p.

have been relieved by the information I receive of Ally's improvement. I observe gain
in his letters to me; and it is only when I contrast his progress with even my own
at the same age, or measure the seeming impassable gulf between his present condition
and the ripe scholarship of Mr Dwight, that I become sorely disquieted. I am glad
that at last you have some suitable companions for him. It has always been a
trouble to him that he had no playfellows; whilst there has been no want of the
worst influences that ever surrounded children. I am curious to learn if these
last have been abated & finally exercised. It is not in place to remark here that
I should scarcely fear that Mr Dwight's original plan would have consequences
so deplorable as you deprecate. If by no other mode individual responsibility
can be enforced, I would have it adopted at all hazards. It is your incapacity
or unwillingness to dispose of burthensome individuals which has been one chief
cause of your repeated & progressively more disastrous failures. The retention of
such persons as Westacott, Chiswell & particularly the Whitehouse family has
cost you thousands of dollars, and the loss of the confidence of the best friends
of association. But for this single vice, it is my impression that you would have
been at this moment so prosperous that a Phalanx according to Fourier's own
idea would have been in process of formation. And now, dear Miss Dwight, I
confide to your kindness these speculations freely "born out of due season." I hope
they will be of some little use to you. I wish much to hear what you are now
doing. Will you not let me know? I hope to be with you before the 10th of
October if some contingencies eventuate favourably. Please to present my best
regards to you mother and sister, Mr. Dwight, & may I not say Mr. Orvis? Will
you tell Ally that I wrote to him yesterday, & forgot to inform him that there
is or should be a parcel containing some books for him at the store or dwelling of
Mr. Hastings in Boston? I am
Sincerely your friend,

James Kay, Jun.