1834 February 28, Philada, to Brother, Madeira Islands

              Philada. 2 mo 28th 1834My dear brotherAt length our anxiety is in some measure relieved by receiving thy letters by the Ivanough just arrived at New York. How much more gratified would we have been if thou hadst said something about thy health, as thy entire silence leaves us to conjecture the worst. Still we know thou was yet alive and able to be about.Most of our circle of acquaintance are in good health. Rebecca Thompson has a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism & is quite in a critical situation, though she rested rather better last night. Jane Bittle's health continues to decline. My own Rachel was confined on the 26th & safely delivered of a daughter. Both mother & child are doing well.I forget whether in my last I mentioned the arrival of the Monongahela with a freight of 1300 British pounds. The Pocahontas has not yet come in, nor have we heard of the arrival of the Susquehanna [---]. J E Walker & Cos new ship the Kensington got ashore in Cardigan bay going out from Savanna & it was feared would be lost. Capt. Dixey has become 1/4 owner in the