My dear Child:

I recieved yours of ye 3d of September on ye 25 of Decembr. Lewis sent it to me from York, and at ye end of his letter tells me the cart had Just Brought him a box marked L M and desired to know what he should do with it. One would think there was no need of such a question: however I wrote to him to send it to me. I have allso wrote to Robin on ye same score, who is at York, & sent to him your letter directed to him w'ch came to my hands in his absence. I sent both these letters to New York by undoubted safe hands, but as yet I have heard no more of the box, nor know not what is in it nor by w't ship it came, nor what freight is to pay for it, otherwise than by a small scrap of paper enclos'd in your letter which is as follows viz

To paid Clark for sundry books sent	11	6	0
To Durand & Confer water plates	4	0	0
To a Case 3 sh and Charges	0	15	6
To a steell truss	2	2	0
.	18	3	6

This neither tells me what the books are, nor the number of water plates, nor what the charges are for, nor by whom sent, nor what freight I am to pay; so that I know not where or of whom I am to Enquire concerning it, but am very much in the Dark about it.

The case is much the same about the beer you were so kind as to say you would send, & which you write me you have sent, in a Vessell Chartered to sail in Aprill but waited for Convoy till the End of July or beginning of August: But having no bill of Lading nor any manner of account, either from you or any body else what ship the beer was put on board, nor where bound, know not whether she is arriv'd or not, nor when nor how to get any information about it: no such thing as yet being come to hand nor any account about it, but that in your letter which I believe upon second thought, you will think a very imperfect one. I know very well that it is time of war, that ships notwithstanding their being Chartered are subject to the restraint of Princes, that they may be much longer before they leave their Port than expected: and when they have left it may be taken by the Enemy or Lost: But unless some method is taken to let us know what ship it is, things are shipped on board of, (whether taken, or lost, or arriv'd) we are in the dark; and know not how to Enquire any thing concerning it, for which reason the mercantile men have severall bills of Lading signed & sent by severall Conveyances, & if you or any body else had sent me one of these in Either of these cases, I should have known how to Enquire about it w'ch at present I do not.

While I am writing this, Mr Read our deputy secretary, Come in & on Enquiry what ships were Chartered to leave England in Aprill, tells me that one Seamour & one Mesnard were both Chartered to leave England at that time. Seamour arriv'd some time in November last, but that Mesnard did not leave England till some time in August and arriv'd in Philadelphia about a week since. By him I receiev'd a packet from our Agent Partridge, but have no account of any things sent in Mesnard to me Either from yourselfe or Mr Saint. I have directed Read to Enquire about it. ***

Your mother is sometimes very ill *** the last attack she had was in September w'ch we all fear'd would carry her off, but since she has been very Easie. ***

She has been my Constant Companion in my Chamber, w'ch I have been forc'd to keep for nigh two months and keep it still. I was taken ill in August last in my Journey to Amboy to meet the Assembly, Occasioned as I Judg'd by Eating some oysters out of season. This kept me two or three days at Mr Antill's, but I got so far over it as to meet the Assembly at Amboy; and at their desire upon their faire promises, adjourned them to Burlington. [He further narrates his ailments -- but under treatment had become better]; & by the help of flip w'ch Governr Clinton (by Lewis who came to see me) recommended, as what prov'd beneficiall to Commr Kempthorne, I was (as myselfe & most thought) in a pretty faire way of recovery. But having all this while to do with an Ignorant perverse and obstinate Assembly who, notwithstanding their faire promises, Came predetermined to do nothing, I was forc'd to dissolve them, and being oblig'd on that occasion to go down staires got a most violent Cold & Cough w'ch held me long & reduced me to skin & bones; but I got over that, and have for some time pass'd eat wth a pretty good appetite & have recovered some flesh and strength; but have got a fresh Cold but am as yet without loss of appetite and there is hopes of my recovery.

Your mother is my Affectionate & Constant nurse, & it is well for me that she is able to Endure it. She is in good health and looks fresh & well. She cannot sit down to write but desires to be affectionately remembered to you, and is allwayes glad to heare that you are well; & she cannot be more so than I am & shall be when I heare of your heath.

I hope this will find Sir John and his Lady in good health in the midst of these troublesome and turbulent times. If I have time I will write to him by this Conveyance.

Your brother Robin is at York. Both your brothers and sisters are well and Continue dutifull & affectionate to their Parents. I intend to recommend this to the Care of Mr. Saint, and with it will send a representation made to me by the Councill & I hope you will take Care that he is at no Expence for postage. By this representation you'll guess at the State of our affaires. I shall meet, if my health permits, a new Assembly this Spring; but if they Continue the resolutions of the past not to suport the Government unless their termes are comply'd with, of making 40,000 pounds current in bills of Credit, the Governmt is like to Continue without support, & I must be forc'd to remove to Tinton and live as well as I can unless the Ministry interpose to reduce them to their duty. This they may, and I think it their interest to do so. But that they will do is hardly expected tho' much hoped for, and desired by, my dear Child,

Your Affectionate father, L. M.

P.S. Janry 26th. I last night reciev'd the box I mentioned, marked L M from Brunswick, in which was a parcell of Corks, a box of Salt peter, a bible for peggy & the Spring truss, these I sent for. There was allso 8 box combs & a comb tray; who these belongs to I know not. But there was no water plates, nor books, as mentioned in your letter, and I know not where they are nor where to enquire about them. I do not remember my writing for any box combs, tho' I did Intend to do it; therefore if these box combs are for any body else let me know, that they may be sent to the right owner, & send me a dozen of the best box combs and a comb brush: let ye combs be the best and finest that are made, and some better care taken to let me know who they come by than there has been about the other things said to be sent.

P. Script. March 19th 1744. This letter was sent to goe by the Queen of Hungary, one Hilton master, who is not yet gone, but will saile some time this month. Betty has sent for the combs and has them. I am so far recover'd that I Intend to meet our Assembly at Amboy ye 28th of this month. The family here and at Morrisania are well. Your mother gives her blessing.

Yours, L.M.

This duplicate goes by Mesnard from Philadelphia.