a friend of mine and I wish you to treat him with every mark of
consideration and civility that you are capable of, to consider him as
more than a common acquaintance, to entertain him in the best manner,
and to introduce him to Mr. Champion, Mr. Tracy, Col. Talmage and the
other gentlemen of the Town, this gentleman is the parson who last
monday gave you a new sister and to your brother a new interesting and
important connexion, he is the dear friend of this sister and of
course is very dear to me. I am now my affectionate sisters at the
goal, to which I have considered as the end of my ambition and as the
object of all my pursuits, and I have no doubt but I shall enjoy in
this new connexion every happiness which my imagination had so loudly
pictured to itself, her tenderness, delicacy, and affection I have no
doubt of, and I have every thing to hope from the sweetness of her
temper & the elegance of her mind. I have been more cautious in my
choice, in regard to these qualities not only on account of my own
happiness, but of yours. for though it is not likely you will ever
make my home your entire home, yet you will ever be with me in turn as
long as you are unmarried and my happiness would certainly be
destroyed could not you be with me and receive the greatest
satisfaction. I hope my dear Girls that you, Mama, & all my friends
will rejoice on this occasion, my attention to you will not be the
less nor my affection any way diminished. I shall ever hold you in the
same dear relations and consider myself as the head of the family to
whom you are to look up for protection, support, and happiness.
The wedding being delayed some days, will occasion some delay in
Mollies return, and her new sister and her friends here have taken up
a great liking to her & will not suffer her to leave them. I am
determined however that she shall go about the first of the month, and
you must be in readiness at that time to take her place. James Brace
had in the meantime best go to his Father’s and get his consent that
he live with me this winter
I am my dear Sisters’ your loving brother
JNO. PIERCE.
ACCOUNTS AND MEMORANDA FROM JOHN PIERCE’S ALMANACH, 1776.
The accounts, memoranda, etc., are entered on blank pages opposite the
months to which they belong.
Get Kee to my Trunk.
Get a R’cept for Military Chest.
For 1 Barrel Gun Powder——
Mr. Bloodgood’s Tent——
French’s Pork return^d——
Number the last R’cept.
Mr. Seymours Wool
Doct. Smiths shoes
Good Castor——
Capt. Whitneys Certificate.
Change Doct. Smiths Money——
Mr. Strong Rcept for Flour
Elisha Frisbie Rcept
Allens business
John Vanderheyden
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Jan^y 01. Made a settlement with Jed.
Strong——
Recev^d of him for my Wages & Expenses 12 · 6 · 0
& for going to Hebron 0 · 12 · 0
————————————————
Horse hire 34/ } Deduct^d £ 12 · 18 · 0
44/6 } (?) 3 · 18 · 6
———— ————————————————
78 6 £ 8 · 19 · 6
being what is allow^{ed} for
my wages in M^r Strongs
business as Com^y——
Feb^y 21 recev^d for Draw^g a Pay Roll 2/8
York.[94]
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
List of Articles taken with me to Tyconderoga ——
21 lb sugar — — 30/
1 lb Tea 20/
1 Blanket Coat
1 Surtoat
1 Old Great Coat
1 blue Broad Cloth Coat
1 do Jackett
1 Double Breast’d D^o
2 p Breeches
1 p Indian Shoes
1 p Woolen Mitts
1 p Leather D^o
1 Buff Cap ——
6 p Worstead Stockings
9 Shirts—8 Stocks
1 Black Neck Cloth
1 Silk Handkerchief
2 Linnen D^o ——
2 Vols Spirit Laws (?)
1 p Shoes. D^o silver Shoes & Buckles & 1
stock ^{D^{o}}
1 p Stone Buttons
1 castor Hat
1 p Nitt^d Stockings a present
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
An Account of my Expenses
from Albany (?) to Tyc—— Nov ——
19 Wid (?) 0 · 3 · 0 y [95]
J. Vernons —— 0 · 1 · 0
20 Capt. Baldwin 0 · 6 · 0
M^— Nieles — — 0 · 2 · 4
On Road J. G. —— 0 · 2 · 0
Ty Landing 0 · 5 · 4
———————————
£0 · 19 · 8
(January)
4^{th} Rcev^d of Jed. Strong Esq. for Writ^g
done for Capt Curtiss 6/ Le NY—— & ?
