p.

there will be precious little sentiment in this, I am thinking, for I have so many things to tell thee;
plain, matters of fact. Oh! before I forget it, thou must be told that we have had two of the fifteen slaves
who fled from bondage in a Whale boat, and were pusued by an American vessel of War! Noble work!
They have gone on to Canada, for they were afraid to remain any, where within our glorious republic, lest
the chain of servitude should again bind soul and limb: poor men! they left wives behind, and deeply
did they appear to feel the separation; they fell it so keenly that one of them said he would not have come
away, had he not supposed he could easily effect the escape of his wife also, when he was once away.
Both seemed very serious, as though grief sat heavy on their hearts, they tarried with only one night.
were very anxious to journey on to Victoria's domain. Yesterday afternoon, Rowland, Ann, Emma R.
and Rowland P. went to Vergennes and heard J. Pierpont on the third party question, in the
evening he lectured upon Temperance, and it was nearly eleve O'clock when they returned home. I sat
up for them 'till half past ten, when George urged me to retire, and he and G. Reynolds remained up.

To-day the two Rowlands are gone to Bristol, will probably meet with J. Pierpont again, though that
is not the reason of their going: he is to remain in the state for a while I hear, to advance the third party
interest. Poor Holcomb was here, a short time since, to me he seemed very greasy and uninteresting.

We have had a visit from Maria Murray too, she was disappointed in not seeing thee, expects to
go into J.O.W's community, and will probably never visit us again; she seemed cheerful as could be
expected, has had many trials since leaving Vt. I felt much sympathy for her. Jacob Spear's father
and mother have made us a visit, expected to see thee, were very pleasant, talked of community, but
have little confidence in J.A.C. C. Orvis has written home, and by her account it appears there
are two distinct parties in the community there, she is in opposition to John C. I fear there is much
that will not harmonize there, and that ere long there will be an open rupture among them. For to-day
I must bid thee farewell, hope to finish this to-morrow.

11th To-morrow came, but with it no leisure for writing to thee, I should have had, but for an
unusually heavy thunderstorm, which lasted a long time, and would not admit of my sitting down to commune
with any absent one: the rain almost poured down, it felt so violently that every room in the house
needed attention, it kept us busy for some time after the rain abated, for it did not stop 'till evening
and it rained again in the night, and most of to-day the rain has been falling. I fear the stream
will be increased dangerously, we hear to-day, that an extra-stage undertook last night to cross
a stream in Shelburne, the bridge was gone, and one female passenger and three horses were lost.
it may not be true, but we fear it is. We think the lightning must have struck pretty near us,
yesterday several times, it was very vivid and the thunder exceedingly loud. I do not now recollect
when we have had as terrific a shower. Who in the midst of such a season can feel naught of
solemnity stealing over the soul. I know not, nor do I care to know, for to me it would be rather an evidence
of hardness of heart, an estrangement from the source of true happiness.

The Gordon family are to leave Middlebury and settle in Hoosach, how strange that will seem
will it not; to go there and not see them as a household: Matthew, Agnes, and I believe James
remain, but they will not be together, and the social bond which used to greet us so cordially will
be there more - perhaps - forever: With this reflection came many sad thoughts, many recollections of
heart-felt enjoyment shared with this warm-hearted - though sectarian group, and the idea
yea, the almost certain assurance, that such seasons will never more be known by us, awakens deeply
painful sensations: but thus it is, how many links of the social chain are broken! some by
one cause, and some by another. I have written but little but it is nearly dusk, and ere long this
must be laid aside. If it had not rained and I had been well enough which by the way - I am
not, I was intending to go after meeting to-day up to cousin N. Holmse' stay all night, and visit T.
Whalley's family! art thou astonished dear sister? I am quite sane, I believe, at least the
family think so. And there other visits coming up before my view too, so thou must wonder too much if thy sister become quite a gad-about! A great change I admit, and not a very probable one.
I do so love the quiet of home that the very thought of visiting occasions a shrinking feeling. But I
must say farewell for to-night.