Gunston-Hall Septemr. 10th. 1792.
I have your Letter to-day, by Lewis; and am glad to hear you continue to enjoy good Health. I am very unwell myself, with an exceeding troublesome Cough; which a Night or two ago was so bad, as to entirely prevent my sleeping, it is a little better to-day, & I hope is wearing off. Mrs. Mason is much as when you left us; still unable to walk a Step; tho' I think she begins to gather more Strength in her Leg & Foot. Your Sister Betsy & your Brother William, have been both very ill, with the Fever of the Season: they are now better; having missed their Fevers, for the last two or three Days. Our Servants are almost all laid up with bad Fevers; there are not enough of them well, to take Care of the Sick. I hardly remember so sickly a Season.
I am glad to hear Colo. Mercer is likely to succeed in his Election. I don't wonder that the Speculators & Patrons of our iniquitous Money-System are opposed to him; they know that he will be a terrible Stumbling-block in their Way. Mr Campbell was greatly out in his Politics, when he attempted to encounter Mercer in Public. He shou'd have confined his Harrangues to the Absence of his Antagonist.
It some times happens, tho' very rarely, that the People can hardly make a bad Choice of a Representative; the very Reverse of this is the Case in Montgomerie District; each of the candidates (taking it for granted that they are the Authors of the Publications, in the George Town Paper, on the Subject) having pretty satisfactorily proved, that the other wou'd be a very unfit Representative of the People in Congress.
The Affairs of France seem to wear a more unfavourable Aspect, than ever they did; & I think there can be little Doubt of the Accounts being authentic.
You are quite right, in taking all the necessary Steps to be prepared for opposing the Project of a Bridge at the Rocks; without paying the least Regard to their seeming Indifference upon the Subject. I approve also of your intending to employ Colo. Simms, in our Actions of Trespass; for I think him the properest Person; even if he was not a Member of the Ensuing Session of Assembly.
Lewis carrys up your Mare, as you desired; tho' I think you had better have let her remain where she was; for upon examining her this Evening, I think she has mended as much as I ever saw any Creature, in the time. I have ordered Nace to take your sorrell Horse into his charge; he will fare much better with him, than with our careless Rascals at Gunston.
I wish you wou'd write to Mr. Anthony, to forward the Iron, &c. by the first opportunity. If you don't forward my little Certificate to Philadelphia soon; the time for subscribing will be out; I believe it expires the last of September.
I am, dear John, your very affecte. Father
P. S. I have not heard any thing from your Brother Tom, in answer to my Letter to him, about ten days ago; which I think somewhat extraordinary.