Richard Imlay letter to Thomas Rotch, Trenton 2 mo 11 1817

               
  B-102-16
      My Friends         Trenton 2 mo 11, 1817
         Presuming it will not be uninteresting to you
  to be informed of my safe arrival at this place and
  some of the particulars of the Journey I have just taken
  My pen in hast to scratch a letter.  We ware two
  days from Kendal to Pittsburge from Pittsburgh to Philad
  one week making us Nine Days from Kendal
  to Philad which I presume is the shortest space of time
  that ever any Carriage has come in we got as
  far s R Ways Fathers and took our Wagon. The
  snow in the Mountains was from 3 to 4 feet Deep, in Many
  places I could but Regret you had not started
  you could never have had a better time for a
      over the mountains
  sled^I may say the snow was good from Kendal
                             I was informed
  to this place and on to Boston^ you will not
  forget I gave you an Invitation to come. I must
  say I suffered much with the Cold, all the Rivers
  are frozen and the Ice from 10 to 15 inches thick
  we Came over the Allegany at Pittsburg on the Ice
  with my Carriage, Indeed it would have been a fair
  time to visit your Relatives & friends. My Health is
  tolerable,I am home but cannot see any
  thing of my wife and as near as I can learn am
  not like to for 2 month or more. Indeed I have concluded
  I am one of those who has a Wife as the I had her not
  but I can assure you as Franklin tells us this is
  paying to dear fro the Whistle. You may rely the
  old Bachelor is not a good game for one that has
  had a wife. I hope much good may come of all
  this I will try to hold out to the End.
   Your relatives & friends in Philad are much disappointed
  at your not coming. Enquiry & interest is shewn on your acct.