Deerfield May 19 1819
Dear Brother
Mother wishes me to write you concerning her lameness she thinks it is no better it is very troublesome & she feels almost discouraged about its getting well she wishes you to be more particular in your next letter with how you enjoy yourself & how your health is, whether you are homesick & what you give for washing &c &c -
Miss Jackson has received a letter from Miss O White written in a most melancholy strain it was dated the 1st of May. Can you guess the cause? probably by this time she feels more resigned to her loss. Anne Saxton Miranda Wright & Rebecca Jackson have gone to Amherst to day to spend the night with Miss White. Nathaniel Boyden has taken your room at Widow Williams & boards with her you probably will hear of Mrs Leavits disappointment concerning the college Mrs Howard (Ann Williams) has been in town quite unwell she has had several turns of spitting blood & appears to be going into a consumption her friends are quite alarmed about her this I think shows us the uncertainty of all earthly enjoyments. this letter I think may be called a summary of domestic news very interesting to a Science or Mineralogist a Botanist or Chemist an Astronomer & a Master of Arts I had forgotten to tell you that a Mr F Cannon student at Williamstown called & left a letter & a few specimens of minerals for you from Jonathan Dewey which we intend to send you by Harry
[& Charles if they go to New Haven Miss Jackson expects to keep school in the hall & board at Widow Wells the whole school is to be under her care and she may employ ushers]
[Charles is going to court next week a Grand Juryman]
Emilia H
Edward Hitchcock's sister Emilia (calling herself "Emilie" in this letter) writes to him of news from home, making a point of letting him know that Orra White misses him. Emilie teases her brother toward the end about his myriad interests in the sciences.