I dined to-day at Colonel Quincy's.[49] They were so kind as to send me
and Abby and Betsey an invitation to spend the day with them; and, as
I had not been to see them since I removed to Braintree, I accepted the
invitation. After I got there came Mr. Samuel Quincy's wife and Mr.
Sumner, Mr. Josiah and wife. A little clashing of parties, you may be
sure. Mr. Sam's wife said she thought it high time for her husband to
turn about; he had not done half so cleverly since he left her advice;
said they both greatly admired the most excellent speech of the Bishop
of St. Asaph, which I suppose you have seen. It meets, and most
certainly merits, the greatest encomiums.[50]
Upon my return at night, Mr. Thaxter met me at the door with your
letter, dated at Princeton, New Jersey. It really gave me such a flow of
spirits that I was not composed enough to sleep until one o'clock. You
make no mention of one I wrote you previous to that you received by Mr.
Breck, and sent by Mr. Cunningham. I am rejoiced to hear you are well. I
want to know many more particulars than you write me, and hope soon to
hear from you again. I dare not trust myself with the thought how long
you may perhaps be absent. I only count the weeks already past, and they
amount to five. I am not so lonely as I should have been without my two
neighbors;[51] we make a table-full at meal times. All the rest of their
time they spend in the office. Never were two persons who gave a family
less trouble than they do. It is at last determined that Mr. Rice keep
the school here. Indeed, he has kept ever since he has been here, but
not with any expectation that he should be continued; but the people,
finding no small difference between him and his predecessor, chose he
should be continued. I have not sent Johnny.[52] He goes very steadily
to Mr. Thaxter, who I believe takes very good care of him; and as they
seem to have a liking to each other, I believe it will be best to
continue him with him. However, when you return, we can consult what
will be best. I am certain that, if he does not get so much good, he
gets less harm; and I have always thought it of very great importance
that children should, in the early part of life, be unaccustomed to such
examples as would tend to corrupt the purity of their words and actions,
that they may chill with horror at the sound of an oath, and blush with
indignation at an obscene expression. These first principles, which grow
with their growth, and strengthen with their strength, neither time nor
custom can totally eradicate.
You will perhaps be tired. No. Let it serve by way of relaxation from
the more important concerns of the day, and be such an amusement as your
little hermitage used to afford you here. You have before you, to
express myself in the words of the bishop, the greatest national
concerns that ever came before any people; and if the prayers and
petitions ascend unto heaven which are daily offered for you, wisdom
will flow down as a stream, and righteousness as the mighty waters, and
your deliberations will make glad the cities of our God.
I was very sorry I did not know of Mr. Cary's going; it would have been
so good an opportunity to have sent this, as I lament the loss of. You
have heard, no doubt, of the people's preventing the court from sitting
in various counties; and last week, in Taunton, Angier urged the court's
opening and calling out the actions, but could not effect it. I saw a
letter from Miss Eunice,[53] wherein she gives an account of it, and
says there were two thousand men assembled round the court-house, and,
by a committee of nine, presented a petition requesting that they would
not sit, and with the utmost order waited two hours for their answer,
when they dispersed.
You will burn all these letters, lest they should fall from your
pocket, and thus expose your most affectionate friend.