― [page break] ―My dear friend
I have just received your most acceptable letter
How very good you are! I merit not the friendship of the
good. O my friend, Social ties, the bond of amity are strong.
I can testify their strength. What balmy spirit is there
whispering consolation in the accents of a friend. It is you
alone that induce me to return to Philadelphia. You only
can make it tolerable. Parents! Brothers! Relations! Alas!
they ought to operate on my affections with irresistable
energy. but
the And their influence is indeed strong but
without the additional force of those ties which arise from
the pleasures of your Society, they would not be sufficient to
outweigh the motives for deserting it.
The intelligence of S. R. Baders intended departure
has filled me with Sorrow, but if it be for his advantage, God
forbid that I should not wish it.
I am too much obliged by my friends of Connecticut.
Their kindness is painful to me. I shall be obliged to leave them
in order to avoid their favours. I left Litchfield last Tuesday.
I spent the Night at Farmington, with a very amiable young
man Dr. Tod. He exacted from me next morning a promise to
spend some days with him before I leave Connecticut. I have made 
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the same promise to two other persons, and should perhaps com=
=ply with their invitations, would they give me nothing more
than their company. Mr. Alsop, when I left Middletown, in
=vited me with peculiar warmth to return and spend some
time with him.
Nothing can exceed the charms of that romantic
Spot. Sicily or Switzerland can afford nothing that surpasses
it. You can form no conception my friend of the general
beauty of this charming country, and particularly of
that Spot. From each bank of the river, the ground gradually
asscends to an hight from which their open to the eye
the most delightful prospects before beside and behind,
on either side. The town itself is a pattern of elegance and neatness
Mr. Alsop is a man of fortune, wholly devoted to Literature
and poetry, and lives in high taste. His wife—you will
think me perhaps extravagant, If I venture to express my
real sentiments of her but surely, surely, I shall never
meet on earth with a woman more truly angelical.
Mr. Alsop has four or five Sisters, most amiable and
accomplished women. There are delightful walks and
retreats, in the environs and along the banks of the river
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He has ‸ an extensive library, chiefly composed of critical and poetical
Authors. I am certain that my company would give them plea=
=sure. And yet—it is with reluctance that I shall acceptance
accept their invitation, even for a few days. Not to take
up my residence with them would be an affront, though
there is nothing which I more ardently desire than the liberty
of boarding at my own expence.
When I left Litchfield I chalked out this plan of
future proceeding. I purposed to stay at Hartford till I received
your letters. Then to equip myself for my pedestrian expedition,
to journey at the rate of thirty miles a day, up the Connecticut
River, (The banks of which are covered with towns and villages
and abound with the most romantic scenery.) as far as
Dartmouth college, near two hundred miles from hence; then
to leave the River to the right and pass the Green Mountains
from which the name of the Country (Vermont) is derived. To
Tyconderoga, then embark on the lake (Champlain) and go by
water to Quebec. From Quebec go up the river through
Montreal and Frontenac; Then cross Ontario, and take a view
of the great Cataract of Niagara, and return by land to Boston
from Boston to Providence to Newport to N. London and at
length to Middletown. I want neither strength nor resolution
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to execute this enterprise, but that, I find, on examination, is
wanting which is most necessary in this world.
If I propose to stay any time in N. York, and Ellihu
is desirous that I should be introduced to his numerous circle
of friends there, I shall be obliged to relinquish Boston and
NewPort.
I shall relate to you with singular pleasure, all that
I have done and seen in Connecticut. My time will not allow
me to journalize as minutely as I wish.
I hope my friend there is a degree of confidence established
between us, which raises us far above such nice punctilios.
The indifference with which you say you parted with
me, the seeming indifference was not observable to me,
nor will appearances however strong, ever induce me to
doubt for a moment the warmth and sincerity of
your friendship
Your pecuniary offers claim from me the
[gap]
utmost
gratitude, but you must forgive me if I make no use ‸ of them.
A loan to me is a gift, since I shall never have the power
of repayment, and your charity would be better employed
in relieving the necessities of others, than in furnishing
me with the means of amusement
― [page break] ―How dreadful an evil is poverty! Magnanimity is least my
boast, I confess to you without defending it, my pride. You doubtless
recollect our conversation on the pride of poverty. Were you not too
severe in your strictures, on that su[gap]
occasion? Do you not say that
you should despise the man, to whom this defect is imputable?
Nay! my friend, equally beloved and revered, withold your contempt
at least from me; Reserve your scorn for those who glory in their
faults. I am sufficiently mortified by my own contempt, and tortured
by my own disapprobation.
This letter is more serious than I wish it. I knew not how much
I valued our common friend, till threatened with the loss of him. Every
thing smiles around me here, but this news has somewhat embittered every
enjoyment. It has for the present at least, compleatly damped the
spirrit of enterprise, with which my bosom beat highsu[gap]
a week ago.
Let me know whether you purpose to come hitherward this
[gap]mmer. Not to find you at my return to Philadelphia, nsu[gap]
to enjoy
the sweet Solace of your society, would indeed be disastrous.
Franklin talked of travelling eastward after his admission.
The
‸ I hope, if he prosecutes his intention, he will not fail to hunt
me out. If he enquires for me at Mr Wolseys at N.Y. Mr Alsop's
at Middletown or Mr Theodore Dwights, at Hartford he will certainly either
see or gain some intelligence of me. Direct your next letters to Middletown
to the Care of Mr Alsop and let them I beseach you be as copious and as
speedy in their conveyance as possible. I am axious to know R. Baders
scheme more particularly. Your letters I read over and over again, and they will
constitute my chief pleasure. Does the Society flourish. How does Farr=
Farris in his private and oratorical Capacity. How does the present state
of Europe affect him. My best love to Wilkins. Make my affectionate
compliments to Farris and Poulson and the rest, of them, and
C. B. B~
Hartford. June 11th, 1793~