[undecipherable] duties, always [undecipherable] accompanied by good reasons; [undecipherable] but [undecipherable] [undecipherable] competent and sufficient reasons for not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] entered [undecipherable] [undecipherable] ought to have been performed long since; however, I hope you will excuse me [undecipherable] allowing that you have so much good nature, and kind consideration, that I make no ceremony of imposing upon it, always anticipating forgiveness — I beg you will accept my sincere thanks for your very polite and friendly expressions, I assure you, your letter gave me infinite pleasure, and I often entertain myself with reading it over. — I was very sorry sometime since to learn that you were very ill, but the clouds of regret have been chased away by the bright sunshine [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on your recovery. I sincerely hope you will have no return of your indisposition, and that yourself and family may enjoy uninterrupted Health [undecipherable] ha[ppiness] — That cruel malady the Yellow Fever has driven you from Philadelphia I hear, it is a most unfortunate circumstance for the poor Philadelphians, many who are now obliged to fly from that distressed City, will probably be prevented from returning, by the fear of the Yellow [undecipherable] the Standard for me, has [undecipherable] [undecipherable], the Dragoon, and [undecipherable] Dover; I assure you it begins to be a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] which oblige me to no motions by end [undecipherable] reach a dire event be; My Troop are all uniformed to [undecipherable] standard, which they are determined to defend with a [spirit] never excelled, even in the annals of Chivalry added in the earliest [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] — I am afraid their patience which is already [undecipherable] will be entirely worn out if it is much longer delayed, and not having Conquer or Die before their eyes, their patriotic [undecipherable] nor [undecipherable], changed for calculations of [underline: Loss] and [underline: Gain], and a resolution that it is better to stay at [underline: Home] and make money in Peace which depends upon the caprice of a Foreign Nation, than to fight for their insulted Country and a continuation of their Independence, gain Honor and [underline: Glory] [undecipherable] open their [undecipherable], and lose — their Heads. — I will here take the liberty of informing you that this Motto to you order [undecipherable] [undecipherable]niquundary has no enigmatical meaning whatever, affixed to it, it is simply this in the literal translation "Never give up whilst life remains, or [underline: Die] rather than be conquered." — I never intend to be a [undecipherable] to die of mortification on any account, and more particularly, for the cause you apprehend I mean. The ten thousand Knights whom I [undecipherable] [undecipherable] city persuade [undecipherable] you to inform that my inclinations are [undecipherable] table, & not murderous and money loving; of my [undecipherable] chains, as they are forged by themselves, and worn voluntarily, the Devil be upon their own Heads, and the consequences, however [undecipherable] di able they may prove to them. The beautiful and inexorable Marcellus was unjustly accused, I think her answer to the charges brought against her on Chrysostom's count is excellent — "Heaven you say has given me beauty, nay, and a share of it, as compels you to love me, in spite of your resolutions to the contrary; from whence you draw this inference, and insist upon it, that it is my duty to return [undecipherable] upon [undecipherable]. By the help of the small capacity which Nature has bestowed upon me, I know that which is [undecipherable] is [undecipherable]; but I can no means conceive, why the object which is [undecipherable] for any [undecipherable] is bound to be enamoured of [undecipherable] to consider, that I did not choose the beautiful [undecipherable], and [undecipherable] God was [undecipherable] at his own [undecipherable] ing [undecipherable], to bestow it [undecipherable] without consolation on my part. To strips of [undecipherable] for used in our time, I am indebted to [undecipherable] noble [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] no doubt I shall be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] is [undecipherable] I am very anxious to see [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the Troop but [undecipherable] [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] [undecipherable] enemy. — If you [undecipherable] spare a few moments from the multiplicity of [undecipherable] business with which you are encompassed, you will oblige me infinitely by a hint on this subject, with information relative to its progression and when I may expect to receive it — My beloved [undecipherable] sends [undecipherable] [undecipherable] regards to M^rs McHenry, yourself and Children my [undecipherable] [undecipherable] unites in respects and affection all [undecipherable] to the same — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Eleanor Parke Custis [undecipherable] McHenry