Page 1 [Upper left corner] xx [Upper right corner] [about 1847] Thursday afternoon Dear Lizzie We were very glad to see his honor Mr. Caukins last evening. We asked him a great many questions about all of you and had he been a woman we should have asked him great many more. Papa left a bundle for you at Wempsville last week. Have you received it yet? - We are glad that Cousin Garrit is trying the efficacy of Homeopathy and thinks of trying Hydrotherapy also. I fear for him however, the drunkard will return to his cups and he perchance to his [doctrine of ointments] and to the strong excitement of some painful operation, tho’ I will hope for the best. We are all well here. The moving is to commence next week. Mrs. Bayard will be here in a few days. On Monday I take up the line of March for Boston where I hope to meet the Eaton tribe about the third week in April as their last letters said they should sail from Liverpool the 4th of April. I suppose you have heard of Mary Delavan’s engagement to Clarkson Patton. Dr. Spragues’ church ______________________ Page 2 is to be opened on Sunday - it has been closed during the winter for repairs. Mrs. Morris’ son Owen has an appointment in the army. Lieut. of the artillery[sic]. I see some of your relations occasionally. I believe they are all flourishing. We spent a very pleasant evening with Sarah on her return from Peterboro. She speaks very highly of your domestic accomplishments and of your discipline both of yourself and boy. I have the greatest desire to see you in your own home and I certainly shall before the 1st of June. Tell Charlie that I shall parley and reason no more with him but we shall meet in fair fight in the groves of Peterboro before long. The direction of his last letter to me caused such violent and contrived outbreaks of laughter among the post office boys that they all lost their situations, only think of their sorrowing parents, and their own young hopes so suddenly and strangely blasted. In Henry’s last letter to me he says he is much better than he has been during the winter - he dreads the change from Boston to Seneca and I fear he will long for the strong excitement of a city life, tho’ I hope after a time he will be happy and contented there. I am sure I shall find ______________________ Page 3 the country and that climate is very delightful. At all events Henry will have rest there and health too I hope when we get beyond the reach of those east winds. Mama sends much love to you, Charley cousins Nancy and Gerrit and I join with her. Do write and tell us how you are and what you are doing reading and c, Your Cousin Lib. P.S. Tell cousin Gerrit that he will no doubt be toasted by the paddies at all their public dinners for years to come. What indescribable suffering the poor Irish must be now undergoing. It seems to me the best way to relieve them is to bring them here to our land of plenty. I think instead of mourning over the increase of emigration, we should rejoice for surely their condition is improved. The tigers send love to Green. Tell him they have not yet turned into lambs. ______________________ Page 4 Elizabeth Smith Miller Peterboro Madison Co N.Y. ______________________ Page 5 Cousin Charley to observe the direction E.C. Stanton - Albany - ______________________ Page 6 [typed transcript] [crossed out] Original in Alma Lutz Collection Thursday afternoon (about 1847) Dear Lizzie: We were very glad to see his honor Mr. Calkins last evening. We asked him a great many questions about all of you & had he been a woman we should have asked him a great many more. Papa left a bundle for you at Wemssville last week. Have you received it yet? We are glad that Uncle Gerrit is trying the efficacy of homeopathy and thinks of trying Hydropathy also. I fear for him however, the drunkard will return to his cups & he perchance ? & to the strong excitement of some painful operation, tho’ I will hope for the best. We are all well here. The moving is to commence next week. Mrs. Bayard will be here in a few days. On Monday I take up the line of march for Boston where I hope to meet the Eaton tribe about the third week in April as their last letter said they should sail from Liverpool the 4th of April. I suppose you have heard of Mary Delavan’s engagement to Clarkson Pattee. Dr. Sprague’s church is to be opened on Sunday - it has been closed during the winter for repairs. Mrs. Morris’ son Owen has an appointment in the army Lieut. of the Artillary. I see some of your relations occasionally. I believe they are all flourishing. We spent a very pleasant evening with Sarah on her return from Peterboro. She speaks very highly of your domestic accomplishments & your discipline both of yourself & boy. I have - the greatest desire to see you in your own home & I certainly shall before the 1st of June. Tell Charlie that I shall parley & reason no more with him but we shall meet in fair fight in the groves of Peterboro before long. The direction of his last letter to me caused such violent & continued outbreaks of laughter among the postoffice boys that they all lost their situations, only think of their sorrowing parents & their own young hopes so suddenly & strangly blasted. In Henry’s last letter to me he says he is much better than he has been during the winter - he dreads the change from Boston to Seneca & I fear he will long for the strong excitement of a city life, tho’ I hope after a time he will be happy & contented. I am sure I shall, for the country & that climate is very delightful. At all events Henry will have rest there & health too I hope when we get beyong the reach of those south winds. Mama sends much love to you. Charley, Cousins Nancy & Gerrit & I join with her. Do write & tell us how you are & what you are doing, reading &c. Your Cousin Lib. PS-Tell Cousin Gerrit that he will no doubt be toasted by the paddies at all their public dinners for years to come. What indescribable suffering the poor Irish must now be undergoing. The best way to relieve them is to bring them here to our land of plenty. I think instead of mourning over the increase of migration, we should rejoice for surely their condition is improved. The tigers send their love to Green. Tell him they have not yet turned into lambs. Addressed to Elizabeth Smith Miller Peterboro Madison Co. Cousin Charley observe the direction E.C. Stanton,Albany, N.Y.