Having now done with Public Affairs which have heretofore taken up so much of my Time, I shall endeavour to enjoy, during the small Remainder of Life that is left to me, some of the Pleasure of Conversing with my old Friends by Writing, since their Distance prevents my Hope of seeing them again.

I received one of the Bags of Sweet Corn you were so good as to send me a long time since, but the other never came to hand; even the Letter mentioning it, tho’ dated Dec. 10. 1787, has been above a Year on its way, for I receiv’d it but about two Weeks since from Baltimore in Maryland. The Corn I did receive was excellent, and gave me great Pleasure. Accept my hearty Thanks.

I am, as you suppose in the abovemention’d old Letter, much pleas’d to hear that my young Friend Ray is “smart in the Farming Way” and makes such substantial Fences. I think Agriculture the most honourable of all Employments, as being the most Independent. The Farmer has no need of popular Favour, nor the Favour of the Great. The Success of his Crops depending only on the Blessing of God upon his honest Industry. I congratulate your good Spouse that he as well as my self is now free from public Cares, and that he can bend his whole Attention to his Farming, which will afford him both Profit and Pleasure, a Business which no body knows better her to manage with Advantage. I am too old to follow Printing again my self, but loving the Business, I have brought up my Grandson Benjamin to it, and have built and furnish’d a Printing-house for him, which he now manages under my Eye. I have great Pleasure in the rest of my Grandchildren who are now in Number eight, and all promising, the youngest only 6 Months old, but shows signs of great Good nature. My Friends here are numerous, and I enjoy as much of their Conversation as I can reasonably wish; and I have as much Health and Chearfulness as can well be expected at my Age, now 83. Hitherto this long Life has been tolerably happy, (God grant it may so continue to the End) so that if I were allow’d to live it over again, I should make no Objection, only wishing for Leave to do what Authors do in a second Edition of their Works, correct some of my Errata. Among the Felicities of my Life I reckon your Friendship, which I shall remember with Pleasure as long as that Life lasts, being ever, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately