p.

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 pre-
vented 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 un-
worthy 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

[page break]

[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 sym-
pathy 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 unceremoni-
ously 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