Maria Templeton to Margaret Bayard Smith, 5 June 1799

New York June 5th 99

I was quite happy, my dear Margaret, to hear of our sister's safety. Your letter was not the first imformation of it, which I received, just as I was delivering my unfinished crawl to Mr. Aspinwall, a line from Mrs. Rodgers conveyed the welcome intelligence, and I desired him to tell you, how sincerely I rejoiced, at the good news, I had heard from Brunswick. I have not seen him, since his return, he told [Dr.?] Rogers, he had called twice to see you, ineffectually.

I have seen Mr. Brown, he told me, that you and Mary intended writing, but were prevented by the arrival of Maria. What was the effect of this news, & why I instantly determined to write to Mary, and so I have, a monstrous long letter Margaret, and you are not to see it either, because, you do not like secrets. No great secret Mary will say, yet I should not like the person spoken of to know what I have been saying, and you know if you were to be asked, you would not tell a story, though it were to save the blushes of a friend. Dear me, I wish you did not know so much about Mr. Templeton. My yeart aches sometimes when I think of it. I wish you would not be so much better than your neighbours. Do tell me, have I cause already to repent my imprudence. Oh Margaret! had I known you better, how much trouble should I have spared myself. Why would

you wish to [?]

a secret from me, you could not promise me to keep? My imprudence in imparting it, has been a fertile source of unhappiness, it will teach me wisdom for the future. If it still remain untold, have mercy on me my friend, do not, oh do not, let me be [suppose?] ingenuous. You will not like this, so I will take another subject.

The Miss Linns have this moment left me. You may remem to have heard I was to be married to a Mr. Morris. The report came from them. I told their sister of it, & they came to vindicate themselves. They had heard it from Mrs. Ingram, she from her son, he from [Henry?] Johnson, his school fellow, he from a lady in Catherine Street &c &c. Miss Linn is a very agreeable sensible girl, her conversation always affords me pleasure, yet I never feel easy while with her, I am always in fear. Susan is said to be sweeter tempered, but Susan is to sentimental for me.

You were mistaken when you imagined I would not like your letter, it gave me much satisfaction. The last one I wrote will serve to answer your enquiries about Juliet. I have not seen her since, except once as she passed the window. I sent for her on tuesday to spend the afternoon with me, she was engaged. I was sorry, for my companions were gay and fashionable, and would be more pleasing to her than I can possibly be.

Mr. Brown brought me a letter from Mrs. Higginson. She asks some questions which I know not how to answer, one of them is "Has Miss Bayard seen either of my letters to you, or have you not had some con-

versation on subjects in which I am interested? I wish you to answer these things - they may seem at first view [unmeaning?], but in reality they are not so" -- I told you I had written to her, what you had said to me, had, no doubt, some influence over my pen. My letter was not as warm as usual. I thought of my former ones, and blushed. I told her so, told her, that my intercourse with her, had convinced me, that I had more enthusiasm than judgment. she asked me whether I meant this as a compliment or otherwise. Her last letter is a very sweet one, were I to lose her correspondence, I should lose one of my highest enjoyments. The letters of my friends are to me a source of the most exquisite delight. I am glad you approve of my continuing to correspond with her. She, certainly, does not show any disinclination to write to me, for I [am?] always flattered by her early answers. I must evade this question of hers, it would never do to confess the truth. I am not so scrupulous as you.

Maria Nicholson is still in this city. Two of Mrs. [Lewis?] children have been inoculated, all the family will remain here till their recovery. I have seen Sally [Suane?] frequently. I fancy she has left town, as she called on Sunday to bid adieu. I have been much pleased with the elder Miss Harrisson, and willingly promised, that our intercourse should not terminate with the departure of S [Suane?]. I have been very idle since you left, [?] have scarsely done any thing, except make a gown. But I have deter- mined to do better this month. E. [Hurst?] leaves me to day, the moment she has gone, I will set hard to work. Give my best love to sister Jane, tell her how glad I am that Jane Bayard has at last made her appearance, since she has been so sick. I have great hopes her health will be perfectly re-established. Has she [any?]

symptoms of her old complaint? -- love to Maria.

Farewell.

Maria Templeton

Is this letter stiff-formal, do you like as well as those of last winter. [Neither?] say yea or nay, or both --

I have this instant received your letter. Dear me Margaret, how can you make so many mistakes, why I was in a very good humour when I wrote to you but in a very great hurry, as I expected Mr. [A?] every moment, and had not time to read over my letter, and can scarsely recollect a word of it. [?] for Sister Jane was what I felt most. Perhaps I left out some words that made you think me so cross. Do [see?] if you cannot give it a different meaning. I [fear?] you will fancy some part of the [?], but indeed I never loved you better than while I was writing it. Well! I will endeavour to come, while Morris is with you, three weeks longer, she will [see?] [?], Mr. B as well as herself was better pleased than he expected to be. I spent last evening charmingly with him. Mr. Johnson, [?] and Dr. Miller. I expect in a few days to sendyou your Magazine. [deletion]

Miss Bayard NewBrunswick New Jersey

Miss [?]