5 Bought some Buttons 1/8
8 Sold M^r Strong 1 Sword 22/
13 Bot. 1 Piece of Tape 1/ York
Bot 2 lb Tea for my Grandmother—— 11/York
Bot for mak^g my Shoes 1/—— York
15^{th}: 1 Pair Stockings 10/6 York
Borrowed of M^r Strong two Dollars
16 Paid for M^r Reeves Letter 2/
M^r Phelps D^r To 2 Dollars Lent
M^r Strong has settl^d for a bear skin &
30 Bot. a Pair of Stock^g 10/ y.
(February.)
Pocket Expenses D^r.
5. To 1 Pen Knife 3/ y NY
To Beer—— 2/ D^o
7. To 1 Pair of Breeches 36/4. York
To 1 pair of Drawers 10/York
To given in Charity 1/ y
12 To 1 pair of Shoes— 11/
14 To 2 Handkerchiefs @ 9/—— 18/ y
To shaving = 2/6 y NY
24 To 2 Handkerchiefs @ 3/
Began to Shave with Barber 8^{th}
10 Wash^g Cloths O 4 3·y
D^o 2·3·
———————
one Dollar 8/ 6 6
United Colonies D^r
1776 To 1 Buntch of Quill 3/y
Feb^y 12
To 1 Piece of Tape 1/y
(March):——
Recev^d of Jon. Trumbull Esq. 4^{th}
March 26⅔ Dollars towards my wages.
Pocket Expenses D^r
3^d To 1 Pair Breeches 39/York
To mending my Coat 4/6 Y. NY
12 To Present to Servant 1/
Profit & Losst D^r
9 To 1 Dollar given a Fellow for returning a
saddle which I lost—— 8/y
(April):——
Pocket Expenses D^r all in Y. NY
4^{th} To Postage of a Letter— 1/6
To 2¼ y^d Rib^d Everlasting @ 6/—13/6
6 To mending a pair Shoes 4/
9 To ¾ y^d Cambrick—— 13/6
Have spent 3 Dollars at the Tavern this
Month 24/
Paid for a Military Chest 29/
(May):
All in York Mony
15^{th} Bought a p^r Gloves 3/
Bought two p^r Stockings @9/
Expenses on a Journey to Fort George (viz)——
16 At Minifies, bought Prov’s & 7/6
At Lansing to Dinner—— 2/
17 At a Tavern Brakefast & 2/
18 At Fort George Brakefas 2/
19 At Fort Miller—— 1/6
At Still Water’s—— 2/
Hiring Carriages Down 8/
————
25/0
23^d Gave Gin—— 2/
(June):——
Expenses on a Journey to & from Dartmouth College—York Money
2. Ferryage— 0 · 0 · 9
at Lansyng Oats 0 · 0 · 4
At Tom (?) Din^d & Oats 0 · 1 · 6
Oats &— 0 · 1 · 0
3^d White Creek Lodg^g Horse & Sup^r 0 · 2 · 8
Shaftsbury. brakefast & Oats 0 · 1 · 1
Manchester Din^d Bait^d & Oated 0 · 1 · 3
4^{th} At N d leys House Lodg^g & Brakefast 0 · 2 · 8
Dinner & Bait^g— 0 · 1 · 4
—————————
0 12 7/8
£0 ·12 · 7
1 · 12 · 3
Paid for 1 · 12 · 0
—————
Horse Hire 3 · 16 · 10
Ferryage—— 0 · 0 ·11
5. Oats & Din^r 0 · 1 · 4
6. At College 0 · 2 · 4
Rode to no 4 0 · 2 · 2
At Walkers
Going & Riding & Hiring Horse 0 · 3 ·10
Paid for Horse Hire—— 0 · 8 · 0
Mend^g saddle 0 · 1 · 2
Ferryage—— 0 · 0 · 6
Sup. Lodg^g & Oats & 0 · 2 · 3
Brakefast & Oats 0 · 1 · 2
At(?) 0 · 2 ·11
At Powels 0 · 0 · 4
Arlington 0 · 1 · 0
9 St Crix 0 · 1 · 9
Tom(?) 0 · 0 · 4
Barber 0 · 1 · 6
Ferryage 0 · 0 · 9
————————
John Pierce Jn^r 1 ·12 · 3
Recev^d the Above of Mr. Trumbull
1 Recev^d of M^r Trumbull towards my wages 20
Dolls—— £8 · 0 · 0
12^{th} Rcev^d of D^o for the above Expenses—— 3 ·16 ·10
14 Bot of Robert Henry 1½ y^d Linnen for stocks
@ 10/ 1 · 4 0
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
12^{th} M^r Strongs Acc^d clos^d with me. Bot me a
Straw Hat 13/4
