The arrival of several posts without any letters from you, as seventeen days had elaps’d since the date of your last,1 had in spite of my endeavors to the contrary dejected my spirits; not that I thought you negligent, but because I feared some accident had prevented yr. writing: but last evening your letter of the 29th. Ult. restored the tranquility of my mind, which had indeed been likewise interrupted by another cause— Will it be necessary before I relate the other reason for my anxiety to ask your forgiveness for the measure I adopted without attending your abbrobation— The tenderness of your friendship for me, will I know make you jealous of my having any cause for anxiety conceal’d from your knowledge & participation & it is on that score alone I fear your displeasure— You may recollect my dear, that in one of my letters I requested yr. opinion about the inoculation of our Children:2 after I had written, upon more mature reflection, I concluded I already knew your sentiments sufficiently to Authorise my having the operation perform’d if Mr. Sutton should think it advisable, & that by attending the event without letting you know it I should spare you a degree of solicitude that wd. be unavoidable & perhaps retard the recovery of your health: I therefore the next day sent for the Doctor, & finding him very sanguin about the success of it, I immediately prepared myself & children according to his directions, & a day or two after he inoculated them—for 8 days after, they were both so well that I could with great sincerity assure you of their health every time I wrote, & last sunday evening after I had finished my letter Louisa came into the parlour to let me know that she fear’d my little ^one^ was going into convulsions, she looked so terrifyed that Peter catch’d the alarm, & you may suppose I did not remain insensible, but recollecting your fortitude upon a former distressing occasion I endeavoured to imitate it & desiring them to be calm, I took the babe in my lap & made Louisa hold a bason of luke warm water ^in which^ we bathed her feet about a quarter of an hour, sitting in a current of air, after which I walk’d with her in the dining room, the windows & doors being open, but the Child well cover’d except her head, ’till midnight, when her fever was exceedingly abated & she fell into a sweet sleep that continued ’till morning, when we observ’d that several pustules had made their appearance. in the morning when the Doctr. visited me he assured me that all danger was then over, & that the measures I had taken prevented her from having convulsions—fortunately Maria’s simptoms did not appear ’till ^the^ next evening, & then after a very smart fever the small pox discover’d itself, since which they have been bravely, & to-day quite gay & well. Sunday or Monday the Doctr. will give them medicine to carry off the humors & he begs me to assure you that they are quite recovered— When shall I receive such charming tidings from you as that you likewise are perfectly recovered? You have stated your return upon such a footing, that much as I long to see you, I dare not ^yet^ wish your return yet ^it.—^ Doctr. Franklin tells me that while he was in England he rarely saw an American there but what was troubled with a sore throat sometime after his arrival, & therefore shd. you not receive that benefit from Bath which we hop’d, I think with you that you’ll get rid of the sore throat by leaving England—

There was nothing new in Susan’s letter3 but what I told you, that peter was recovered from the Measles— Caty is at Eliz. Town, but I’ve no letters from her— Peter tells me that Paul Jones is arrived, but I do not know whether we have letters by him, nor from whence he sail’d.

I told you I think that Abbe had return’d; she has a violent Cold but ^as^ I’ve prevailed upon her to remain in bed I hope she’ll recover in a week or two. As I have not slept for several nights on account of the Children I hope I shall to night rest well, for they are both in a sweet sleep—be assur’d my dear Mr. Jay that I enjoy my health perfectly & that I am most sincerely & affectionately Yours