After having so often neglected to write you for some time past rather from necessity than inclination, and from a sense of your goodness in forgiving me, and in admitting those excuses which one less generous would have been more tenacious of, I am determined to shew myself not entirely unworthy of your benevolent disposition towards me, by omitting to embrace any opportunity which can afford safety to my Letters— I say, safety, because I never can meet with any conveyance which goes nearer to you than Fredg where they are necessarily left to the conduct of Chance, and often I believe become the victims of an ungenerous Curiosity— I shall write by every fortnight's post to Papa, and by every private opportunity which can gives me hopes of your getting them— I Received a packet the other day enclosing a number of Letters from you and Papa. They were all of old dates, but being written by you, were nevertheless very agreable presents.

     By this time I hope I may venture to congratulate you on your return to, and peacable enjoyment of Bushfield. I know how happy domestic employments make you— There is no one who feels more delight in the little intercourses of social life, whether they be considered in the relation of Connubial affection, maternal fondness, Neighbourly attentions or as the mistress and parent of your domesticks— Bushfield the little paradise of your local attachment feels the constant advantages of your munificent hand— The pleasure you take in adorning it, can only be equalled by the taste displayed after it is done— Mrs Shippen from a similar passion of Gardening, often reminds me of you[.] She has a small Spot not larger than one square of your Yard, tho' by no means inconsiderable in Philadelphia— On this she lavishes both taste and attention, and really she has, or rather will make it a beautiful landscape in Miniature. She often takes me to this object of her affections, (for I do not think the word prostituted by the application) and whilst she is pointing out the beauties of the variegated blossoms, and the virtues of each tree and shrub, I almost forget where I am, and think I hear you talk— Her enthusiasm is as great as yours, and I should think greater if she can take as much pleasure in objects less deserving than those which engage your attention.

     I was the other day made very happy— I would ask you to guess the cause of it, but I am sure you cannot, although after you have heard it, you will say it was very natural— The Heat became so disagreable in the City, that I was compelled to seek some relief in the Country Breezes— I rode three or four miles from Town, and at last determined to alight at a very genteel house which I discovered, rather from an incapacity to proceed farther <illegible> the Heat, than from design— I was very politely recieved, and experienced all I could desire from hospitable attention and refreshing Zephirs— In short I concieved that I was too happy to admit an increase— but I was decieved and most agreably so— I had not yet seen the Lady of the House. at length she appeared, and presented to my Eyes the very strong resemblance of your dear self— Pleased to discover a personal likeness, I was anxious to know whether your manners were the same— I was not without a subject, and the longer I conversed the more I was gratified In what I so much longed for— I knew not when to depart, and at last when decency oblidged me to take the step, I was pleased to recieve a very polite invitation to retire to their seat as often as my convenien[c]e would admit. Their goodness on this occasion did but anticipate what I was Just about to request— I have been out once since, and mean to go often— These little Circumstances when they occur, contribute much to sweeten life, and they communicate that Kind of happiness which is easier to be felt than expressed— They sometimes have the appearance of romance; but they are not the less agreable, because although we discredit these things, as wonderful, when related to us by others, yet when we ourselves are the actors we cannot resist the impulse of our own feelings.

     Have you recieved Mrs Powel's Letter? If you have, I dare say you may read the woman in a few sentiments— I wish you did but know her as well as myself, I am sure you would love her as much— my friendship for her encreases every day, I wonder where it will end— She tells me of every foible which she discovers in me, and from thence takes the opportunity of correcting them— You would laugh sometimes to hear her reproving me for my choice in cloaths— The other day I had bought a watch string and thought it faultless— However she differed in opinion, and laughed it out of Countenance— The next day she sent for me and presented me with a very elegant one, and desired me to keep it for her sake— And I will too, for I hold it to be inestimable— You see I cannot help talking to you over and over on the same subject— You will, you must excuse me— The friendship I feel for her And Mr Powel is so much like the Love I bear for you & Papa, that to mention them excites these two sentiments.

     Do you go this season to the Springs? I imagine that after so long an absence from Home, You will find it inconvenient to leave it again so quickly— If this should be the Case, I hope you will not go on my account— In some of your last, you mention that a desire to see me alone, would be an inducement for you; but beside giving it as my opinion that the fatigue of such a Journey, (particularly if attended with inconvenience) would hardly be repaid by my Company, I do not think that it will be in my power to meet you— I thought last summer, that by this season I should be enabled to spare time enough for such a Journey, but when the time comes I find that such an interruption would be very material— I must therefore summons all my powers of self denial, and try patiently to wait untill I can not only visit you, but remain with you— This will be I hope in 10 or 12 Months at most— You may be assured that I shall try to make the time as short as possible, by endeavouring to reach the object of my pursuit by as rapid strides as I can make.

     I am waiting anxiously for an opportunity to send you my picture— I will trust it only to a water conveyance— Whether it is from the superior skill of the painter, from an attention which he paid to it in particular, or whether from a degree of chance mix't with design, I know not, but it is said by all who see it, to be amongst the finest pieces of Painting in Philadelphia— It is at Mr Powels at present, and perhaps it will remain there untill I have an opportunity to send it to You— It cost me Just £18.10.

     In one of those letters which I recd the other day from you of a very old date I discovered a circumstance which had before puzzled me— It was there that you desire me to purchase a pair of stays, and as you requested in one of a later date, tho' it came first to ha[n]d that I would not purchase them, I was afraid that I had been guilty of neglect— but I am happy to find that it was not my fault; but rather my misfortune in not recieving your letter in proper time— This is the reason I did not purchase your stays before you[r] letter came to countermand it, for I would have bestowed the last shilling rather than not to have sent them— Before you get this, I suppose my brothers will have left you, therefore it is useless to write or to desire to be remembered— I am Hond Madam Your very dutyful & affte Son.