To anyone but yourself my first words would utter murmurs of complaint for this long, unexpected and disagreeable silence; but as I am too well acquainted with your sentiments of affection & attention to your children to concieve that anything but adverse accidents could have produced this seeming neglect, I must only lament as a misfortune what I cannot censure as a fault. The great delight which accompanied the receipt of your last, only and very precious letter was so great that I then mistrusted what now I have experienced true that a frequent repetition of them would afford a too partial and continued succession of satisfaction at least to be expected, however avaricious I might be in desiring it; all the pleasure of anticipation which Hope assiduously treasures up through the week is repeatedly blasted every revolving post-day— I attend there with that watchful care which desire fraught with expectation and encreased by frequent disappointments will never fail to produce. Let then my impatience to hear from you joined to your readiness to gratify me, conquer even impossibilities, let it serve to refine invention and project a plan of conveying letters by ways yet undiscovered. I shall not attempt to accuse my sister, Mr. Washington or Brothers with neglect, conceiving that the same reasons have occurred to prevent them which you have experienced.

       I have morethan once expressed my happiness to you in being introduced to the most genteel company in Philadelphia, but I never knew until since you last heard from me the extant of that happiness— I had placed it in those advantages and amusements which I participated in a polite and agreeable circle; and now I find it heightened by all those pleasing sensations which a more intimate connection never fails to produce and concentered in the persons of two of the most valuable friends. As I am sure that you participate most intimately in whatever concerns me and that you [b]ehold the happiness of your children with that natural delight which flows from so intimate a connection, I cannot avoid giving you the description of a Family which I am bound to Love and respect by all the ties of sympathy and gratitude. The General was good (I may say in respect to myself) fortunate enough among many other families to introduce me to Mr. & Mrs. Powell. Whether from his particular recommendation of me to them, whether from their predelection for our family or whether from their natural and almost unparrelled goodness (excuse my Enthusiasm) I know not, but I was invited very shortly after to see them and thence commenced the most agreeable Intercourse I ever before experienced. Mr Powell is amongst the veriest Gentlemen in Philadelphia, he is polite from travelling, sensible, and lives in Taste— But his Lady—how shall I describe her? She is to speak dispassionately one of the sensiblest of her Sex that I ever was acquainted with. From a natural refinement of Genius, cultivated by education, tempered by prudence and polished by the best company you may now form an idea of a character which When I have added to the sweetest disposition needs nothing more to render it compleat— Do not Imagine that I have drawn a partial portrait of this Lady; she is what I have said of her, I only wish I may have done her Justice— my attachment to these two persons have drawn me into a digression from relating the causes of It, to a description of themselves— I had no sooner entered the house than the cordial reception of the one and the pleasing smiles of the other shone forth with such fascinating influence that I immediately imbibed a presentiment of the friendly attachment which I have been so happy in enjoying— I was told before I scarce knew the persons of my benefactors that I was to consider that house as my own— that ceremony must never accompany me to visit them but enter with all that unreservedness which would attend me at home— they assured me (and I instantly believed them for their words seemed uninfected with dissimilation) that there I should always find the open tender friend— there was more in this than mere assurance— their offers bore the genuine marks of sincerity and experience has since told me that I Judge aright. enabled by good sense added to observation and actuated by sentiments of benevolence they continue to add to all their other marks of favour a still greater and more valuable one and which is the most agreeable as it affords the most striking emblem of my parents. this is the best adress which is so beautifully expressed, so affectionately urged and so evidently explained that I require nothing more than a proper degree of prudence on my part to reap the pleasing fruits which must arise from purusing it— In short like my Guardian Angels every disaster, every probable snare which my inexperience in so large & mixt a theatre as this might draw me into is foreseen and I have the pleasing sensibility to find them pointed out to me to avoid— I . . . could write on so pleasing a subject untill the prolific source of Friendship was exhausted but the near approach to the end of this sheet forbids me to indulge myself longer. I must only inform you that through the means of this family I have been introduced to, and have dined at the Minister's of France who was not in town when the General was here.

       I had almost forgot the principal end in mentioning this family as more nearly concerning yourself— The other day, talking about you, (a favour which Mrs. Powell often indulges me in, from the pleasure she knows it gives me) she desired me whenever I wrote to you, to communicate her love, although she had not the pleasure of your acquaintance— this I am certain will create in you a simpathetic regard for . . ., who if from nothing more than her kindness to your Son who claims to be a part of yourself, is entitled to it— They have a faint idea of visiting the Virginia Springs this season— I always urge them to it from a desire which I have for her to see you— If you still intend to spend some time there you cannot demonstrate your affection for me more fully than by exerting your friendship and attention toward them, should they go which however they are yet doubtful of— please to inform me by the first opportunity whether you have given over or still intend to prosecute your visit to the Springs—when you sett of—how long you will stay &c. I forgot to inform you that this lady is a sister to Mrs. Bird in Virginia— I shall often perhaps have occasion to mention her in my future letters so that will prepare to finish the subject and the letter at present together— I shall embrace the earliest private opportunity to write a very long letter to Mr. Washington and my sister, to whom remember me with the sincerest love and affection— Doctr. Armstrong is in Town by whom I shall write to my brothers who I suppose by this time have returned to the Academy. My love to Milly My aunt Smith & children—The familys of Albany, Whitehall &c.— Miss and in short every acquaintance who has not forgot me— Be assured the sincerest sentiments of love and affection to yourself actuate Honoured Madam Your very dutyful Son