I cannot let my first ship go without dropping you a few lines—Jona. woud inform you of my arrival of the severity of the Winter, and of my Journey to Philadelphia which was necessary for settling a plan for conducting my money transactions which I did to my Satisfaction. I had the pleasure of Seeing your amiable Daughter Grand Children and Mr. Bache, and received every mark of kindness from all of them—Your Town pleases me much, not merely on account of the regularity of the streets, but the seeming energy of the Inhabitants, in a word The Congress may Set where it pleases but Philadelphia is, and always will be the Capital of America—with regard to my business I have met with all the obstructions I expected and some that I coud not forsee, particularly there is a want of order and economy in business in this State, that exceeds all Imagination—a Man must literaly do what Poor Richard Advises, to have any thing done he must go, judge what follows from this for a person whose business must Lye equally on the four great rivers, and over an Extent of 50 leagues on each of these rivers, with a very little time I hope however to have my machine mounted, to go with tolerable regularity of Some Advantage, what can be done for a little time will be merely to keep afloat, without dammage to the Con   this I think we shall do in all events.

I have on mature deliberation fixed myself here for the present, it is pretty Centrical, the seat of Government and of the weekly post, but I am obliged to Contrive posts for my own business, and when I begin vigourously, must keep 7 or 8 horses running Constantly backward and forward.

The difficulties I have to encounter give me time to Lay my plan in such a way as will require less mending than if we had been hurried at first.

I have been very well received by the Governor and have got acquainted and even Connected with all the Ingenious Men in this state, who make any figure, Except Mr. Jefferson and two or three more yet absent—In a word If my Constitution will stand this Climate, I can live here agreeably But unless necessity were to oblige me, woud not think of bringing out my Family—were Philadelphia my residence I certainly woud. At present I consider myself as in another world, and wish to forget every thing in the old one, but my Friends and my Business.

I have met with Many very Ingenious and Worthy Men in whose Society I coud pass my life with pleasure—Amongst the old race Col Geo: Mason and Mr. With surprised me, And there are young Men getting Forward who will yield to their predecessors in Nothing—Mr. Madison, must soon have a considerable weight in this state, or in any state in which he is Employed—

Your old Colleague Arthur Lee is sent to treat with the Indians, He is at present neither in Congress nor assembly—

I beg to be remembered to your Grandson and secretary and all our Friends with You—I hope my boy gives you and Him Satisfaction—I was pleased with His letter to Williams about the Baloons, I sent it to Dr. Foulke and it helped to make one, which he had begun upon my Information—I think the Dr will Succeed in his Business which is still more material. He and his Family did every thing possible to render my stay in Philadelphia agreeable. You have got a New Colleague of whom fame Speaks highly—You will learn that we are limiting our Foreign trade to a few points in the Bay—This will soon make Norfolk a great Mart and will I think be of general Service and of advantage to us. Let me know my Dear Sir if I can be usefull to you or yours in this Country and believe me unalterably My Dear Sir Your most devoted humble Servant