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    To Sarah Savage Thatcher

    Philadelphia        21 June 1798

    My dear,

    Yours of the 13th alarms me for our dear Philips & Lucy, whom you speak of as having strongly the symptoms of the Whooping cough. I can only hope the disorder [does] not come on, or prove less malignant than it sometimes does—Of all disorders this is the [most?] distressing to patients & beholders—

    Our Envoys have left France, & Mr. Marshall, one of them, has got to this city1—He speaks of a rupture as inevitable—France will be satisfied with nothing short of paying a large sum of money as a tribute to her haughty demands, And at present Congress spurn the idea with contempt—If America continue united she has nothing to fear—but if a strong party should join France, great confusion & blood will be the consequence—

    I entertain great expectations of being at home by the middle of July—

    Kiss all the dear children for their papa—My dear Anner—how much I think of the sweet innocent—what a delicious pleasure it will be to take the dear creature into my arms & press her to my heart—

    Yours Most affectionately

    * * *

    ALS, TFP. Addressed to Biddeford; franked; postmarked.