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April 3 1797

Dear and Kind Friend

It is not without shame that I remember the two last scraps of postscripts which I have sent to You in return for handsome notes or Letters, but You I am sure will believe they were produced by want of time & not of Affection to our beloved Bard; I have 24 hours in my day as well as other people, but my employments sometimes occupy my time so intirely [sic] that I cannot write, & then it is sometimes necessary that I should recruit my head & limbs with rest or leisure for further service. I don't say that that [sic] I employ my powers to the best advantage, but in some way or other they have nearly as much exercise as they will bear —

I feel your Benevolence both to the Memory of M:^r Hodges & the Distresses of his Family & shall be very happy if I can Contribute to your Noble Purposes, It is as you say but little good that we can do in this World, & I am sensible how little I have done for others in comparison with the good that I have recieved [sic] — Your reflections on M^r: Hodge's Character are liberal & Christianlike, it is sufficient that he was a good husband & father a worthy & industrious man, as to his powers they were \he had/ in common with his