost as much Genius and skill to Say how they would imagine or express a Thing, as they had themselves.

I cant help, applying this Rule sometimes, to Politicks, and enquiring what Plans would be adopted at the Congress, if a Sully, a Cecil, a Pitt, or a Ximenes,3 a Demosthenes or a Cicero were there—or all of them together.

I am at no Loss, at all, to guess. pretend to Skill and Capacity like G –– d knoweth—I dont compare an Atom to the Globe. But is it easy to believe they would propose Non Importation? Non Exportation? Non Consumption? If I mistake not, Somewhat a little more Sublime, and mettlesome, would come from Such Kind of Spirits.

However, Patience, Prudence, Resignation Candour and all that, must American Plans. We must fast and pray, learn to bear and forbear. We must have that charity which suffereth long and is kind, which beareth all things and hopeth all Things.4