(seq. 27)

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[fol.2v]

lately recieved from Eben. W is just, as I expected. After ex-
pressing his joy at the event, he gives her some truly fra-
ternal advice, to act with dignity in her station. I have raised
your expectation. You must gratify it by obtaining, if possible,
a copy of the letter.

I, last Tuesday, attended an Exhibition at Cambridge. The
assembly was larger & more brillant, than I ever recollect, on a sim-
liar occasion. The performances received unusual approbation. This
will not surprize you, when you are informed, that they were
not only good in themselves; but deeply tinged with the politics
of the day. Whole vollies of argument, sarcasm, & wit were
discharged at the poor Jacobins. It reminded me of ministers
preaching to their people, who constantly attend meeting, against
the practice of staying at home; as there was hardly one, de-
nominated a Jacobin, among the audience. The poet, however, did
venture to call the treaty partial; but he was rather a
heteroclite in politics, than a partizan. The Latin oration
by Pickering of Salem, tho poorly delivered, was written, I be-
lieve, in a style of uncommon elegance. The forensic by
Wells & Cabot on the subject, Whether an insolvent debtor
be absolutely dissolved from all moral obligation to discharge
a just debt, was little else, than wit opposed to sarcasm.
In a conference on the comparative influence of fame, wealth,
& knowledge, Tuttle, like a true Jonathan, unbridled every
nerve. Call to mind the eclat, with wh Braman's & Biglow's
commencement performance was received, & you have a par-
ial idea of the approbation here expressed. Woods' English ora-
tion was entirely political. By considering the effects of war, he
demonstated the misery, in wh, if entered into, it would involve
the United States. It was universally allowed to be well com-
posed. But there was more party spirit in this & the other
performances, than I should wish to hear. Besides, the charac-
ter of a politician is hardly to be acquired, in four years,
within the confines of a University. The intrumental
music by students was said by Prof. Pearson to exceed
what he had ever heard in Cambridge. This night I lodged
with Mr Popkin, &, the next day, rode with him to the ordi-
nation at Malden. There was a large collection of people, &
the performances were much admired. The paper will

[fol. 2r]

inform you of particulars. Mr Haven's sermon, tho, for the
most part, judicious, and well received, contained, in one in-
stance, a play upon words beneath the impartial character
of a clergyman. The idea was this. A treaty between you
[addressing the church & congregation] and your minister is
formed, &, I trust ratified in Heaven. And tho it may meet
the attacks of Satan, the grand disorganizer, it will doubtless
baffle the attempts of its enemies. Two years ago this
have been unexcptionable. But at the present crisis, as every one
immediately saw the allusion, it discovered an opposition to the
doctrines of him, whose kingdom is not of this world.

On a review of what is written, I find I have given you a jour-
nal. I will not recal a syllable; for such would have been my con-
versation, were you present. I might have written on literary sub-
jects; have proposed to you my difficulties in Butler; and have
exercised your yawning powers over a mess of dry sentiment.
But that would have tortured you , & perplexed me. I consider
you in your study poring over ethics & metaphysics, and engag-
ed in the difficult task mixing "utile cum dulci." Amid such
labors some respite of thought, some amusing speculation i[ ]-
[...] to invigorate the mental powers. At these seasons, but [ ]
[...]n it is absolutely necessary for recreation, you doubt [ ]
into the ideal world, & fancy the dear object of your affecti[ ]
side. In the character of a husband, a father, you shed s[ ]
love on Mrs. A. who, meanwhile, is dandling her Clarissa in her
arms. In the cool of the evening you are accompanying her to the
bower, recounting the beauties of the season, while the dull cares
of life are not suffered to intrude. Ther verdure of the meads,
the murmuring of the rills, the rustling of leaves; in short, the
whole variegated landscape conspire to afford you the most
pleasing subjects of contemplation. You are in Elysium. At this
moment the shadows of these pictures catch your eye, you are
roused from your reverie, and are about resolving never -----
But stop, my friend, before you draw your resolution. "A word to the
"wise is enough." Because every pleasure has its foil, will you forego
all enjoyment? Tis true a Newton, a Locke, & a Boyle trudged
thro' life's long journey. alone. But they are exceptions to nature's
lawr. Their ambition overcame their love. We know them only
by their works. They have been careful not to transmit a jour-
nal of their troubles, lest they should discourage posterity from
farther exploring the regions of science. But why need I ply ar-
guments in favor of a subject, which, doubtless, you have, by this
time, assumed, as a selfevident proposition? It is only for the pleasure
of removing those obstacles, wh shall never impede the happiness of your Philos.

P.S. Let me hear soon from your cous. [...]; & something about your next "annual visit" &c
Inclosed is what you desired me to tra[...]it you.

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