Letter from Sarah Parker Parrott to her mother, 11 June 1828

Hanover June 11th 1828

My dear Mother,

For a week past I have devoted every morning to reading, and have delayed writing until the afternoon, but I find the plan a very bad one, for I have been invariably interrupted and consequently have sent you letters that would scarcely have repaid you for the trouble of reading them, were it not for the agreeable intelligence they have contained of John. This morning I have made a new arrangement. We are very near the College, and are awakened every morning by the ringing of the bell, that calls the students up to prayers at five o'Clock -- the bell rings at 1/2 past 4 to arouse them & then at 5 to summon them to the chapel. I am obliged to avail myself of this if I wish to appear at the breakfast table at 6 - I met such a formidable company of gentlemen yesterday, that I thought I would be excused for the future. Among them is a Mr Mitchel, nearly black, whom President Brown brought with him from one of the southern states, when he was travelling for his health a short time before his death - he is between thirty & forty years old, has lost a wife & two children, and

has now nearly finished his collegiate course - destined for the ministry. He is an intelligent man & very highly respected by the government and students. Mrs Oliver is a singular being - she was a young lady of Salem, of a large fortune, had been indulged in every wish & never knows restaint - She has four children, but these are not sufficient to engage her attention during her husbands absence - as a medical lecturer, he is necessarily absent frequently, and often for two or three months at a time - she spends her this time usually in weeping and lamentations - Mrs Farrar has invited her to come there & cry as much as she pleases - - I am very much pleased with Hanover, & were it not for the anxiety I feel for those at home, I should be very happy - Dr Mussy will be at home today or tomorrow - and then you will have a more interesting account of John, than I can give you now - He is finely this morning - and sends a great deal of love to his dear Mamma. From the charges Martha gives me about writing I should imagine I had been remiss, if I were not quite sure I have sent a letter to the office every day since I have been here, with the exception of Sunday. You may depend, dear Mother, I have too great a regard for your feelings, to neglect writing a single day. I wrote a very hasty letter to Martha last evening - not a suita ble return for her kindness - but the best I could make at that time -- I intend to write to John Flagg and Mrs [Orn] shortly - to-mor-

[sideways words across the page]: Love, & kisses for my dear Augusta & her baby John sends the same.

row I hope. I saw a Miss Lawrence yesterday at the chemical Lecture — she is visiting M^rs Chamberlain. She mentioned Miss Sleeper as a particular friend of hers. M^rs Farrar passed last evening with John - she treats him [precasily] as if he were her brother - I had no idea that M^r Farrar was half as agree able as I have found him. I expect Bonaparte & William have had a warm time in New Orleans - Bonaparte says he expects to be obliged to leave them in [bellast] but nothing was determined upon - John [&ct] will be very happy to hear from Emily [Po]- I hope she will write, will you remember us kindly to her, dear Mother. - We are in daily expectation of Sally's letter, our love to her too if you please. I said nothing to Robert of Miss Babcock, in my last letter. That could have been at all offensive, tell Martha - I hope to hear from her soon - I trust we shall have a more favorable account of Un[cle][...] Enoch the next time I hear from home - his care must be a distressing one - and I hope you will succeed in seeing Aunt Susan, [dearest] Mother - and in restoring kind feelings if possiblehas any one else seen her? I will write to all my dear brothers & sisters soon - [in a-] particular manner - but until then, they must receive my letters as I [interest] them to to the family generally - I hope Martha will send one or two of her pretty little ladies & gentlemen - We have the N. H. Observer from M^r Pulnam, and the advertises from M^rs Ladd It would be agreeable to see the [pennies] if convenient to send it, on "the [Legar] of the times" - My dear father, I am greatly obliged to you for your kind attention in writing so frequently - I hope you have recovered from the toothache, and in some [d...er]

[Vertical writing]: from your fatigue - My love to Ellen & Hannah. I am very glad they keep our chamber in such order - I cant imagine how they have [turned] the bed, [round] - Tell Hannah that my head is so full of surgery, that I could not possibly write any composition that would not [favor] of my situation here - remove this difficulty and [my in a pen then] is [fitted] with mountain scenery, hills and dales, rainbows, college students & the Connecticut, all of it would tell a tale of Hanover - John has been all impatience for me to read for the last hour, and I could scarcely get permission to write so early - ; I have just received an invitation to visit the Miss Woodwards this evening. - which I have accepted as M^rs Farrar told me yesterday I must go for the company was on my account - My dear Mother, with love for Martha and the young gentlemen, dear Edward & Peter, [rec... for you truly] and Papa, the warm affection of your daughter

Sarah -

Hanover N. H. June 11 --

Hon. John F. Parrott Portsmouth N. H.