File C/191. - To his [first] wife [Mary Lewis],

His friend W[illia]m Cooper has informed writer that recipient was even better than was expected; the sound of the words our separation hitherto vibrates in writer's ears; he now writes to her from 'this place' [Harpton] as his acknowledged wife in the life time of the only person who has kept them so long asunder; writer wishes to consider the various difficulties they have yet to struggle with; he is confident on account of her persevering prudence in that long exile she has so lately emerged from; the country 'here' hope she is destined to live amongst them, and will naturally call for a due exertion of those qualities which she is happily possessed of; a regular servitude of full 8 years has made him know those persons he is now with well - his uncle is the declared enemy of every thing to which he can affix the name of elegance or pleasure, while his aunt, from an intolerably bad education, is ignorant of every qualification w[hi]ch serves to alleviate the many troubles of life; his father had wished that writer would not experience one quarter of the uneasiness which he himself had received from each of them; writer submits to a thousand things his [nature] abhors in the interest of his family and the very great objects he has in view; whereas they have been wading through a sea of troubles in different vessels, they will soon embark in the same vessel. Endorsed is: Note stating his uncle and aunt did not visit Bedford Row, 1774, Oct. 22.