As the comfortable and reputable Establishment in Life, of my Grandchildren is very near my heart; your Letter of the 14th of this month could not fail to give me much pleasure. Yesterday the 25th. the anniversa[r]y, the 50th Aniversary of my own marriage, your Letter was brought to me from the Post Office. I devoutly pray that my lovely Abigail may be as happy in her marriage as I have been.

I have always been an Advocate for early marriages when Circumstances of Character Fortune &c could apologize for them: and therefore I will not object, upon this Occasion; but 16 is a very early Age to assume the care of so important an Establishment as that of a Family.

I hope the Parents of Mr Johnson have been consulted and are Satisfied: Otherwise, I certainly Shall not be.

I wish to know the young Gentlemans Age, his Profession whether Farmer, Merchant, Lawyer, Physician or Divine; the Residence and Condition of his Parents; his own means and prospects of Subsistence &c. for I am as little friendly to Enthusiasm in Love, as I am in Politicks or Religion.

The Young Couple will be so good as to consider Quincy as their only home in this quarter and the Sooner I have the pleasure of embracing them the more agreable / to your and their Affectionate Friend