TO THE REV. J. BOYER.
New-Haven.

I have executed your commi&longs;&longs;ion,
and been amply rewarded for my trouble, by
the plea&longs;ure I enjoyed in the &longs;ociety of the agreeable
family to which I was introduced; especially
of the amiable and accompli&longs;hed lady, who
is the object of your particular regard. I think
&longs;he fully ju&longs;tifies your partiality to her. She
appears to po&longs;&longs;e&longs;s both the virtues and the graces.
Her form is fine, and her countenance intere&longs;ts
us at once in her favor. There is a mixture
of dignity and ca&longs;e, which commands re&longs;pect,
and conciliates affection. After the&longs;e encomiums,
will you permit me to &longs;ay, there is an air
of gaiety in her appearance and deportment,
which favors a little of coquetry. I am persuaded,
however, that &longs;he has too much good
&longs;en&longs;e to practi&longs;e its arts. She received your letter
very graciou&longs;ly, a&longs;ked leave to retire a few
moments; and returned with a &longs;mile of complacency
on her brow, which I con&longs;true favoraably
to you.

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There was a Mr. Laurence, with his lady and
daughter, and a certain Major Sanford, at the
hou&longs;e. The latter, I believe, in the modern
&longs;en&longs;e of the phra&longs;e, is much of a gentleman, that
is, a man of &longs;how and fa&longs;hion.

Mi&longs;s Wharton a&longs;ked me, when I &longs;hould leave
town, and when I &longs;hould return, or have an opportunity
of conveyance to Hamp&longs;hire? I told
her I &longs;hould write by the next po&longs;t, and if &longs;he
had any commands, would be happy to execute
them. She would &longs;end a line to her friend, &longs;he
&longs;aid, if I would take the trouble to inclo&longs;e it in
my letter. I readily con&longs;ented; and told her,
that I would call and receive her favor to morrow
morning. This chit-chat was a little a&longs;ide;
but I could not but ob&longs;erve, that the fore&longs;aid
Major Sanford had dropped his part in the conversation
of the re&longs;t of the company, and was
attending to us, though he endeavored to
conceal his attention, by looking carele&longs;sly over
a play, which lay on the window by him. Yet
he evidently watched every word and action of
Mi&longs;s Wharton, as if he were really intere&longs;ted in
her movements.

It is &longs;aid &longs;he has many admirers, and I conceive
it very po&longs;&longs;ible that this may be one of
them; though, truly, I do not think that &longs;he
would e&longs;teem &longs;uch a conque&longs;t any great honor.
I now joined in the general topic of conversation,
which was politics. Mrs. Richman and
Mi&longs;s Wharton judiciou&longs;ly, yet mode&longs;tly bore a
part; while the other ladies amu&longs;ed them&longs;elves

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with Major Sanford, who was making his &longs;age
remarks on the play, which he &longs;till kept in his
hand. General Richman at length ob&longs;erved,
that we had formed into parties. Major Sanford,
upon this, laid a&longs;ide his book. Mi&longs;s Laurence
&longs;impered; and looked as if &longs;he was well
plea&longs;ed with being in a party with &longs;o fine a man;
while her mother replied, that &longs;he never meddled
with politics; &longs;he thought they did not belong
to ladies. Mi&longs;s Wharton and I, &longs;aid Mrs.
Richman, mu&longs;t beg leave to differ from you,
madam. We think our&longs;elves intere&longs;ted in the
welfare and pro&longs;perity of our country; and, consequently,
claim the right of inquiring into tho&longs;e
affairs, which may conduce to, or interfere with
the common weal. We &longs;hall not be called to
the &longs;enate or the field to affert its privileges, and
defend its rights, but we &longs;hall feel for the honor
and &longs;afety of our friends and connections,
who are thus employed. If the community
flouri&longs;h and enjoy health and freedom, &longs;hall we
not &longs;hare in the happy effects? if it be oppreff-ed
and di&longs;turbed, &longs;hall we not endure our
proportion of the evil? Why then &longs;hould the
love of our country be a ma&longs;culine pa&longs;&longs;ion only?
Why &longs;hould government, which involves
the peace and order of the &longs;ociety, of which
we are a part, be wholly excluded from our observation?
Mrs. Laurence made &longs;ome &longs;light reply
and waved the &longs;ubject. The gentlemen
applauded Mrs. Richman's &longs;entiments as truly

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Roman; and what was more, they &longs;aid, truly
republican.

I ro&longs;e to take leave, ob&longs;erving to Mi&longs;s Wharton,
that I &longs;hould call to morrow, as agreed.
Upon this, Gen. Richman politely reque&longs;ted the
favor of my company at dinner. I accepted
his invitation, and bid them good night. I &longs;hall
do the &longs;ame to you for the pre&longs;ent; as I intend,
to morrow to &longs;cribble the cover, which is to inclose
your Eliza's letter.