My Eyes were lately rendered so weak by an Influenza, that I was obliged to postpone answering your friendly Letter ^of the 12 Ult:^—1 Of this I lately informed you by a few Lines— At present I am so nearly free from that Complaint, as to be able to resume my Pen.2

I have read your Letter more than once. Mutuality of friendly Feelings always affords Gratification; and the kindness which pervades your Letter, has made its proper Impressions.

As you are in the 75th. year of your Age, and I in the 74th. of mine, our Leases have expired— We are holding over— and others will soon occupy our Places— What to do, and where to go, would be perplexing Questions, had not our beneficent Lessor offered us better and permanent Habitations.

I am glad you still are blessed with Health— may it long continue. To your Inquiries respecting ^mine^ I can say little more, than that it has long been gradually diminishing. My old Malady cleaves to me, and requires the most exact and temperate Regimen. I am feeble, but seldom suffer much acute pain, except occasionally from Rheumatism. For ten years I have not visited New York— nor for two years been five Miles from Home. I have nevertheless in every Respect more Reason to be thankful than to complain.—

The Death of an excellent Daughter last Spring,3 was an afflicting Event— and I felt it— convinced that her Happiness was augmented by it. I had no Reason to grieve on her account. I derived Consolation as well as Resignation from reflecting, that unerring wisdom had directed that Dispensation; and that I was still blessed with the surviving children, who (like their Sister) had never given me any other uneasiness than what had arisen from their Sickness or Afflictions.—

Considering the Times which have passed over us, I am glad you continued in office— might not Reports of some select Cases decided in your Court be useful; and would they not be more correctly prepared for the Press by yourself, than by others?

In my opinion you did well to abstain from Speculations— I thought so, and did so— It is I believe a just, and not a new Remark, that a p^r^oper Education and proper Habits, with a moderate Share of Property; form a better Provision for a Child, than that greater Degree of wealth, which not unfrequently leads the unexperienced to Idleness and its Results.—

I have looked into the Book which you had the Goodness to send me, and for which I thank you— I have read the address, and the notices for a young Farmer. They will do good. Altho unable to attend much to my own agricultural affairs, yet Books and Conversation on such Subjects entertain me. I wish I could give you a good account of my Tunisian Sheep—4 but the Dogs have put it out of my Power. I regret the Loss they caused, but I regret it less than another Loss which more nearly affects my Convenience. I allude to the Death of a favorite Mare, which I had rode for 23 years with great Satisfaction. She lately died suddenly and unexpectedly in the 29th. year of her age. She was the third in Succession which died in my Service.— The Grand-dam was given to me by my Father in 1765— That Circumstance associated with various others in attaching me to them.—

—Agricultural Societies are multiplying in this State. One has been formed in this County, and I am the nominal President; having only the Will and not the ability to render active Services. They have prepared a Representation to the Legislature respecting agriculture, and the Expediency of establishing an agricultural Society for the whole State.

The Traits of parsimonious and reluctant Commendation observable in some of your british Letters, give more Intelligence than the Writers meant to convey. As almost every vagrant Leaf we pick up, will inform us of the kind of Tree which produced it— so these Traits discover the Feelings which originated them. It is a Pity that such Feelings should exist. But they are the offspring of human nature, which is not what it should be, nor what it once was. That Britons should reflect on our former and present State and Condition, without Regret, without Mortification, and without apprehensions of Rivalry and perhaps of Danger, can hardly be expected. A Doubt whether Britannia will always “rule the waves”5 cannot have a welcome Reception in her mind. Our rapid Progress in Trade and navigation and the arts, cannot correspond with her Views and Wishes. The Strength resulting from our increasing Resources and Population, recommends a kind of Policy and a Degree of Accommodation, not congenial with the Temper and Propensities of such a nation. Superiors seldom see with Complacency, Inferiors rising towards Equality; and by means which may not improbably carry them beyond it. —There is nevertheless great Worth in Britain.

I have not seen Dr. Franklin’s Life. As he concurred in the opinion of Count De Vergennes, that we should proceed to treat for Peace with G. Britain without a previous admission of our Independence, he may in his own Mind have acquitted the Count of the Motives to which I ascribed his giving us that opinion; and also have considered his subsequent Explanations on that, and certain other Topics, as satisfactory. After my Return in 1784, I was informed of the Debate in Congress on the proposed Resolution which you mention. In my opinion Mr. Madison voted consistantly. I omit explaining this at present, for it cannot be done in a few Words. My Letter to Congress respecting the Negociation contained a full and correct Statement of Facts; many Years have since elapsed, but my Sentiments relative to the Policy adopted by France on that occasion, continue unaltered.6

In October last I was favored by Mrs. Hamilton with a visit. In the Course of Conversation she observed, that Dr. Mason’s Indisposition had prevented his proceeding to write the Life of Genl. Hamilton; and that she had recd. from him the Papers which had been put into his hands for that Purpose. Among other Topics, she spoke of President Washington’s Address, and said that the Draught was made by the General.7 I took the Liberty of remarking, that the General himself had told me, that the President had sent him a Draught. She replied, that she had seen the President’s Letter to the General about it, and that in it he desired the General to make any Alterations that he thought proper.— This certainly is very different from desiring him to compose one. In Case that Letter has been preserved, it will speak for itself. They were at that Time residing at Places distant from each other; and consequently their Communications on the Subject were doubtless epistolatory— I am induced to mention Mrs. Hamiltons Account of the President’s Letter, because it affords additional Evidence to confirm the Statement contained in my answer to yours about the Draught of that address.—

Not being apprized of my Son’s late Jaunt to Philadelphia, a Letter I recd. from him dated at that place, was unexpected—8 it mentioned your being from home, and the friendly Attentions he recd. from your Son. I am glad He saw Mrs. Powell, and wish he had also seen Mrs. Morris. I remember and feel the many Civilities with which myself and some of my near Connections were favored by her and her hospitable Family— Since the Death of Gouvr. Morris, I have heard of her very seldom—

But it is time to conclude— and I will do it by thanking you for affording me so agreable an occasion to assure you of the Esteem & cordial Regard with which I continue, Your Friend