Having heard much of your Discourse before the New York Historical Society, it gave me pleasure to recieve a Copy of it; and to find from the Direction that I owed it to your friendly attention.1 It abounds in interesting Remarks— The Diction is elevated throughout— perhaps in some Instances beyond the proportion which the Topics bear to each other. In Landscape we prefer Hill and Dale to a plain however ornamented; and in a Field of Eloquence it is agreable to behold Sublimities sloping down into attic Simplicity. I doubt the Correctness of saying that Franklin averted thunder bolts from Protected Dwellings. In my opinion the Invention of Steam-boats is a Subject on which it is less difficult the to say handsome than sublime things.— To me it does not appear Probable, that the Sight of them on asiatic waters, can so powerfully affect the Feelings of the Genius of Asia, as to impel him to bow with grateful Reverence, (not Gratulation) to the inventive Spirit of america— and that too, at the very moment when his Eye, glancing over the Ruins of Cities which for ages had concurred in proclaiming his Superiority in the Arts, must remind him of his Dignity— I make no appology for these Hints— you know what prompts them—2

Your Strictures on the Defects of History and the Causes of them, are well-founded. Whether future Historians with all their advantages, will excel their Predecessors in accuracy and Caution and Candor, is a point on which my

Expectations are not sanguine.— For my part I believe there neither is, nor will be, more than one History free from Error.

Of that History the Discourse has availed itself very ingeniously— deducing from it Lessons instructive to all, and new to many— I have often wished that the Accounts given in it of the primitive ages, had been more particular— we know but little about them; and our Curiosity must remain ungratified while no remain here— I say here, because when we join our ancestors, we shall doubtless learn from them all that we may wish to know respecting the affairs and Events of their Days. In this and other Respects I promise myself much Satisfaction from their Society; and that at a Period which cannot be very distant. The Term of my Lease has expired, and I have no Reason to expect that my continuing to hold over, will be of more than ordinary Duration.— It is consoling to reflect, that we Tenants are informed where and how we may go and settle in perpetuity; and are assured that our Possessions and Enjoyments there, instead of being precarious and transitory will be certain and permanent.

That you and I, and those who are near and dear to us, may be enabled to say with the Poet, but in a higher and better Sense— [“] omnes metus. Strepitumque Acherontis avari subjecit Pedibus”,3 is the fervent wish of Your affte. Friend

I hope our little Boy advances in Growth & Strength of Body and Mind}