Mr. S. Newton Dexter, Whitesborough, New York, from Miss Mary Dexter, Providence, Rhode Island,1823
Providence July 5th 1823.
I have delayed so long my dear uncle sending the enclosed letter that I am really ashamed to send it at all but fortunately recollecting that a late amendment is better than none at all I hasten to send it, to confess my error but not plead any apology for I have none to offer. From my good grandmother’s description of uncle Newton’s character may I say that I do not anticipate a very severe judge and therefore throw myself on his mercy probably with more confidence. Grandma has been away from us about six weeks.
I heard from her last week. She was well and then expected to return to us the coming fall. When she left she thought she might meet you at Athens or Hudson but she does not mention it I therefore conclude you have not seen her. We cannot help hoping dear uncle that you and aunt Laura will yet visit us. It would give us all more pleasure than you can be aware of or you would come. Remember me affectionately to aunt Laura and my dear little unknown cousins. It seems rather hard I think that I should have so many near relations and yet be entirely separated from them all. As we cannot go to you it would give is all so much pleasure if you could only come to us. Catharine joins with me in particular remembrances to yourself and family as undoubtedly would my father and Mrs Dexter but they are both at meeting.
If it will not be too much trouble it would give me great pleasure to hear that you were all well but I am well aware you must already have many calls upon your time. Upon a perusal of uncle Andrew’s letter I confess I cannot see what pleasure it is calculated to afford you and had I not promised grandma I should not send. I trust his prospects ere this have brightened for truly he seems to have been a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” You will excuse the disordered state and appearance of the letter.
In reality when grandma recieved it caused her a great deal of distress and trouble and she used to walk about with it rolled in her hand and this is the cause of its present appearance.
You will if you please have the kindness to remember me to Mr Mann and believe me dear uncl
your affectionate niece Mary S. Dexter.
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Notes: Letter to Mr. S. Newton Dexter, Whitesborough, New York, from
Miss Mary Dexter, Providence, Rhode Island, July 5, 1823; postmarked
July 25 — From the Phillip F. Schlee Collection, Manhattan, Kansas; the
quote in the letter is from Isaiah 53:3 – “He is despised and rejected
of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it
were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
(King James Version of the Bible)