I arriv’d here the 12th Jany, after a Voyage, and Journey, exceedingly laborious, and disagreeable. Fourteen Days sooner, I could have had the Satisfaction, of seeing my Grandpappa. Why did I arrive later? I acknowledge the Fault. It will not bear Reflection: May the Lesson prove as useful as ’tis severe. I really deserv’d a harder Stroke, than Your friendly Reproach, which I receiv’d at Nantes. From the 16th Septr., to the 22d of Decr., I was floating between Nantes and Baltimore. I am now in Boston, having had my Degree of Batchelor of Arts, last Year. I expect to study 12 or 13 Months, as a Graduate, at Harvard College: then, to enter Judge Sullivan’s Office, as a Candidate for the Bar. My honoured Grandpappa has left Me one Third of his estate, the income of which, will, it is expected, with Oeconomy, compleat my Education; and at 21, set Me out handsomely in the world. Meanwhile, Sir, let me beg the continuation of your useful Correspondence; and though I may have been heedless, I still presume, to ask your good Advice. My future Behaviour will prove whether I deserve it.

As I know Ben would not receive an Apology for not writing to Him, I will not make One. A Letter, shortly, will be the best Method of appeasing Him. You have so many abler Correspondents, that it would be equally presumptuous and useless to write any thing concerning the state of Affairs; But, though many write with more Elegance, none can with more Gratitude, Esteem and Affection, than Your humble Servant,