12^{th} Paid Elisha Sheldon Esq. six Pounds Law
Money in part pay of a Note ———— or in
whole Pay or more
Paid Oliver Wolcott Esq. eight Pounds Law
Money on Acc^d ———— NB I now owe him 40/9
ny ————
15 Recev^d of Mr. Trumbull seventy Dollars
towards my Wages ————
Paid M. Watson—for 1 Pair Breeches £2 · 4
for seat^g D^o 2/6 Mak^g Coat 17/— 19 · 6
4 y^d shalloon 20/ Send^g dº 11/9- 1 11 · 9
for White Breeches ———— 1 ·12 ·
——————————
£6 · 7 · 3
Recev^d of M^r Trumbull 15 Dollars for my
Expenses in return^g w^{th} Mess
Trumbull——
Spent on s^d Journey myself 4/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Bot 10 y^d Cor^d du Roy @ /6— £3 · 0 · 0
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
01 two pr stockings @ 12/—— 1 · 4 · 0
20 1 pr silk stock^{gs}—— 1 ·12 · 0
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
July 0076—— York C^y—
20 Spent for Mud—— 1/4
24 Paid John Mynderse for Mak^g
2 Jacketts & 2 p^r Breeches & for Lin^g
Buttons & —— £1–16
M^r Price D^r to 10 y^d of Corde Roy @ 6/
(August):
4^{th} Spent at the Mead House £0 · 4 · 6
8 Paid M^{rs} Meredith 1 · 5 · 0
18 Recev^d 3 Doll for writing
20 Spent 5/2
21 Bought a Bever Hat—— 64/
23 Turning my Coat—— 28/
24 Wid. Vernons 1/
(September):—
Recev^d for Draw^g a Pay Roll 13/4
7^{th} bought a Ribbon 3/4
(October)
(In pencil)
Proportion of Colonies
in 1695——
Penn- L 80
Masssech 350
Maryl^d 160
Virginia 240
Rhode I- 48
Connect 120
N- York 200
Oct. 22^d paid Mr^s Meredith for washing 45/
23 bought a Latch 3/9
30^{th} (something scratched out)
sent p. A. Catlin 1 lb to my father
two Dollars—
(November)
13 Recev^d of E. Avery Esq. eleven Dl^s for
cash I lent Lt. Colo. Whiting last Year—&
took his Note w^h must be sent him—it is
now in A. Adam.
Nov. 01 Gave Gin ½ Dol^r
Paid for Wash^g— (?)
18 My Barbers Bill 30/ p^d
Clean^g my Hat— 5/
Buttons 1/6 Tape 2/10
21 lb^s sugar 30/ 1 lb 20/
2 gallons Rum (?) cash p^d
4 lb^s Chocolate 16/
70 lb^s Butter @ 1/9
Cash 2/ £ 6. 2. 6.
18 paid M^r Watson for mak^g my Blanket Coat a
p. Breeches & a Jackett 52/4——
p^d James Vernon 12/for what I have had
from him.
19 Rece^d of Mr. Trumbull
p^d M^r Price on Acc 60 D
for Potatoes 12/
Gave Negro Boy 4/
25 Bought a Tea Pot 6/8
Spent f^m Albany to Ty as p part. in this
Book 19/8[96]
(December):
Left at Albany of wear^g apparile
4 p white Breeches
1 silk Jackett
1 Nankeen D^o
3 white Jacketts 2 (?) 2
1 p cotton stockings
6 p thread D^o
1 p silk D^o
1 straw Hat
1 p rid^g Trowzers
1 Watch
1 p Leather Breeches
1 p Stock^g Nit D^o
1 p Boots
1 Hat New Beaver Hat
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
May 21
6 shirts
6 Stocks
5 p Stockings
2 Handkerchiefs
1 Jackett
June 1
5 shirts
1 Stock
2 Stock^{gs}
1 Handkerchief
June 13—the above
1 Handkerchief
1 Trowzers
3 shirts 3 stocks—3 Stock^{gs}
Borrowed of Mr. Trumbull
2 cheeses at Vernon’s Stillwater
1 Cheese weighed 35 lb
[Illustration:
PL. LXV.—DR. TIMOTHY PIERCE, SON OF JOHN PIERCE AND MARY GOODMAN
_b._ 1778. _d._ 1801.
