Tuesday Evening Phila. 14th Augt.
I am very anxious for the Health of my dearest Girl and her lovely Infant in consequence of your letter of the 12th recd this Day. Let me intreat You, upon the Receipt hereof, to ride every Day with the Baby, until You are both recovered. The Morning before the Heat comes on, is the best Time: but your Arrangement must be such as to reduce it to a Certainty. You will be in before the Heat rises [?]. Should you neglect it in the Morning be Sure to ride in the Evening, for nothing will serve either of you so much as Exercise: and if You find the least Difficulty about a Carriage, hire a Hackney. What a question You have proposed respecting your little Image, whether I should not have thot you vain in proposing that I should take it? Should I at this period think you vain for supposing You have my sincerest Affection? For supposing that I am never happy without You? For supposing when you are with me, my Joys are doubled and Sorrows divided? Would you entertain then a Doubt that in your absence your Miniature would be the best Relief next to that of reading your letters and knowing this, knowing that my Happiness would be promoted by seeing it, how could You be supposed vain in rendering me such an act of Kindness? I know and revere You my life for your Delicacy, but have you not in this extended it a little too far? Mr. Martin I saw at Convention: he rode from Trenton in the forenoon and had nearly fainted when he dismounted, on account of the Heat. I called on Mrs. Martin this Evening but did not find her at her Lodgings. This City is now and has been for several Days excessive hot. Your Bill shall be honored for the Bodricks [?]. The Tea I shall not take, but shall comply with your Wishes, if I should find any better. I think you conducted perfectly right with respect to your Uncle. Would it not be best lest Child Should not be accurate in delivering your Message, to send him a line informing him of your Reasons for not accepting a partial payment, and that You had thus communicated them to prevent Mistakes or any misconstructions? I was writing to you on Sunday Morning, but I should have Spent the Day in Festivity, had I known it had been your Birth Day. God Grant my lovely Nancy, You may Live to see birth Days repeated, until Satiated with the Happiness of this Life. You ardently pant for that which is more compleat and permanent. Colonel Hamilton returns to New York tomorrow Morning. I have with him gone thro the Bill for settling the residuary Estate of Mary Walters, having made some material Alteration. Others proposed, he thinks it best to communicate on principles of Delicacy to Mr. Harrison before he adopts them; and having taken the Bill with your pappa's Notes and the Will to New York, he has promised me to see your pappa and Mrs. Harrison on arriving there and to make the necessary Alterations. I have sent by him a pamphlet on female Education. I should write your pappa had you not mentioned his Absence but you will communicate this on his Return. I was on Sunday Evening at Mrs. Cadwalladers with Major Butler and General Wayne. Mrs. Bond was also there and the Ladies made very particular enquiry about you and the Baby. They desired me to be frequent in my Visits and to give their Regards to you. Wayne says he saw Mrs. Reed in South Carolina; that she has lost her Colour entirely and has a sallow Appearance; and that Reed having frequently boasted there of his powers in Gallantry is chagrined exceedingly at having no prospects favourable to their Wishes. The Miss Bonds have wrote to their Mamma desiring her to give Information to their Brother that the Weather is too hot for him to return here at present: but their Sister observed on it, that they could not expect a Continuance of such Attention and did not view them in the proper light.
I was last Evening at Mrs. Morris: who was very particular and so was Mr. Morris about you and the Baby. General Mifflin inquired this Morn- ing whether you was in Town, as he heard different Stories about it and Mrs. Mifflin wished to call on you. I informed him you was not and altho I have a great Respect for Mrs. Mifflin I certainly shall not call on her, because this is too much like Philadelphia Hospitality. I am very sure it is his Maneuvre not hers. Adieu my dearest Life, my Regards as usual to the Family, kiss little poppet heartily for both of us & be assured I am ever yours affectionately E. Gerry