Letter
Dublin Core
Title
1793.02.21 – Charles Phelps Jr. to Elizabeth Porter Phelps, Feb. 21, 1793
Description
Charles Phelps Jr. tells his wife Elizabeth that the weather has been warm and rainy since they last spoke, and that limits his ability to ride his sleigh. He doesn’t know when things will change. He says that Major Porter will give Elizabeth this letter and one he wrote her the day before, as well as other information she may need. He says that he has not yet purchased the family articles, and that he will not unless he can find a way to get them home. He says that there’s a chance that the West Indea articles will fall by springtime. ‘Articles’ in this time period could refer to physical material goods, but it could also refer to a negotiation, treaty, or agreement… presumably a business agreement or some sort of stocks. He says that things have been getting much busier in court, and matters have not been settled, nor are they likely to be settled anytime soon. He writes that there’s no special news to report, and that he would rather be with his family than handling court affairs. He says he will return home as soon as possible, and can give no other directions on family affairs other than the ones he gave in previous correspondence. He asks Elizabeth to send Lymans to him if it snows so he’ll have enough time to travel. He also asks her to feed any of some kind of unknown livestock that are sent to her and to keep the cattle they already have well fed. He indicates his wishes that everything is going well at the farm in his absence, then signs off. In the post script, he informs her that he sent home various goods, mostly clothes. He ends the letter with another description of the weather.
Creator
Charles Phelps Jr.
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 4 Folder 3)
University of Massachusetts Special Collections and University Archives
Date
1793-02-21
Rights
public domain
Type
Correspondence
Transcription
My Dear Wife,
As the weather, since I wrote you, has been very rainy and warm – has according to present appearance removed all the prospects of sleighing for the present – how soon there may be an alteration, I know not – Major Porter, who will give you this letter, and one I wrote you the other day – can give you all the information necessary – as to the road – I have not purchased the family articles yet – and unless I can see some way to get them home, shall not buy them – as there is a probability of West Indea articles falling by the Spring. The business of court seems to be daily increasing. The county matters are not yet determined – And the valuation is not yet reported – Nor is likely to be someday.
I have nothing special to write you. shall return home soon as I possibly can with any consistency to public business – I take no kind of satisfaction in public business – had much rather be with my family than at Court – as to matters of the home I cannot give any other directions than what I have wrote in my other Letters
If there should be a snow in the course of next week, so that there is a prospect of Lymans making the Journey–you will send him down that he may be here by the Time I wrote you– If there should be a pair of steer brought to you, I would have them fed as well as may be– and the other Cattle likewise– I hope matters are conducted with with propriety–at the barn
I am well at present and with sincere affection subscribe myself your loving husband– Charles Phelps.
Mrs Phelps
P.S I send home the saddle bags with a Ream paper–Bed ticks–some shirts–stocking–a pair socks–and the fingered mittens–
This morning is very warm and the weather appears like April–
CP
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