Please to remember me suitably to inquiring friends, and accept of the kindest love. From your affectionate spouse, The children are asleep, so that they cannot send duty. Rev. William Patten. My Dear, HARTFORD, May 25th, 1767. I just now received the very great pleasure of a line from you by Mr. Dunbar. The comfortable state of our family, gives us both great cause of thankfulness. My mind is very much burdened on your account, lest so much more labor and care than you have been used to, or than I fear your constitution will well bear, will prove too hard for you; but, after a long storm, we have passed through. God can, and if it be best for us, He will, send a calm. I hope that we may be able to pass through good, as well as evil report, with a becoming temper. The people here, discover the kindest temper towards me how long it will continue, I must leave to Him who knows the heart. I have not given my answer, but am waiting for the people to take care of Mr. Whitman's support their committee is to wait on him this evening for that purpose. So far as I can see, I must settle here, unless I resist a call of providence. Possibly, I shall not be at home so soon as I expected, but would hope that you may be ready to remove by the middle of June. Better be ready a week too soon, than too late, as I shall bring some company with me, and it will be difficult to make a long stay. I have nothing new to write. I wrote last by Mr. Crocker, of Taunton, which I hope you have received. I have had an ill turn since I have been here, but it was of short continuance. Give tenderest love to our dear diveplank, and accept sincerest affection to yourself. Í commit you, my dear, and all ours, as I hope I am every day commended by you, to the tender mercy of that God who is so kind to the evil and unthankful. I am your truly affectionate husband, Mrs. Ruth Patten. P. S. I am sometimes quite homesick. I do not know how to think of home, or to write home, with the thought of being kept from it so long. But I trust we shall be together forever with the Lord. Wherefore let us comfort one another with these words. My Dear Children, ROXBURY, January 20th, 1768. I take this opportunity to write to you. We did hope to converse together by writing, although we could not see each other; but I think it is almost laid aside, for which I mourn. We once in a while hear from you by the post. We have not heard the particulars of your installment, which mothers want to hear. I hope you are well settled. I pray God to make you a good minister of Jesus Christ. You have gone through many difficulties; I hope you will have them still in remembrance, and be humble. We ought not to be lifted up by prosperity, nor cast down by adversity; but to put our trust in God, who orders all things for the best, for them that love Him. I long to see you all, but must submit to the divine will. I hope the distance between us will not make you forget your aged parents. Your father has been as well this winter as I ever knew him, except one ill turn. I have been very poorly. I would not forget to thank you both for your kindness to J. He followed Dr. H's. advice and got better. We all send love to yourselves, and yours; and desire your prayers for us. It has been as cold this winter as ever known. I hope you will write the first opportunity. I have many things to say, which I must omit. You will overlook my weakness. These, from your affectionate mother, I just take the liberty at the bottom of your mother's letter, to add my request that you will be so kind as to let us hear, if any thing material should occur relating to your circumstances, whether prosperous, or adverse; for we look on you as members with whom the whole body hath a mutual sympathy and concern. Yours, Mr. and Mrs. Patten. NATH'L PATTEN, FROM PRESIDENT WHEELOCK. Dear Mr. Patlen, LEBANON, February 6th, 1769, The first I heard of Wheelock's misfortune, was by Capt. Cushman, and the last account we had was a little more favorable, though upon the whole left little encouragement of his recovering a state of soundness. I should have visited you before now, if I could. It would be long and needless, to relate the scenes I have passed through, which have made the delay of my visit unavoidable. In addition to that which was upon my hands before, God has been graciously crowding my house for some time with convicted souls. The religious concern has now spread through the whole parish. Twenty were admitted into the church here yesterday, (one of whom was daughter Mary,)-four were propounded. There have been near thirty, in the judgment of charity, converted already, since the beginning of this season; and great numbers under awakening. I hope it is vet increasing. The ears of the people in general, are opened to hear the word, Assemblies full, and attention solemn. If you could leave your family, and flock, and keep Sabbath with us, it would be peculiarly agreeable to me, and my people. Through the pure mercy of God, the progress of this work has been such hitherto, that the accuser of the brethren has not been able to form any plausible objection either against the work itself, or the subjects or promoters of it. I much regret that my son, and scholars at college, should not have the opportunity which they might have here, of seeing the most important doctrines of the gospel clearly exemplified. I imagine they would get more of that knowledge which is most useful and necessary for a spiritual guide, in one month, than they can at college, without these advantages, in some years. We all givé love to you both, and yours, and especially your affectionate father, Rev. William Patten. ELEAZER WHEELOCK. ROXBURY, January 19th, 1775. My Dear Daughter,— It grieves me to write to you what I know will increase your sorrow; although my own is as much as I can well support under, yet I would gladly take a part of your's if it might ease you, if such a thing could be. My son, and your dear partner in life, is gone from a world of sorrow, to a state of joy and |