How could you suppose that I had forgot you; but you must have been convinced, and have repented of the thought almost as soon as formed, or else my letter to you has miscarried. You have conjectured right; I have been very busy ever since the first day on which I crossed the threshold of Congress; and not the less so in consequence of being without a colleague. I have not however negle[c]ted paying a little court, to a little lady,(2) that you will not be displeased with when you see
To-day is an idle day being Saturday, besides several of our gentlemen having gone to Philada. we could have no Congress were we even inclined to hold one. No doubt you hear many sarcasms on our removal. It was said by a wag the other day that Congress at Princetown were like fish out of water, they could only live in Philadelphia. They might be more aptly compared, said another, taking him up short, to the whale, that every now and then is obliged to rise to the surface of the water; as Congress men go to Philadelphia, in order to suck in fresh air and spout a little. Notwithstanding such jokes I can assure you that the atmosphere of this place is very wholesome; but then some persons think it extremely distressing not to be suffocated with the smoke of four or five thousand chimnies and the dust raised by nearly as many thousand carts and carriages. Besides we have here an excellent concert on every tree, which one can enjoy without going to the door; but this is likewise thought a poor substitute for the bells that are incessantly tolling to bury the dead. The want of asiatic dinners is another grievous complaint, and not to be compensated by the hospitable tables of plain healthy farmers, who placed at a distance from two large cities are as yet exempt from the [corr]uptions of either. For my own part, I am [ver]y well satisfied with the good lamb, mutton, beef, fouls, hams, beans and cabbages which the country affords in great plenty. But there is another reason for my being pleased. I lodge about a mile from Princetown at a Mr Taylors where there happens to be on a visit a very pretty quaker lady, who makes tolerable verse this verse-making quality is added -- bashfulness -- youth -- innocence -- good sense -- and good nature. You will think perhaps the people of the house as innocent as their visitor, inasmuch as they have taken the Lock off her room door and put it upon mine; although I cannot open mine without almost touching hers. But, sweet innocent! thou art not less safe than if thy door was bolted by iron bars of adamant and guarded by a dragon. Sleep therefore in peace and tranquil be thy slumber -- for hadst thou no protector in thine own virtue -- thou wouldst find one in my honor.
I hope this letter will convince you -- that I have not taken much pains to write it -- that I cannot tell you the price of cloth in Philad. --
FC (MdHi: McHenry Papers). In the hand of James McHenry.
1 William Hindman (1743-1822), a lawyer from Talbot Co. on Maryland's eastern shore, was serving with McHenry as a state senator and would join him as a delegate to Congress in 1785. See Bio. Dict. of Md. Legis., 1:444-45.
2 See McHenry to John Caldwell, July 16, note 1.
3 The Virginia Assembly's June 28 offer of Williamsburg as the permanent residence of Congress had heen read July 16. The offer entailed the use of "the Palace, the Capitol and all the public buildings and three hundred Acres of land adjoining the said city together with a Sum of money not exceeding one hundred thousand pounds this States Currency to be paid at five annual Installments and to be expended in erecting thirteen Hotels for the use of the Delegates in Congress." The assembly also proposed that Congress have jurisdiction over 25 square miles of land adjoining the city. The offer, which also included an alternate site on the Potomac River, was ordered to be copied and sent to the states. See JCC, 24:438n; PCC, item 46, fols. 55-58; and Elias Boudinot to the States, July 22, 1783.