Matthew Franklin letter to Charity Rotch, New York, 4th mo 11 1804

              B-255-5
 [page 1]
   Endeared Friend                   New York 4 mo 11 1804
     I take my pen in hand this Evening to say, thy precious remem-
  brance of 25th ultimo. came to my Hands a few days ago, the sala-
  tary Contents whereof, imparted pleasure and Instruction to my mind,
  and the various remarks therein contained are duly noted, permit
  me to observe that I am willing to comply with all thy rea-
  sonable requests, and in conformity expect to avoid skewing thy Letters,
  but to burn them cannot consent; but in the present case
  thou wilt please allow me to dissent very widely from thee in opinion:
  every letter I have recd from thee, I lock carefully up in my portable desk
  and peruse them occasionally to my comfort and Edification. I wish
  thou would hereafter, trust me with a free insertion of such remarks as
  thou hast to make, without imposing any restraint; on my assurances that
  I shall consider them as from a beloved Sister, and exercise that pru-
  dence which such a relationship would dictate; thou sees I impart
  no such charge to thee, fully relying on thy prudence, and Judgement
  and believing thou can so enter into my feelings on the occasion, as not to
  exhibit them improperly; but if my Letters were penn'd with that free
  and easy and correct expression that thine are; I would not care
  
  if the Great Mogul should see them.  I feel so uncommonly
  barren of Ideas to night that I cannot seem to catch a sentiment
                                             considerable
  worth insertion; but as thou seems to place ^value on such in-
  formation as relates to the Circle  of thy acquaintance here shall state
  a few as they occur.  In the first place i spent this Evening at Jacob
  Barkers, in company with Hannah L Fisher  Richard Imlay