(seq. 18)

[fol. 2v]

O! let it be E.W! I know not what would have been
the consequence, ere now, had I not esteemed her too
deserving. Mistake not this for love. We cannot sincerely
love but one. Call it the next to love, and I am content-
ed. Think, how happy I should be to have a dear
friend connected with one, for whol I have the warm-
est friendship.

Yesterday I attended a musical entertainment
at Brookfield, for Fiske's parish. The music was both
instrumental and vocal, performed by the most noted
musical characters in this and the neighboring
towns. The number of performers was about sixty.
There were three bass-viols, a bassoon, three violins,
half a dozen flutes, a clarinet and a hautboy, to
regulate the voices. The pieces were mostly modern,
American productions. Denmark, Amesbury, &c.
were, however, were performed to show how infi-
nitely we are exceeded by Europeans in music-
al taste. Among the musicians, and as a per-
former on the clarinet I with pleasure recog-
nized our brother Baxter. My heart beat in uni-
son with to every note he played. Brother! Methinks,
there is something uncommonly alluring in the
term. We may feel the ardor friendship for those
of the same society. We may be closely allied by
similarity of profession. But a union with sis-
ters souls must form a more endearing tie.

Next month, Heaven support me! I

[fol. 2r]

expect to commence the study of Divinity. My face
now turned toward Cambridge. I have thought
much on the subject. Do give me your opin-
ion, with your reason, for and against study-
ing at C. and with some private gentleman.
You have tried both situations, and can give me
important advice. From present view, I con-
fess a preference to my Alma Mater; but
there may exist inconveniences in that situ-
ation, which I do not realize. Classmates
Fletcher and Whitney advise me by a no
means to study at C. Can it be that[ ]
they wish to diminish the number of
candidates at College? Charity forbids me
to decide.

I will not forbear to mention to my be-
novolent friend the havoc made among the
youth of this vicinity by the by the canker-rash, as
it is called. In many instances 3 or 4 have
died in a family. Its rage is, however, abating.
In some small towns there have died to the
number of 30 and 40.

Do give me every particular of your
ordination.

I am with much cordiality your sincere
Philos.