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Savannah, June 4^th / 53
Saturday night

My dear William

I hope you have time and
patience to read a long letter, for
I have so long restrained my desire
to write to you, that this bids fair
to test your brotherly kindness -
brotherly or friendly, you have never
yet failed me dear William, &
my love for you & yours, is so far
"perfect," that it has "cast out fear" -

Ever since I heard of your great
affliction last summer, I have
been thinking a great deal of you
and Hannah, but it was not then
I most wished to write you - What
could I say to reconcile you to a blow
coming from a power, to which
you had never submitted myself yourself?