I received the second Box of Soap, which appears very firm and very good, I am much obliged by the Pains you have taken to humour me in that Matter.

You need not be concern’d in writing to me about your bad Spelling: for in my Opinion as our Alphabet now Stands, the bad Spelling, or what is call’d so, is generally the best, as conforming to the Sound of the Letters and of the Words. To give you an Instance, A Gentleman receiving a Letter in which were these Words, Not finding Brown at hom, I deliverd your Meseg to his yf. The Gentleman finding it bad Spelling, and therefore not very intelligible, call’d his Lady to help him read it. Between them they pick’d out the meaning of all but the yf, which they could not understand. The Lady propos’d calling her Chambermaid; for Betty, says she, has the best Knack at reading bad Spelling of any one I know. Betty came, and was surpriz’d that neither Sir nor Madam could tell what y, f was; why, says she, y, f spells Wife, what else can it spell? And indeed it is a much better as well as shorter Method of Spelling Wife, than by Doubleyou, i, ef, e, which in reality Spells, Doubleyifey.

Your Grandson is well and behaves well. The Family also is all well. There is much Rejoicing in Town today, it being the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which we sign’d that day Ten Years, and thereby hazarded Lives and Fortunes. God was pleas’d to put a favourable End to the Contest, much sooner than we had reason to expect. His Name be praised. Adieu. Your affectionate Brother