[Address panel: Samuel Hodgdon / Philadelphia; postal marking: BOSTON; postage: 20; received stamp: Received from State Dep't. Nov. 24, 1894. R.E.O. 401810.; filing number: (63)] Boston March 19. 1799 My greatly valued Friend, your obliging favor of the first of this Inst. is now before me — you judged justly on the business you advert to — I believe events has generally justified your opinion — Why, how rich must our country be — more than fifteen Millions subscribed! astonishing — and how amazingly Patriotic our Citizens are, how much they have the good of their country at heart. what charming circumstances we are in. I do not recollect that young Tunno takes any notice of this in his last speech and dying words by the way — I wish there was not so much truth in that closing piece [undecipherable] I wondered much to hear so much truth said of news papers by an Editor — I confess I have had the same opinion of news papers for a long season, but I despaired of ever seeing it in print. I had no more idea that the printer of a paper would tell the truth, than that a practising Physician would say that, doctors in general, kill more than they cure: but I remember I once heard a Doctor, who was leaving off business, make this declaration — and I found on going on with M^r Tunno, he was in similar circumstances. I am not sure that this same young Gentleman ever drew this picture, I conceive it was drawn for him. I know not what object the writer had in view in giving it. but I conceive it can answer no good end. it can make the lovers of their country unhappy and give no [undecipherable] triumph to its enemies. they will unquestionably say — there, so would we have it. In fact I consider this same M^r. Tunno, as the Publisher of this piece. A bad bird. I look on the whole of that piece a libel not against one, or another, but against the whole of our Pollis, and Rules — and you know it is affirmed by the greatest men who has written on the doctrine of Libels — that truth is no justification for the Libeller. if, therefore, his Publisher escapes a Prosecution, it is on this principle, that one murder, makes a villain, ten thousand a Hero. I thank you my obliging Friend for the letter you have done me the favor to inclose. I have presented your Respects to my better half — she received them as she does every thing from you with grateful pleasure. she was, however, much at a loss to know what you meant by the Royal Shipment you intend in a few days to make, to my Relation, and your Friend — I told her the Relation and the Friend would be none other than the Governor and by the Royal Shipment was undoubtedly intended a great deal of very good things he was going to send by the way of new orleans. now see by this, my dear [Sir?], how our worthy friend feels respecting Royalty. every thing good, and great, in his estimation is Royal — truth you see, will be uppermost. However said I, as you and I, my dear, feel a most sincere affection for this very worthy man — and as we do not in our hearts like him any the less for his prejudice in favor of Royalty — we will not say any thing of the discovery we have made in the presence of any of those ironical creatures, who, bad themselves, may think bad of him. or if, knowing him, they would not think bad of him — yet, as they are in the habit of speaking what they do not think — we had better, should we be so unfortunate as to fall in the way of any of them [strikethrough: to] say nothing of this matter — so, my dear Sir, you see you may say what you please — I thank you, my valued Friend for the honest — fervent concluding Petition on my behalf. I wish you and yours from my full soul very good. I pray you to present my most respectful regards to your amiable Lady and to believe me when I assure you that I am your ever obliging Friend and devoted Servant John Murray Ps Before I close, or make up my letter. Let me ask you what am I to think of this business from Charleston. I wish the first Publisher had not shewn his wit by bringing in the Tale of Tub from Swift — in thus playing of his wit — or playing the fool — he has given our enemies something to laugh at and to turn the whole into ridicule — I wish you would let me know as much as you think may be known about it. Last night I had an account from [undecipherable: Portsmouth?], that consequent on the account arriving [here?]. The Federal interest triumphed and the Anti's are all [undecipherable: cast?] out. this must gall Johnny Langdon