fore excuse only with love, and to the little ones as if mentioned by name, with compliments to all inquiring friends, and know me to be without a preamble, Your affectionate brother, Mrs. Ruth Patten. RALPH WHEELOCK. Dear Sister, DARTMOUTH, May 15th, 1775. I find an additional circumstance to my comfort of mind in my retired and secret devotion, that I have a sister so near and dear to me, with her little flock around, whom I can with so much pleasure remember, and hope desires ever to meet at the fountain head, without contradiction, or a mistrustful thought. I wrote you by Esquire Curtis in great hurry, which I conclude you received, as I now do by Mr. Smith the bearer, a tutor of Dartmouth, of a modest, amiable disposition, who comes in haste on affairs of our father. The oeconomy of our country, and family, are much as they were when I first wrote. Our parent lives with a load daily on his shoulders, which at times, appears insupportable, and no earthly friend to unbosom himself to, as is most agreeable to his natural mind, though, I doubt not, he finds a leaning place at times-all is better. I have but little converse with the house more than a stranger, and did I not at times find freedom in my nearest approach to the feet of mercy, it seems to me, my trials would be insupportable; but blessed be God, when earthly burdens are greatest, heavenly joys are sweetest. I believe something will yet appear in the plan of our God by and by to the world, now unthought of, though it is only a thought. How are your circumstances? and--I am yet undetermined where to set my stakes for life, but was that concluded many hinderances would arise. I wait on God. Give duty, love and compliments to all, as due, especially to some of our old Christian friends. Write me particularly by the bearer when he returns. I want to converse with you more than is proper to write. Remember me in your nearest and warmest approaches to the throne of grace, and believe me to be as ever Your affectionate brother, RALPH WHEELOCK. Mrs. Patten. HARTFORD, June 5th, 1775. What is it, my dear sister, that causes our profound silence? Is it carelessness or indolence or a scene of cares, or a want of love? I hope it is not the latter. I have felt myself reproved when I thought of your great trials-the loss of your two daughters, though my information was accidental. We live in a dying world however hard it may be to realize it. I hope they were prepared, and that you reap the great blessing of sanctified afflictions--they are necessary for us, we cannot grow in a Christian life without them. What a happiness it ought ever to afford us that the perfections of our God are infinite; that His promises to us are sufficient for our support and comfort. May we ever be enabled to rest all that is dear in His hands. I shall send this by cousin Woodward, he can tell you every thing respecting my family that I can write. Do, my dear sister, let me have a line from you soon, and believe me, Your sympathizing and affectionate sister, Mrs. Young. Ever Dear Sister, HANOVER, September 1st, 1775. I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of August ult., and sincerely partake with you in deep sorrow for the departure of our dear sisters. It becomes us to submit, cheerfully, to the decrees of our Heavenly Father. Whatever may be the afflictions, they are all in mercy to those who love Him. Let us feel as strangers and pilgrims here below. Our journey is short, but if we are faithful under Jesus, our great Captain, we shall, ere long enter into the promised land--ere long, become inhabitants of the new Jerusalem, and join with our Fathers, the saints and angels, in the banquet of eternal love and praise. I have lately visited our brother Ralph W.* His health appears as good except the decays of age, as it has been for many years past, though somewhat unsettled in mind, and occasionally desponding, yet he appears to experience a well grounded hope that in due time he shall enter that rest which is prepared for the people of God, to whom he devoted himself in his early days, and had commenced serving in the gospel ministry. We strongly hoped, and even expected, that you, or some of your dear family, would have visited us this season. We should be truly happy, could you, or they, come. We rejoice to be informed of your health, and of course anticipate the pleasure of seeing you as proposed, for you have as good a right as the rest of the world to oblige your friends with your agreeable company. Give love to your family, and make me happy by always hearing of your state and condition. I am dear sister, yours very affectionately, JOHN WHEELock. Very Dear Sisler,→ PLYMOUTH, 7th January, 1784. I intended to have written to you last June from the Hague, when I wrote to Mr. Pomeroy, but was prevented by the too early de * Partially deranged. parture of the vessel. A kind Providence prospered us as well as could have been expectedby the friendship of the Prince of Orange, his Court, and connections in the United States of Holland. In England we have procured a respectable philosophical apparatus, which is now enlarging, with a valuable addition to our library, by the generous attention of several eminent characters. We left London on the 3d of October, but suffered greatly by a series of violent gales of wind, in one of which, the ship was dismasted and shattered. We were driven into Halifax, Nova Scotia, about the last of December. After the vessel was repaired, we sailed for Boston; but, in a most severe gale of wind, were shipwrecked on the coast of Cape Cod, at 4 o'clock, A. M., on the 2d instant. A lady of New York, Mr. Jarvis of Boston, and several other gentlemen, were passengers with us. None, my dear sister, can conceive of our distress in the horrors of that night. Nothing but death appeared before us. But God was our helper, and deliverer. We think of Him in danger, but too little in prosperity. The lives of near forty persons were saved, though many things lostamong the rest, my strong box became a prey to the ocean, and all our money lost, and every important paper, some of which, were of five thousand pounds consequence to the Institution. We have had a very pleasing tour, and I had the happiness to form many agreeable and respectable connections of noble and honorable rank in |