The very severe attack which was made by the last Summer on the Health of my Son,1 so compleatly alarmed his Mother, that she has readily consented to part with him for a few Years, and after thoroughly considering the Subject, New York is fixed on as the Place of his residence. When Mr: Izard2 was on the Eve of leaving us, my time was so totally occupied with Mrs: Rutledge,3 whom we then thought at the Point of Death, but who is now recover’d, that it was impossible for me to write to you: I therefore gave him a Memorandum, and requested him, if he found any difficulty in carrying my Scheme into Effect, to consult with you, as I had every reliance on your friendly aid. My Plan was, to get my Son placed if possible, in the House with Dr: Johnston,4 whom I wished to take on himself the charge of his Education: and to effect this Plan, I authorised Mr: Izard to make the Doctor an offer of what I thought a liberal, pecuniary Compensation. This he has done; & from his Letter to me, I think my offer will be accepted. The only obstacle in the way was, his living in the House with the Doctor, and the Doctor’s objection to that, was the want of Room. This Mr: Izard thought would be accommodated. Indeed, his living in the House with his Preceptor, is with me, an essential Point; because, it is from an attention to the Morals, & the Conduct of my Son, that I expect the most solid, & important Advantages. You know it is my Opinion that, the Foundation of Happiness, must be laid in Virtue. I was therefore determined to give my Boy a fair Chance for that Blessing, by placing him, under the immediate Care of a Gentleman, who is universally well spoken of. It is possible that, at less expence, I might have got some learned Villain, to have driven as much Latin in to his Head as the Doctor; but, he might have driven at the same time, an equal portion of Vice into his, at present, innocent Heart; and I might have added one more unworthy Character, to the many with which we are surrounded. It was my Duty therefore, to guard against such a misfortune, as far as it could be guarded against, by human Prudence. This, I am about to do: and should I meet with an unequal Return, I shall at least have the Consolation, tho’ I confess it will be a melancholy one, of having merited a better Fate— I think from Mr. Izard’s Letter that, there is little doubt of his being placed with Dr Johnston, but as it is at all times fit to guard against accidents in Matters of Importance, I have requested Mr: Izard in the Event of Dr: J’s not agreeing to take him, to apply to you for your advice and assistance in fixing him with some proper Person: and I rely most implicitly on your good Offices.

I rejoice to find that we are likely to have something which resembles a Government. But with all the fair appearances there must be a considerable lapse of Time before an efficient one is firmly established.

In this State two Causes contributed very much to impede the operation of Government: one was the importance which a considerable Number of Individuals assumed for the Services which they had rendered whilst the Enemy were in the Country. The State of things in this part of the Continent rendered it necessary to act, not a little, without Control. We had here too many Commanders in Chief, and they found it very difficult to fall back into the Ranks. The other Cause was, the immense debt which was owing from all Descriptions of Men: and this made it extremly inconvenient to most People to submit to a regular Government. If, in Republics the general Sense of the Community, I mean the Sense of Feeling, is against the operation of Laws, it is almost impossible to coerce obedience. And I am as convinced as I am of my Existence that if we mean to preserve the Tranquillity of our States we must devise some Method to prevent our People from running into debt. It is to little purpose to tell us, that Credit will be the Life of Commerce: With us, it has been a Monster, that has shaken the Foundations of Government & blighted the Honor of our Citizens. Nor will the opening as it is called, of the Courts of Justice ever so wide afford the expected relief. There is no body of military Men in existence to enforce an obedience to the Laws; and to suppose that Neighbours and Fellow Debtors will execute the Laws for the Benefit of Creditors, is to imagine a vain thing. It is the Duty therefore of wise Men, to Prevent the Evil, & this can only be done by some regular, uniform System. I sincerely pray it may be in our day, for I believe we both wish much for Peace & Honor to our Country.

Mrs: Rutledge desires me to present her affectionate Compliments to Mrs: Jay & yourself— and I am my dear Friend as ever your affectionate & obliged