Samuel R. Fisher letter to Charity Rotch, Philadelphia, 12 mo 24. 1819

              B-249-1 
Dear Sister                                      Philadelphia 12 mo:24 1819
         The perusal of thy Letter of 7 Instant, was attended with much satisfaction&
comfort to my mind, as well in the tender sympathy touching the Change & bereavement to me
allotted.Now,in my advanced age more particularly, as to our Children, the want of the 
Aid, example & guidance of their dear Mother whose solicitude for their being fixed & established
by a Surrender to the secret Convictions of their won minds individually, in the blessed Truth
was greater, than all things else put together, in her contemplations both in time of 
health or when in weakness of body, uppermost with her & in which I who remain in charge
behind, desire also to continue to participate, whilst I may have my days prolonged, that 
 I may have an acquittal in having done, what I could.
         And I felt much satisfaction & energy of mind from the whole tenor of thy Letter
touching thyself & Brother Thomas s distant residence from the whole of your Relations
amidst the varied Changes, & overturnings in the Concerns of the world, which have been
allotted, & are no doubt continued in all parts of this Land know to me providentially
for our instruction & guidance, if rightly listened to, into & in the paths, which would
cause a Return back into the possession of the principle of Truth, on which our
ancestors became established thro great distress & suffering in the Light, which did
preserve & render their lives & conversations to carry & Savor, with them living & to
continue to Survivor s of their time.  And when the principles & profession our religious
Society, & the very great derangement & unsettlement, which surround touching the Concerns
of the World, are compared together, how difficult is the path for the rising generation
in particular, & indeed, where shall we find Strength & Support, in any Individual
instruction under a belief, that amidst every privation of the Company & Aid of near
relatives & friends, the latter often very dear, as well s the former, thy mind is borne
& stedfast is near, tho at times unperceived- I am led thus to address thee because
my mind, from the Solemn day of the peaceful Close of the dear Companion of my
bosom, thy Sister dear to thee, the Stroke in your lonely, comparatively, so, situation
tho surrounded by many friends, might be heavier to thee, in the first Instance &
consequently to the dear Husband if not so to him on the first case you could
well bear, but from a belief that You will both be yet stayed & comforted in the
paths allotted you- my mind rises above the imaginations naturally flowing
on this Solemn occasion & if I may be favored, so effectually to listen to the voice
of divine direction & guidance to the End, this, will keep me from unsettlement
under this Close trial, & all others, that may yet await, but yet not without my
seasons of desertions, whereby my standing may be proved & the Sympathy of my friends
may both openly & secretly, s well as distant, come often to the Aid of my mind in
my declining Years- in quiet contemplation thereon & on those from whom it flows-
              Warren Gifford a friend well esteemed resident at Westport, sat our on
                                                Our Nephew
Seventh day the 19 Ins accompanied by James Arnold, as we are informed on a Visit to
this City & its vicinity- was to be at Meeting at providence on 20th but of his progress 
this way, as yet we know not, or the probably time of his being here the home in the City, is