From a pastelle
]
APPENDIX B.
Timothy Pierce,
1- To Mary Pierce, Hartford, Ld. no date.
2- „ „ „ „
3- To Mary & James Pierce, Litchfield, New York, 1798
4 To „ „ „ Litchfield, New York, Oct. 5th „
5 To James, „ „ „ „
6- To my brother & sisters, „ „ 1799
7- „ James Pierce, „ Camp, 10 Sept. 1799
8 „ „ „ „ „ „ „
9- „ my mother, to my brother, to my „ Union Camp, Nov. 1799
sisters,
10- To my dear friends, „ „ Cantonment, Jan. 6, 1800
11- „ Mary Pierce, „ Camp, Jan. 18, 1800
12- „ James Pierce, „ „ Sept. 30 „
13- „ James „ „ Charleston, S. C. Dec. „ „
14- „ Dr. Croswell, Columbia, „ „
15- „ „ „ Statesburg, Feb. 1801
16- „ my sister Polly, „ May, 1, „
addressed to Thos. O. H. Catskill.
Croswell,
17- „ Miss Mary Pierce, „ July, 24, 1801
18- To Dr. Reed, to Mrs. Widow Litchfield. „ Aug.
Pierce, 2, „
19- Mr. Wm. Rees, to Miss Sarah „ „ „ 6 „
Pierce,
No. 1
TO MY SISTER MARY:—
I improve this early opportunity that I may be thus entitled to an
answer, giving an account of your journey, your situation, of the plans
you have formed for the disposal of your time, & of whatever has
occurred most interesting since you left us. The opportunity with which
fortune has at present blessed you of improving your mind by refined
society, of enriching your mind by reading & conversation, & of taking
an extensive view of human nature, is probably far more advantageous
than what you will enjoy at any future period. Of this you are
undoubtedly sensible. It is superfluous, therefore, to enlarge upon the
necessity of making every exertion in your power to reap all the
advantages the nature of your situation will allow.
I shall sometimes take the liberty of advising you. We are none of us
perfect. You must advise me in return, & let us each become as faultless
as a brother’s & sister’s watchful care can make us.
Let me recommend to you a practice which I began on New Year’s day, from
which I already have received evident advantage. So many things were
crowding upon my mind at the time of your departure that I entirely
forgot to mention it. The practice I refer to is that of noting down in
the evening by way of diary, every observation worth remembering that
you have heard in conversation, & all the reflections that have occurred
to you of any importance in the course of the day. Each evening fill up
one page at least & it will induce a habit of exerting your mind by
reasoning, and paying strict attention to all judicious conversation, &
you will in a little time acquire a facility in the art of composition
which alone would fully compensate you for your labors. Without
preserving exertion of your rational faculties you can never expect
vigor of intellect. Without exercising the talents of conceiving &
communicating ideas, & profiting by the remarks of the sensible it is in
vain to think of excelling in conversation. Nor can elegance in
composition ever be attained without long and careful practice.
Knox in his moral essays disapproves of transcribing the substance of
what we read in a common book. Copying verbatim would it is true spend
time to little purpose, but writing a concise abridgment may be useful
by fixing the mind upon the subject. He who pays that strict attention
that transcription requires will find the subject more firmly stamped
upon his memory than he will who reads for amusement only. Write me what
you think upon this subject.
Post Script to Miss Wylls.
TO MY OTHER SISTER MARY:—
It is nearly time for the post to call for the bundle which is to
enclose this, & perhaps I shall have little more time to write you than
barely sufficient to inform you that all who are dear to you in
Litchfield enjoy health, prosperity, & happiness. The tears of joy from
embracing your dear parents & receiving the hearty welcome of your
friends, have hardly yet ceased to flow. Then what an apology can I
offer for so soon recalling your attention to those you have left
behind.
