IV

    On the Margins of the French Revolution

    november 1792–march 1794

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    81

    To Sarah Savage Thatcher

    Philadelphia        8 November 1792

    My dear—

    I now find myself again, & perhaps for the last time, setled in this City for the present Session—I arrived here on Saturday evening after a more than usually pleasant Journey—The weather holding mild & agreeable the whole way—And no disagreeable accident befell any of us—At New-Haven I took water passage for N. York, & was two nights & one day on board the pacquet, owing to the calmness of the weather; so that altho our passage was longer than heretofore, when I passed that way, it was not without its pleasures—I spent two days in new york.

    Last evening I took my Lodgings for the Session at a place that I think will prove agreeable1—Our company consists of Judge [Samuel] Livermore from New-Hampshire, Mr. & Mrs. [Fisher] Ames from Boston & Mr. Bourn of Rhode-Island.2 I pay seven dollars a week for Board, & then, as usual, find every thing else—that is, to the amount of six or seven dollars more—

    Before this reaches you—mine from Boston together with some things forwarded by Mr. [Matthew] Park will have reached you—That Letter informs you of my departure from Boston, & that it was not in my power to visit Weston [Massachusetts] [as] you wished me to, & what was my fixed determination to do when I left home—However I found it could not do it, without being belated at this place—And I wrote a long, particular Letter to our honord. Father [Samuel Phillips Savage], which I left at Mr. [Amos] Bigelows as I passed thro Town; but could only stop one moment; for the Stage, which is like time itself, that wates for no body—In the strongest & most persuasive manner that I was capable of I requested your papa to spend the ensuing winter with you at Biddeford—And stated to him the reasons why I could not make any Tarry with him as I came thro Weston, & hoped he would excuse me; But Lucy [Savage Bigelow] said he would never forgive me! You know how anxious I am, & have ever been to give every possible evidence to your good father of a proper attachement & filial affection; & I really think he ought to consider how little time I have spent with you & our family, for the last four or five years; And be satisfied that it is not owing to any deficiency of Respect or affection that I have so often passed thro’ Weston without calling upon him—I hope, however, he will make you a visit this fall, when you can convince him that our circumstances have been such as necessarily to prevent either of us from visiting him for three years past—

    I send you ten dollars—I hope the Stores sent you by Mr Park have been so plentifull as that you will have but little [ca]re about providing others—After I closed by letter from Boston I purchased a Coverlett, & sent it to the care of Mr. [Matthew] Park which I hope has, or will soon come to hand—I shall now send you money as frequent as you may need, & I wish you to pay for every thing you purchase—& also pay Mrs. Jenkins four dollars—& take her receipt—Also if Eben. or Sukey want money—let them have it, if you can—

    I am my dear, yours &c

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    ALS, TFP