We return’d to Town yesterday morning which was one of the most bitter Cold I ever experienced but fortunately were not frozen The Children bore the ride better than I expected though George could not refrain from tears nothing contributed so much towards producing a free circulation as the sight of Mr. Shaw with a letter from you my beloved friend written apparently in great spirits and containing the sauciest lines I ever perused I have a great inclination to have them published in the next Anthology for the sake of my sex in general to whom I hope they would prove a serious advantage to say any thing in their praise is surely unnecessary. you have but to exert the talents you so eminently <to shine> possess to shine almost unrivall’d—

I should have been much diverted could I have seen the Fathers of the Nation, “scampering away, as you so ludicrously represent, and think it a great pity, that no painter was present, to do justice to the Scene, and hand you all down to posterity, in so dignified a situation, & so perfectly expressive of the general situation of affairs. I fear Count G. must have been considerably discomposed by the effort, & Mr. Tracy must have been a little distress’d for the Counts 9 hairs, which he appear’d to take such interest in last winter—Give my love to Mr T. and tell him I still remember his good sayings with pleasure—

Your Brother tells me he wrote you about a week since, from <him> his quizical manner to me I suspect he has been writing some nonsense, concerning me, but you know him, and wont mind what he says—

I will speak to Mr. Shaw about the Pew, but I suppose you have mention’d it to him, he tells me you have written to him very fully. I have not yet found a Girl to do our Cooking, but I hope to do it before you return. your Mother advises me not to take a boy but to look for a man Servant, as she thinks a Boy would only prove a plague, and not answer our purpose at all. I have therefore commission’d Mr. Shaw, to look out for one, and hope to have all these matters arranged before you return—

The poor Woman of the house, owing to neglect, [is] not yet able to walk across the room yet [. . .] has been confined three weeks. I am sorry [to have] no reason to boast of Mr. Gullivers attention. [Howe]ver do not make yourself uneasy, the time for our stay is short and will soon slip away—

Your Mother & father are well, though much affected by the severity of the Season. Sister T. B got a bad Breast from her own imprudence, but was a little better yesterday, Thomas is as fat as ever, and Mr. Dexter in a thriving way. Adieu God bless you and send you safe back to the arms of your sincerely affectionate wife.