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of going there this fall; but in all probability she is, or will before my arrival there, have embarked for Carolina. Should that be the case, it will prevent talk. I should leave my visiting Providence and Newport till my return, but as our sister Abby will be with me, I think, so young as she is, it would not be worth her while to go that way, though as Joe is now agoing to enter into a state which will naturally make him more confined, I shall think it my duty, and surely my inclination, to pay my utmost attention to my two remaining sisters. May they be as well situated as you are my dear sister. James is happy, but so long as they remain in a single life, nothing that an affectionate brother can do, shall be wanting to make them happy. The very idea of seeing you and my other friends so happy in Boston, as I am taught to think they are, give me an undescribable pleasure. My love to Brothers Jack & Joe and Sister P-y.

No. 4.

Adieu, my Dearest Sister; believe me your

Affectionate Brother,

SAM'L B. WEBB.

Don't look for Sam'l till he comes, as I must travel slow.

WETHERSFIELD, Feb. 7, 1774,
Sunday Evening, 8 o'clock.

MY DEAR SISTER:-I sent the servant this afternnon, while people were in meeting, in order that he might return seasonably for us to answer our letters, if any, this evening. I have been very impatiently waiting an hour or two his return; nor can I imagine what detains him, and fearing I may not have time after his return, I shall devote a few of the present moments to you and though I justly might scold you for not writing, yet I forbear.

Half past eight o'clock. The post himself came in while writing ye above, but I am to say only one letter for Joe for myself. I am used to being disappointed, I may almost say, every Sunday evening, by having no letters from my friends in Boston. But poor Hetty! she looks as tho' she had lost all her friends; says 'tis cruel; says you cannot imagine how it grieves her. I beg of you, my sister, not to neglect her.

And Peggy, too; she says: "Could she neglect me? No; I am certain the Post has lost my letter." She would have wrote you and

her much lov'd friend Miss Simpson last week, but her health prevented, which I informed our Sister Peggy of by a Billet per post, agreeable to the desire of Hetty, which I suppose she has received.

Much company is with us, and I must leave writing you. The post lodges here. If time, will say something to Mr. Simpson and add to this before he goes in the morning. My best respects to our good Sister, your companion, and to B'r Jack. Believe me, my Dear Sister, Ever y'r friend

No. 5.

& most affec. B'r,

SAM'L B. WEBB.

WETHERSFIELD, Feb'y 18, 1775.

BROTHER JACK-You do not deserve a letter. You are indebted to me almost a quire of paper, and I must insist you balance your account immediately, without delay.

Yours, &c.,

S. B. WEBB.

DEAR SISTER-I began with an intention to write our brother, but on second thought, as I cannot write to but one this week, I have altered, and shall say a few words to you. I am not in a humor to write you a long circumstantial letter, most of the week I have spent at Middletown, returned last evening, and am neither sick or well but rather in a stupid, senseless mood. Mr. Simpson, 'ere this reaches you, will be on his way here. I cannot but regret his not waiting on you and bringing Miss Peggy up with him, as Mr. Brymer is to accompany him I think it would be very convenient. I had said everything in my power on the subject, but 'twas like talking to the wind. Your friends, many of them, think you very indifferent about them. They are continually enquiring when you intend paying us a visit. 'Tis always the case when I write at the same table with our sister Hetty. She twitches away my paper and has ten thousand questions of no manner of consequence to ask me, and is so very good natured when she gets into one of these fits that it makes me laugh, and I cannot but humour her, let me be ever so much engaged. She calls me "her old man," &c. I could wish ever so much to live as happy as I now do in the company and conversation of this our sister. She is indeed a very good girl, and seems to put great dependence and confidence in me, at the

same time 'tis my duty as well as inclination to pay a particular friendly and brotherly attention to her. Joe is married, and in consequence his care and attention is turned to another, Hetty and myself are therefore at present, inseparable. She goes nowhere unless brother Samuel attends her. While I was this week at Middletown there was a ball here, Mr. Cr came bowing, and scraping begging the company of Miss Webb, but no, by no means. Her" old was gone to Middletown, and to be sure (with a toss of the head) she should not go. I have spun out considerable more than I thought to when I began, and if it gives half the satisfaction in perusing that it has given me in writing, I am fully paid. A number of your friends at Middletown enquired particularly after you, and desired to be remembered to you. Adieu. My Comp's, &c.,

man

wait on your good companion and sister. Believe me as ever your very Affectionate B'r and friend,

SAM'L B. WEBB.

To our brother Wm. I desire to be remembered.

No. 6.

