Lydia Rotch Dean letter to Thomas Rotch, New Bedford, 9th mo 5th 1803

              B-43-2
page 1

                                New Bedford 9th mo 5th 1803
I have derived so much satisfaction this morning from the perusal of thy leter, my belov'd Brother, recieved last month by our dear parents (during my absence at Nantucket) that I am desirous of employing af ew leisure moments in attempting to convey to thy mind an idea of the emotions produced in mine with a hope of encouragng the inclination thou hast frequently manifested to make us acquainted with occurrences relation to your present allotment in that land, where Gospel Power seems gradually arising to dispel the clouds & remove the shackles, that ignorance, prejudice, and peraps artifice, have long too successfully veiled the brightness of from those eyes it was designed in a universal degree to enlighten: How hath the knowledge of its progress become inceasingly interesting to us, since my dear Brother & Sister made a surrender of every other prospect, to labour in that part of the Vineyard; I cannot with exactness compute the additional value it hath received, neiher is it requisite I trust to say much to give you a renewed assurance that we are grateful for your attention, whenever disposed to convey us some particular of your situation, that we can & do rejoice in your late discovery of exercised minds in your own borders, & that you ahve also been refreshed by the company of those frds who had recently left you. The intelligence continued respecting dr R Mott was ruly acceptable and give rise to reflections that I hope were edifying-exciting a wish, secretly to magnify the office of that power which can so efficaciously overturn, and hath prepared a peculiar instrument ofr usefulness in that Land, raising an aspiration that a Blessing may so descend upon part & future obedience to the Divine Call, that the word preached may effect the purpose graciously designed, to the gathering