Letter from Lucretia Mott

              Philada. 9 mo. 4th 55--3rd. day-- Now for a large sheet. We have just sent thine, with its ample copies of Ellens to Europe. The last, recd. 2 days since via Flume [the Flume House, N.H.] & Northampton, we reserved for the next parcel. Now, do tell what thou means, about one or 2 of thine receivg. no notice from us. Tis true we have not been able to reply so fully, as if they were not immedy. dispatched abroad--but if thou wilt name the subjects of the neglected one or more, we can tell if it has been thus slighted by the faithful correspondt. In looking back & over those recd. since my return home, in my mind's eye, the subjects of note were, "the visit of Cale & Co--drives with them--their call on you--not taken into Eliza's rooms, visit of the stanton boys or boy 4th. July--Franks trip to Cayuga, &c--applicatn. to 5 points--difficulty with domestics--successful return--good cook--David gone--come agn--gone--returned--Emmy's visit to Fanny Seward, her mountgs. of the [chiny] trees, Frank's wit, about her lookg. over to Europe--Willie's characteristic arrival home--his well-selected present of a shell--a pair of them--fr. Kniffen's visit & cross-questiong. him as to the [Raritan] diet--his 2nd. visit & talk of [Sary] not hiring a girl--Eliza's resolve to try water-cure--taking Ellen with her--she suddenly withdrawn & taken to Saratoga--P. B. Anthony's letter, with promise of expenses paid (partially performed, David told us) pencilled letter to David, with acct. of Conventn.--Belladona left behind!--hard pillow & bed--duck on a platter--good & smart openg. speech--declined a [drive] with C. [Hovey]--(the worst thing done)--Ellen's ride with Higgindon, &c.--her delight with the Con. & all she saw--to go back--Miss Soule's word & wit, & care of Emmy--the drives to the Farm & to Kniffen's with the childn--honest confession to Sarah K.--little Milly learng. to talk--Emmy, to sew bolster cases--her attempted letters--invitatns. to Ed & Maria to take their childn. & Bel. & make a visit to Aurburn--wisht she cd. take her to [Nahaut] & White Mountns. Chs. & Caro. so wantg. in energy & interest, as not to go to saratoga--their help leavg. them--sendg. here for some--sendg. agn. for only one--disappointg one--yea both--pleast. drives with them--new [???]--glorious sunsets.

There now, what has been omitted--save the summary notices of letters recd. Thos. & Maria. will look in vain, for any extended comment on theirs--but mine have recd, I presume, all the attentn. they deserved, for when the letters have to be sent hither & yon, we 1st. address one [compy?] then another--& write as best we can--Now lets try to do better. All have left the Flume. Thos. & Elizh. stoppg. at Northampton--expected home tomorw.--Elizh. has had 2 [creeps]--took quinine of Dr. Bailey--Fanny a threatg. of dysentery--Thos. not very well--we fear they will come home not much improved. Macy Brown gone to New Bedford may be home next week--Ellis expected in a few days--They are puttg. down his carpets, & making other preparatns. for his return. very pleast. it is to be lookg. for him--& for them all for that matter. It is almost as long that we have been departed from Elizh.--& tho' the wide ocean has not rolled betwn., yet death & mutilated bodies have covered the track here & there, makg. their travel so perilous! When so dreadful a smash as that in Jersey, comes so near home, we can but feel the hazard of life & limb at every step. you have seen the sad particulars in the Papers--I needn't repeat them. Ridgway was Wm. Gardner's employee, after he left Jas. & Thos.--that French Consul was an acquainte. of Edwd. & had some busins. with him. Our neighbr. Newbold in [9th. dt. & daughs.] are recoverg. (One green st. frd. Bacon's son killed--& that accomplished young Ingessol, just inheritg such a fortune--indeed we might go on, & dwell on the sorrows of many a mourner--and after all, not a tithe--no, not a thousandth part of the woe, consequent on the battles at [Sevastopol]--the Crimea, &c--We glory in the one, while we mourn the lesser tragedy--Inconsistent mortals that we are. We have had a visit from Joseph Baker--He has no faith in this war being for liberty, or against Russian oppression--but that it is a battle for preservg. & increasg. power--& so on.) I cant remember what he said. He arrived just as our Ex. Com. were gathered in our ding. room, & a warm welcome all gave him--He hadnt dined--We