Samuel R. Fisher letter to Thomas Rotch, Philadelphia 5 mo 20, 1801

              B-59-4
page 1

                                   Philadelphia 5 mo 20, 1801
Dear Brother
                         It was & has been my intention to have made earlier reply to thy very acceptable letter, after so long a silence on thy part giving so satisfactory information of your new habitation & residence a hartford, more particuarly as to the State of your inds under a belief, that your movements, began under many discouragements have ripened so far, under your continued watchfulness, & desires to be found in your right places, as to afford a hope, that preservation will be vouchsafed you amongst the many sorts of observers & Lookers on & that from time to time you will be favored with seasons of confirmation to your steps, & gradually experience that desirable establishment of your minds, which arises from a faithful surrender, like what I have always believed to be the motive of your removal from the seemingly stationary place of your abode, among your dearest relatives & friends- I hope you will be blessed with ability to stand fast, & steadfast,  whereby in due Season enlargement, will no doubt be granted you, whether the whole of your days may be principally in Connecticut or not. 
      My dr H wrote to Sister Charity a few days past, pr Mary Gilbert, giving an account of the afflicted state of our family, which probably may get to hand about the same time as this, from that time the 16 Inst. i have slowly got better so as to be pretty much free from fever, have walked out a little & rode out this day to our place, with attention & care, it looks like my being again favored with health, I do not remember for the course of many years, to have been as much Sick, or attacked with Bodily complaint. Mary Palmer, one of our domesticks seems to have got well of the Scarlet fever. Dr. Deborahs swelling on one side of her neck, has very much increased & being [illegible]