88

    To Sarah Savage Thatcher

    Philadelphia        20 February 1793

    My dear

    In yours of the 2d instant, you tell me every body seems to be set against our friend [Thomas B.] Waite, & desire me to tell you what I think of the cause that has made the Lawyers & others displeased with him—I am not enough acquainted with facts to make up a Judgment between friends—I am extremely sorry for what has taken place, & was very much hurt, as I have heretofore wrote you,1 at discovering such continued efforts, in Waites paper, to stur up a general odium against Lawyers2—I am inclined to think that Lawyers are pretty much like all other descriptions of people; there are good & bad individuals in that class, & the characters of them like the characters of others, are compounded of good & bad actions—but I am far from thinking that a greater proportion of the latter enters in the compound character of Lawyers, than of Printers, merchants, ministers, Farmers, mechanics or any other description of Citizens whatever—

    Therefore any attempt to set the class of Lawyers in a more unfavorable light with the people than other classes are viewed, I cannot but look upon as unjust; How far our friend Waite has attempted this I cannot say—nor do I know precisely what provocation he may think was given him by some of us to undertake an expedition against us—It is said, but with how much truth I know not, that he was Author of some pieces signed Elector3—No. 3 I have read, & this, to be sure, is bitter; & in reading it I said to myself—the author is a violent party man—He will stop at nothing to carry his point—the reputation & character of a whole class of Citizens are winked out of his mind when they interpose between him & his favorite wish—I said, he appeared malignant—and many other hard things suggested themselves against the unknown author as I read it—

    Now I dont know any reason Wait can have to justify the principles & sentiments contained in that piece—to me they are abominable—but I will not condemn him without a hearing—I do not wonder, however, that many people should be offended at the Author let him be who he may—We Lawyers must feel ourselves particularly injured; & those of our friends who are disposed to think favorably of us will take our parts against unjust attacks—while our enemies, & the best people have some, will join with the elector & say his sentiments are just & right—Lawyers are rogues & rascals & it is no matter how much they are traduced in the minds of the people—But this I do not expect from our friend Waite—

    Inclosed is a ten dollar Bill—I hope the next bill will be delivered by my own hand I expect to set of[f] next week on saturday—

    and in the mean time am with impatience to meet you & our dear Children

    yours most affectionately

    * * *

    ALS, TFP