Being at my Place in the Jerseys when your Letter arrived here, I did not get it ’till my Return to Town on Saturday.—It gives me great Pleasure to hear of your return to this Country, and it is not a little increased at finding that you have persuaded Mrs. Williams & Miss Christine to accompany you. I hope they still retain some friendship for me; as mine for them has suffer’d no diminution: of this I beg you will assure them also that I shall deem myself happy if I can in any way contribute to render this Country agreable to them.

Mrs: Hewson Dr. Foulke and myself have made Enquiries relative to the Country Lodgings you wish, but have fixt nothing, in Order that you yourself may determine on the respective situations, when you arrive here; or whether or not you will think it adviseable to go into the Country, the hot Season being already so far advanc’d.—In the meantime you can be well accommodated at Mrs. Hewsons.—

We have as you say my dear Friend, suffer’d a heavy Loss.—and so has Mankind!—But as he used himself to say, “it is the Tax we pay for having Friends & living long.”—This is a melacholly Subject—and the Discussion serves only to revive the most painful Ideas.—I leave it therefore to assure you, that I shall have great Pleasure in meeting you and my amiable Friends, & that I am as ever sincerely & affecly yrs.