Without doubt the interest your warm heart feels in the concerns of your
Litchfield friends will make intelligence of their welfare pleasing to
you altho’ a few days only have elapsed since you were bedewed by their
parting tears. I will confess however, that the hope of reading a
postscript by your hand in Polly’s first letter is an excellent
inducement for thus intruding upon your attention. Just so, however
laudable may be ostensible motives for actions, it frequently happens
that selfish motives, which we desire to conceal, are full as powerfully
influential. But it is not my intention to give you a moral lecture at
present.
The long expected young lady from Poughkeepsie has at last made her
appearance to supply the place you left vacant in our family. She seems
about 14 years of age, & little taller than Hannah, figure fine,
complexion & features delicate, & if I may judge by her air & face, (for
I have not heard her converse) is more likely to become a fine lady,
than a philosopher. But I am much more pleased with her mother Mrs.
Williams with whom I spent an hour very agreeably. Suppose Betsey
Canfield 6 or 7 years older & you will have a striking likeness of her
face and figure, but Betsey never can attain to more than a small
portion of the refinement which appears in Mrs. W’s conversation. Can
you prevent that awkward, country girl Polly Pierce from staring &
gaping after wonders & curiosities about the Commercial City till you
are ashamed of her? Can you keep her in order—Can we ever make a woman
of her? An answer to these enquiries will delight.
Your sincere friend,
Remember me affectionately to St. John. T. PIERCE.
To MISS MARY PIERCE, Hartford.
No. 2
Several weeks have elapsed since I have received a single line from my
sister. In the name of wonder why this silence? While you were in
Hartford, your friends here (Fanny Smith for instance) ascribed your
neglect of them to hurry of amusements. But you have spent much of your
time of late in the _country_. _There_ surely time to write might have
been found, if inclination had not been wanting. It is with
mortification I remark that those among my correspondents whose
communications I value the most are the least punctual in the
performance of their promises in regard to writing. Several weeks or
rather months have elapsed since my last to Mary Wylls & not a word have
I received in return. However, I endeavor to think of her neglect as
charitably as _circumstances_ will permit.
Our mother has been unwell. About 10 or 12 days ago she was attacked by
symptoms denoting the access of slow fever. We contrived to strangle the
disorder at its birth. Since that time she has been harassed by pains
&c. of the nervous kind, but I hope her health will soon be
reestablished. What a pity it is that you have not been at home to have
learned a little of the skill in housewifery that I have displayed
during her sickness?
Mamma makes frequent & anxious inquiries about you, talks about you a
great deal & I fancy a letter from you would prove a more efficacious
cordial than any that Dr. Smith’s shop affords. Do write to her Polly, &
let us hear from you in the future much oftener than heretofore. I
engage to answer every letter of yours the day we receive it, and send
by the earliest opportunity.
Sally says, “Give my love to Polly, and tell her I have the headache &
cannot write.” The crazy democratic priest, Ogden, has just sent her as
a present a copy of his travels in Canada for the use of her school.
This letter is not your due, let that account for its shortness. My
friendship to St. John W.
&c. &c.
MARY PIERCE,
Hartford.
No. 3
(I suppose 1798.)
SISTER:—
Here I am at New York, I have not time to write a regular letter, but
shall throw out without form or order, in the most expeditious manner,
whatever thoughts the occasion suggests. I rode the only passenger in
the Stage almost to Derby, but to compensate for my loneliness the fore
part of the day, 2 gentlemen & 4 ladies accompanied from Derby to N.
Haven—tell S. Curtis & P. Thompson that the two Miss Graceys were of the
number—& that one of the Gentlemen had sense enough to conceal his want
of sense by taciturnity—one had been a Schoolmaster, & the third was
cutting a dash in a sky blue speckled velvet coat, his hair dressed a la
quotatine, the ear locks powdered & frizzled so as almost to meet in
front of his nose, truly indicative of the furniture of his brain. I
still recollect the black eyes of one of the young ladies—You will
receive an account of Commencement from Daniel, therefore I shall be
silent on that head. My room mate at New Haven, was a clergyman with
whom I conversed a great part of the evening, & almost all night,
neither of us being disposed for sleep, an elderly gentlemen who had
listened to our _learned_ conversation, asked me if I had a _son_ in
College.