WETHERSFIELD, Saturday, March 18, 1775. MY DEAR SISTER:-Your last letter to me has been fully answered, which now lies by me, and on a second perusal have concluded not to send it you, but promise you a perusal of it the first time I see you, which I hope may be soon. It alluded particularly to what you said to me in regard to my conversation with Parson Walter. I wrote it immediately on the receipt of yours, and no doubt every line showed the sentiment of my heart. Yours to me gave me more uneasiness and less satisfaction than any ever received from you. I shall say no further on the subject than that I am not in the least uneasy for any part of my conversation with the Parson. I am confident that I have said nor done anything to deserve censure. God knows I had it not in my heart but to treat him with the respect due him. If plain honesty is capable of giving one offence, I shall I fear be often blamed by this censorious world. Be that as it may, I will, while I have life, speak the sentiments (If I say anything) & dictates of an honest heart to MAN, WOMAN and CHILD. Assured of this in my own breast, I shall Endeavor not to regard the Malicious designs of too many of my fellow mortals.

You are entirely Mistaken, My Dear, Dear Sister, in saying that

I am the cause of Hetty's not visiting you. The most I ever said. on the subject was, was when my advice was asked, that I could not advise her to while the present troubles remained, & I am still of the same sentiments. Be assured she is Dear to me, and I ever will, while I have any care of her, discharge my duty as a friend and affectionate Brother. Her Inclination shall by and ever be consulted, and if she says she has a mind to go, I am all ready to attend her immediately. The last chat I had with her on the subject I told her I would, she might depend upon it, attend her between this and the last of May. By that, my sister, most probably, we shall know what we have to depend upon. You must, therefore, make yourself easy for a few weeks, when I hope we may meet you in perfect health and happiness. Of this be assured. You cannot wish it more than Hetty as well as myself does. This I think you cannot doubt.

Since the departure of our guest and friend, Mr. Brymer, I have taken one excursion with Mr. Jack Simpson, Esq. He is now with us, sometimes Rambling, at others Reading, Writing, Whistling, Singing, Dancing, Blowing the Whistle as the man told him, &c., &c.

I have not time to add, but shall, as often as leisure permits, write you. In return, I hope you will sometimes devote a little time to Dear Sally.

Your friend & Most affectionate Brother,

SAM'L B. WEBB.

P. S.-My respects to your amiable friend, friend and sister, to Br. William, &c., who I hope is well and in spirits. Once more adieu. By-the-by, I had forgot to tell you, your gentleman is as uneasy as a fish out of water to get back, tho' we do everything in our power to make his tarry here agreeable. He says he is as easy here as he can possibly be in any place on Earth, HOME excepted.

No. 7.

WETHERSFIELD, March 22d, 1775. This, my ever Dear Sister, will be received by our good Brother, your Mr. Simpson, who, I dare say, meets you unexpectedly, and with a satisfaction which I am unable to describe. We are happy, on your account, to part with him; on our own, quite the contrary. If possible, my affection grows more and more for him at every meeting, & 'tis with regret whenever I am obliged to part. O, my Sister, had it so happened that you and our Sister Peggy could have

accompanied him up, you would have given your friends a satisfac-
tion which nothing but Ocular Demonstration can give you a true
idea of. You well know, every thing in our power would have been
done to make the minutes pass Agreeably. I am positive they would,
at the old place of your Nativity, in company with the Man of your
Heart, & your Affectionate Brethren. But why do I talk on a mat-
ter which is already passed-for no other reason but with great ex-
pectation you may yet gratify us with your presence this Spring.
Can you have already forgotten the beauties of a fine morning in
the country? Can you have lost the sound of the little warblers,
which every morning surround our Mansion, and seemingly, with
various and most pleasing Notes, thank Almighty Providence for
the return of Spring? Can you, in a word, forget every pleasing
idea and many real enjoyments? No, you cannot. Come then (if
possible) my much loved Sister, to your Brothers & Sisters. Come
with your other self. Come with your Amiable Sister, friend &
Companion. Perhaps you never again, may see so many of your
friends together, in this now happy family. I do expect Mr. Simp-
son will be obliged to pay us another Visit between this and May;
for that reason it is that I say so much of your coming; but should
it be otherwise, and nothing more than I at present know of hap-
pens, I shall attend you, my good Sister, and once more see you at
your happy Seat. 'Tis late, & I am rather dull; if anything ap-
pears unconnected, look it over with that Sisterly Affection you are
wont to do. Hetty, as she generally does, has been reading what I
have wrote. She says: "Sammy, you have written very differently
from what your feelings are to night; which I think makes it ap-
pear not so smart as some of your's that I have seen." I acknowl-
edge I am not in a humor for writing. My thoughts are turned
another way. I have something of no little consequence on my
mind. I must bid you adieu; with a kind remembrance of our
friend & Sister, Miss Simpson & B'r Wm., Believe me, Dear Sally,
your very
Affectionate Brother,

No. 8.

SAM'L B. WEBB.

HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK, July 28, 1776.

MY DEAR SISTER :-With impatience I have waited for an opportunity to write you. The wished for day has come. Col. Pater

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