Boston Nov 21. My very good friend, Your obliging favor of the 22^d of Oct: was put into my hand before I got out of my [bed] this morning, and the moment I rise from my mornings repast I sit me down to express my gratitude to my obliging friend. I thank you my dear Sir for the attention you have paid to the inclosed, I thank you with my whole Soul, that is M^rs Murrays and my own. you could not have obliged my better half in anyway so much —— Yesterday! It sports amazing! but it serves to justify the old Proverb. — Great bodies move slowly — the General left us in great haste — but I find he has tarried till his hurry is over — I expected he would have been at home by this time —— I am happy in hearing our friend P— has returned to duty. I am glad I have a chance of hearing of him, since I cannot have the pleasure of hearing from him. And he thinks I should have ran away also — had I been there — it is very possible. but, had I done in Phil— as I did in this Town. Stood by the dying beds of many who was called away — it would not have proved that I was better than our friend P—. the truth of it is, we are both cowards, he was afraid to stay, and I was afraid to run away. I suspect he thought it was his duty to go, and I thought it was my duty to stay — so you see we are both very good sort of folks — he thought it was for his interest too his duty — so did I. how happy when we can see that our interest and duty coincide. — I have not, however, for many years been afraid of death — I have been for many years, rather willing to die — in this, by the way, I have no merit. I am dow[undecipherable]d by the very selfsame principle that man is governed by, who suffers torment in the fear of death — he thinks himself much better circumstanced where he is, and dreads the thought of leaving his present residence. I think I shall be infinitely better circumstanced in the state I am hastning to, and therefore long to leave the present. There is, my friend, a much greater similarity in the minds of men, than proud men are willing to acknowledge —— = Yes, my dear Sir, M^rs Murray has been in Town a considerable time, and anxiously looking for the intelligence you have had the goodness to forward. She begs you to accept her grateful acknowledgements. = So — you have got a Governor — much good may it do you — were you among the Rascality that opposed his promotion? if so — how you must feel! Shame must burn your cheek to cinder — yet, you will, I presume, console yourself by thinking your company will keep you in countenance — well — if you can derive consolation from this so much the better. You have something on this occasion to cheer you. P— Fever is gone — and the President returned — and your 'fellow Citizens by thousands' — may they never more be driven from their comfortable abodes by the same enemy. — I have lately thought much of a remedy — a preventive remedy — the warm Bath. There has been much said respecting the [underline: filth] of the Streets and Houses, but little said or thought of the filth of the Inhabitants — I have often thought that [there is] not in the world a country where heat in the summer months prevails, something so that Bathing is so little used — If you would in your city establish a number of [underline: Public Baths] in the summer — for the Inhabitants to resort to, and there have proper att[endance] — one — that the People may be washed, and cleansed from the filth which adhers to their Bodies — it would have a greater tendency to preserve their health than any thing that has ever yet been thought of. O that men were wise that they underst[ood] this! — So my dear Sir, mention this among the great — and the good — your families associates — and who knows but a small spark may kindle a great [fire?]. I pray you to present our respectful regards to your very amiable Lady, and to our [undecipherable] — and to believe me ever Your much obliged & devoted Servant John Murray Do pray tell me which of the [undecipherable] — Heads of Departments have resigned!!