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New York August 1 1800

I was sorry to hear your brother say he intended to defer his journey to Maryland till autumn as I well knew how anxious
you were to pass part of the summer there, but my dear Margaret it was not very unexpected to me. When in returning to New York you spoke to your brother about his Maryland plans, you seemed [] he said he would go during the summer. you expressed your wishes to accompany him but at the same time said you wished Sister Jane could go and that if she could you would willingly relinquish your seat to her.

"You think it would be of service to her health?" -- said your brother. "Not particularly on that account, but it would gratify her so much, she is so desirous of going thither" -- "And so is Patty, and she has never been there." -- From the manner in which this was spoken it occurred to me immediately that his mind would dwell on the pleasure this [excursion] would afford her, and that he would delay going till she could be his companion.

I thought, my dear Margaret, there was a little imprudence on your part, in showing your brother that you were more desirous Sister Jane should go, than his wife. His manner of answering made me imagine he did not quite like your apparent preference, and I thought at the time, that this might make the balance incline in favor of Mrs B---, --

Perhaps it is not worth while to say so much upon this subject, but it occurred as an instance of that little impropriety of manner which I have often mentioned to you without being able to explain. A freedom in declaring our own opinions and wishes, which though perfectly correct in themselves, may in a slight degree much wound the feelings of others.