I think it will give you pleasure to hear from us, even tho’ nothing new has occur’d. To tell you that the storm began here on Sunday evening the 31st. & that it has continued ever since with the intermission of only a single day would I am sure be to tell you what you already know to your own disappointment.

As James expected to have you to Rye the Monday after you left home, he engaged Baker to come here on Sunday evening, where he has been till yesterday morning the weather having been too inclement for him to go home. but he was unwell the whole time. Nancy & I prescribed for him as well as we could but he thought it best to go home & consult his Physician. The Rain same as frost hindered for not a little, for the wood was almost buried under the snow & Henry was unable to cut it or bring it in he had likewise to fetch ^cut^ wood & fetch water every day for Mr Clarke. we have regretted the long continuance of the bad weather the more as it will delay your return. It is however a great blessing that we have none of use taken cold, but retain our usual share of health. There are several letters here for you. Among them is one from Munro, your son & Augustus V Cortlandt. a week ago I recd. another letter from Mrs. Hamilton1 letting me know she should remain where she was & was ready to wait upon ^me^ whenever I shd. point out the mode for her coming, & offerd to serve us at 7 dollrs pr month. to which I deferr’d an answer until I shd. hear from our daughter. Last eveng. I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from her, she as well as Banyer & Wm were well & desir’d their love to you. The Patroon had gone to Washington, but Went onto upon being applied to by Banyer, call’d upon Maria & told her Mrs. H would not suit us by any more— he added that she had taken up her wages of the Overseer & left the Patroon without ever apprising any of the family of it. I have therefore this morning written a few lines to her in answer to her last letter, letting her know that I should not have occasion for her.

Nancy & I think it would be worth while to advertise for one that would come to us the 1st. of May, if you think proper. perhaps one might apply while you are in town— From the woman Sam mentioned we have not heard any thing. Sam’s Wife & Children are well. Barbary sleeps there every night— Ann tells me to remind you of Tobacco for she says it is nearly out— I just now sent for Jese & told him I was writing you, & wish’d to know if he wanted any directions from you about any thing— he told me he did, for that he had plained all the poles & did not know what further to do with them— I told him, I had understood that you intended to get Gray or Suther[?] to cut a pattern for him, & to give him directions about them, & that I had heard you say they were to be like those of Rye— he said he had seen those, & would tell the Carpenters how they were cut. I ask’d him if he had cut the tree you had mentioned to him for rails, he said he had, & that this morning he had been trying to draw up a log for more poles, but that the beam he then had was too weak.

The Major has call’d here several times— Give our united love to Peter & Peggy & your son & accept the same from your children & myself— I am my dr Mr Jay Sincerely & affectionately yours

Jese just br[ough]t. me a pattern to look at which James had cut, I thought it very handsome, but I advis’d him to wait for Gray or Suther[?] (who were gone to Cantato) as you had probably given them directions— Joe is delighted with the work—

Tuesday evening— Sam has just sent Joe in with yr Letter—2 When Henry first told me of his arrival I was exceedingly alarmed— I am sorry you have been indisposed & am glad to find you are better & coming home. do you think it worth while to send Sam to New York to carry Hannah when the Stage passes your brother’s door, & she might be put in with a letter to Munro—

I suppose Sam was uneasy because he left his wife with ^out^ a stick cut at the Door, but the same day he went Joe went to cut wood & carry water for her & has done it ever since he went away— Remember us affectately to Peter Polly & Effy Ann wrote a letter to her Aunt 8 or 9 days ago when she expected Joe was going—

Altho I shd. be happy to see you, yet as Joe will have sufficient employ, & you are already half way on your Journey & besides will be still more wanted at home the latter end of this month & the beginning of the next I shd not know what to advise but if you could borrow the slay[?] it might be as well to proceed. No servts. could have behaved better than ours have done—

Tell Peter if you please that we long very much to see him & Polly— A boy has just br[ough]t. in 5 quails which with a Couple of partridges I send to Polly.