Commencement evening, I set afloat for New York, & arrived here after a
head wind voyage of—I have forgotten exactly how long. I have taken
temporary lodgings near the centre of the City, price at the rate of 100
pounds a year. My fellow lodgers are two young attorneys, who have very
much of the gentleman in them, one student at law, one French Priest who
speaks no English, but converses with us wholly in French & Latin, so
that our table conversation is a mixed jargon of French, Latin &
English. Nat’n Sanford also is one of my fellow lodgers, transformed
into a steady student, bearing a respectable character, & seeming much
like a gentleman, he is certainly an excellent scholar. Dr. Mitchell
dines with us, you have heard what respect his theory of Septon has met
with in Germany. I shall attend his first lecture upon Chemistry
tomorrow, next to Dr. Smith he is perhaps the most pleasing man I am
acquainted with. The other evening he conducted a number of us to an
eminence near the City that we might get a sight at the much talked of
Comet, but we found it not, the next evening walking upon the battery I
found a number of the pretended literati of the town with their
telescopes squinting at Venus, fancying that the Comet, after viewing it
sufficiently, they went home tickled most hugely to think they had seen
the Comet!! Men of science indeed!!
At Dr. Gates’ house a number of other Gentlemen of the first estimation
in the City were viewing Jupiter through one of the best telescopes in
America. Altho all the satellites and belts of the Planet, are plainly
to be seen Dr. Gates will not give up the idea of its being the
Comet—One gentleman whose reputation for Science is considerable could
not explain the word Parallax—another enquired the meaning of
Apogee—Excellent astronomers! Drs. Smith & Mitchell do not believe there
is any Comet to be seen—I have not yet attended the theatre—I have not
yet visited the Museum—in fact I have not had time. I tho’t I had gained
before parting from home, a sufficiency of chemical knowledge, at least
to begin to learn, but I mistook, the system I attended to, is entirely
exploded, & a new system introduced, considerable study is requisite to
gain so much knowledge of the new principles & nomenclature, as will
enable me to understand fully the lectures of the Professor. The 42
dollars I brought with me will not last forever—Night before last, being
at Lynde Catlin’s we were alarmed by the cry of fire, we ran to the top
of the house to see it, but it was soon extinguished, one building only
was burned. The bon-fire that cut such a devil of a shine here last
winter has struck such a terror into the people, that the alarm bell
seems to sound through their souls, as well as the ears. We hear that
the man who set fire to Albany, is apprehended & has confessed that he
did the pretty trick with a segar. One man has died here with the Yellow
Fever, there are several other cases of it in town. Yet Dr. Bard
informed me 3 days ago that he never knew a more healthy town at this
season of the year.
You have found this letter a confused mass of dry heterogeneous
materials huddled together as chance has dropped them—Dullness is with
me the order of this evening.
Brother James, write me as long a letter as this—with you Polly, I shall
not be satisfied, without receiving from you several letters, of 3 or 4
sheets each, well filled. Say some good natured things for me to every
body you meet. Give my respects to those to whom it is due, & my love to
my Sweetheart if you can find her.
Upon my word, a sentimental letter this.
Amen.
... tell Fanny, Maria, & Betsey to write me the first opportunity. An
abundance of matter crowds upon my mind which I wish to communicate, but
circumstances will not permit.
Monday 9 o’clock.—
TO MARY & JAMES PIERCE.—
(Torn off.)
No. 4
Although I have just despatched a letter to Ld. by Col. Talmage, yet, as
so favorable an opportunity occurs, I cannot deny myself the
satisfaction of returning a piece of an answer to your amusing letter—No
James, my nose is not broken by the turning over of the carriage! The
vessel has not run away with me! Nor, surprising to relate, have I even
tumbled down my own throat. But pray has not Polly tumbled into hers? If
she has not why did she not write by Mr. Deming—if she does not write
the first opportunity that offers, I shall not stuff her mouth once with
those curiosities that you say she is gaping so wide for—but instead of
finding her descriptions of land and sea monsters I will—forget her.—You
may tell Sally to inform those with whom she said my character in the
gallanting line suffers so deeply, that there has been some
misrepresentation, although nature has cursed me with the stiff manners
of Dr. Orkborn, I hope I am not like him abstracted & inattentive to
those about me,—tell them that if the three gallants I mentioned in my
last letter with another Derby buck that the stage took up near N.
Haven, are not enough to assist 4 girls in dismounting from a coach, the
next time I happen under the like circumstances I will call together the
neighborhood to assist.—I will attend to the matter of the locket.