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Amboy. Octo. 20. 1798

My dear friend,

Tho’ I have been silent so long, thou must not think, that, in ceasing to
write, I have ceased to remember thee. At every interval, thy image, among those of
my
  my overwrites thy. Visually they are equally prominent, although my makes more sense in the sentence absent friends, has not failed to recur to my imagination. The first impulse
was to write, but the next consideration was, what should be the subject of my
epistle. It might remind thee of my existance & of my general welfare, but of this
thou was probably aßured through various & authentic channels. To enter with
minutenß into the particulars of my condition was an unpleasing task. Those parti=
culars, instead of reviving & confirming them, it was my interest to devote as speedi
=ly as poßsible to oblivion. I might, at least, enquire into thy welfare, &
  & overwrites in. the prevalence
of Yellow fever in Wilmington, made me particularly dubious & anxious concerning
thy state. I had hoped that thou hadst flown from a scene of misery & peril, &
taken refuge in the salubrious vicinity of Wilmington.

From making these enquiries I was for a time diverted by the horrors with
which
  Paper is torn away by wax seal over the word which (except for the final h still legible on recto) but it is still legible on the paper still stuck to the seal on the verso I was myself environed. Indifference to danger made Wm Johnson determine
to maintain
  Just as with which in the line above, the letters to m (in to maintain) are torn away from to maintain but are still visible on recto, stuck to the back of the wax seal his post in the city. The duties of his profeßion, & an invincible persu=
=sion that his rigid temperance & lofty mind perfedtly exempted him from the attacks
of the prevailing epidemic, made Elihu form the same determination. Various motives
induced me to follow their example. Some of them were laudable & other censurable.

Elihu, whose reputation & pratice, was rapidly increasing, quickly became involved
in numerous & arduous ingagements. In spite of prediction he was among the first to
contract this disease, but his constitution & habits, though insufficient to ward off the
pest, lightened the attack, & restored him, in a week or ten days, to imperfect health.

His anxieties & fatigues were renewed. In addition to there causes of disquiet, which
existed abroad, the reception under our roof of an amiable man, a stranger, illustrious for talents & attain=
the witneßing his lingering & excruciating death, was a powerful addition. On the night when
his friend’s symptoms bespoke him to be dying, Elihu was seized with uncommon violence.
In two days, a fatal Stupor, gangrenous stomach, & the detestable vomit shewed his death
to be inevitable. This event happened on the fourth day. Such was the end of genius & virtue.

A week after, & as soon as I regained strength enough to walk to the pacquet–boat, I
embarked for this place. Since I have been here, a letter dated the 18th Septr. was recieved from
thee, through the medium of the post=office at N York. Shortly before I had of thy welfare



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from my brother, & I am just informed that thou wast, on the last week at Burlington, where
If I had likewise been, I should have had the good fortune to meet with thee

It is strange, but is a mortifying truth that I knew nothing of the condition of the
Paxsons but such information as was conveyed by News Papers where the name of our
friend Timothy appeared as Clerk to the Heath Office.

I have been hindered, by inclement weather from going, this day, to Burlington. I
have some faint hope of meeting thy Debby there, that being the most probable purpose
which could have occasioned thy journey. Perhaps, before I leave Burlington I may meet
with thee there.

Octob. 26
Burlington

I arrived here yesterday, but understand that thou hast returned to Wilmington.
I know not what are to be thy motions in the next fortnight or whether we shall have
an opportunity of meeting before my return to New York. I am in hopes of hearing from
thee, at least, by letter. I shall be here long enough to recieve it, if thou wilt favour me
with a script.

Farewell, C. B. B

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Joseph Bringhurst Junr
Merchant
Wilmington
Delaware.~

[8 indication of postage page, written by hand in top right corner]

[Docketed at top of address sheet, in Deborah Ferris’ hand, Burlington 26 Oct 98]


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