EN(seq. 3)
Facsimile
Transcription
[fol. 1v]
Leicester
No. 3. 30 August, 1794.
{ Stamp}
To be left at the Post-Office, Boston.
Rec'd Sept. 11. Way 10
Mr Abiel Abbot, A. B.
Andover.
3'd
Answered Sep 22. 94
Noticed his observations on the looseness of sentiment & practice - the rid-
icule of Deists less pernicious to religion, than the bitterness of parties- His
grey bearded friend- Neglect of E. W. Remarks on a tour to Dartmouth–
Example of contentment in poverty & retirement- News of the Day.
[fol. 1r]
No.3 Mr Leicester, August 30th 1794.
Dear friend,
Your very agreeable letter of
Aug. 2d. I received at an early period after its
date. I had previously sent one by a Collegian
to the care of junior Abbot; supposing the
conveyance would be speedier, and probably
as sure. I feel happy in being relieved from a
fear, that your worthier correspondents would
claim all your leisure moments.
Your sentiments on letter writing are
very just. Nothing pleases, like the undisguised
effusions of a benevolent heart, and an intel-
ligent head. But when, in attempting ease, one
produces you a mess of incoherent, unintellig-
ble nonsense; or, aiming to be more critical,
clothes a parcel of trite ideas with a ragged
and offensive dress, I feel his condition to be
truly deplorable.
Your geographical sketches afforded me
great pleasure. My narrow acquaintance with
Notes and Questions
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Line 7: In all previous transcription versions of this letter, including my own, the terminal writing of this line have been interpreted as "May10." In fact this word/phrase is "Way 10." The capital "W" has been mistaken for a capital "M" and the phrase "Way 10" has been assumed to be "May 10."
At this location (the exterior;address position) on multiple other letters, various numbers are present; some numbers are more obvious than others; some with the prefix "Way," others with the suffix "h." While I am unsure what the term "Way" represents, I am reasonably confident that these numbers indicate the time of day (i.e., hours), likely when the letter was delivered into the care of the local Post Office.
The most common of these numbers/time of day is "8" but "12h" and "6" are also found. The number "8" on the address/exterior of these letters has a somewhat awkward appearance. However, there are multiple examples of "8" found in the correspondence scattered throughout the collection of letters which I believe support my interpretation.