Trenton October 24. 1799
My dearest Friend
Your favour of the 20th has been to Phyladelphia and came back to me only last night: nor was this the fault of the Post Office. The Letter was addressed to Phyladelphia. It gave me great Joy and relieved me from much anxiety. I had recd. no news of you since your Letter of 13 from Brookfield. We had a sharp frost last night. Ice this morning on a Tub of water at the Door, a quarter of an Inch thick. The Board of Health certify to Mr. Latimer that no pestilential Distemper prevails.... I shall be in no haste, however, to go in. I hope Brisler will be here soon. He may be accommodated at his old quarters at the ferry. It was fortunate that you had Mr. Otis's Company. My Cold is gone off. The kind Family where I am covered me with a bed of down, the finest Thing in the World. It has kept me warm, and with one Dose of Rhubarb and Calomel and another Medicine, which I will add to your Catalogue when I see you has cured me.
You will do well to cross the North River at the New State Prison, over to Hoebucken, where is a good house.
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You may come on as far as Vantelbourgs at Kingston when you please. I will meet you there at least. Let me know when you intend to set out. Dont travel far in a day.William has not escaped a Cold: but his, has been very light.
Our exclusive Federalists are almost as intollerant as the exclusive Patriots. Some of them are very wild. They are absolutely sure that the French Republick will come to an End and Louis 18 be restored before the New Year. If this should be the Case, of which however there is little more probability than there is that the End of the World will come this year, our Envoys may wait for new Credentials and Instructions.
I beg you would write me a Line every day. Tomorrow compleats our 35 years. Few Pairs can recollect so long an Union. How many more remain to be added to our Number? More or less they will witness the same fidelity & affection in
J.A.
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