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before Quakerism can stand forth triumphant as in ancient days - we had the satisfaction to meet our mutual friend M H Beede at New port and at this place I believe his friends were glad to see him and were willing that he should [?] all gospel [freedom?] among them - my health continues very [poor?] though I have not been prevented from attending meetings in consequence of it yet it is often through considerable suffering physically that I sit through them [respecting?] the mental suffering it is not for one so poor and unworthy as me to complain we are [looking?] [some?] towards being released from this place after tomorrow that being first day but [which?] [may?] we shall [?] [?] do not certainly know - I just now met in J Ms store a man by the name of Hadly who [said?] he [was?] well acquainted with [?] Rachel [said?] he lived in the same house with her perhaps when she kept school on the Island. I am admonished by my paper to close this hastily [written?] note & to my [?] [?] with much love to you and every branch of thy family in [?] my [Abby?] [unites?] yours affectionately
N C Hoag
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[R?] 7th mo 8 64
Dear Cousin,
S L. Stevens
Since I last were there in New York thou hast been often the companion of my thoughts & I have felt much sympathy for thee in thy [various?] [trials?] & have thought that the expression of that sympathy might be acceptable to thee, having [tried?] much in the same [tried?] path in respect to [?] [?]; I should be excedingly glad to learn that thou [suceeded?] in the [disposal?] of [potent?] [?] to thy mind but have heard nothing respecting it since we so unceremoniously parted. I will just say to thee (perhaps it may do thee no hurt) that I even found in my greatest extremity even [when?] destruction seemed like a gulf yawning before me, the best way to [resolve?] to do the hurt I [caused?] under the circumstances in which I found myself placed & leave the rest to the [dispersal?] of a gracious [Providener?], resolving come what might to look to Him who holds the destinies of men in his hands for support
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I have had prospects of adversity [never?] at [hand?], but ever [found?] in spirit to come [?] my [mind?] when I could confidently [?] to the right source for help, but this is not at our command at all times & some times is not easy to attain & is to be waited for in as much patience as we can command, [than?] with excuse we [?] [?] this freely, I trust there is no other course than the expression of my feelings for & with thee - after leaving N [York?] we came to Newport & were very kindly received by our kind and affectionate cousin N Williams & Sister & family my health continued poor through [the?] Y M [?] & braced up considerably by the cool [?] air in addition to attending the Y M which was considered a very good one I was at Portsmouth on first day after Y M & [had?] [an?] [appointed?] mety or rather the [afternoon?] meety adjourned to [five?] [o'clock?] at Nport which was [?] attended [?] [?] [satisfactory?], we have been at all the meetings in [?] and found them generally small at Greenwich [?] [Meety?] there was but ten men & most of them gray headed not a young man or boy to
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look to as a [future?] standard bearer [much?] [?] has [?] made there, yesterday we were at the funeral of an elderly [woman?] friend at Lower Smithfield her name was Mary her family not friends the neighbours with the few friends that belong there made a respectable meeting for [?] hers and the good [?] [was?] present, to lead us had there been a right application to [?] - as it was at proceed a [?] of [?[ your friend D [Jinkerman?] there & we had met her there before for we were there last 7th day at their usual meety & met [?] middle aged [?] one young man (& he is going to [?]) & one lad the womans [apartment?] was but little better filled, the prospect of an increase certainly looks doubtful in this [land?] - I think it is [said?] in Job that there is hope of a tree if it be cut down that it will [sprout?] again and that the tender branches thereof shall not [cease?]; but the only ground of hope for a revival in many places in this land is only in the mercy of the great shepherd of his flock, have much may be done for the restoration of the [?] plans is not for me to say, but this I may safely conclude that there must be an increase of faith & [?] [?]
