1809 June 8, Baltimore, to Brother

              Baltimore June 8th 1809 
Thomas P Cope 
Dear Brother 
Thine of the 6th is before me, which confirms the intelligence rec'd from brother Israel yesterday. I was fearful of the event & that the long continuance of unfavble. weather would prove too much for our Dear Mother - after seeing of her in the Winter my confidence of her remaining much longer with us was slender This misfortune must affect Father greatly. I cannot see how matters ought to be arranged for the future - that plan which may offer as the most conducive to his happiness & that of Sister [---] must be adopted. A solution amongst our connections in Chester County or at Jas Millers comes nearest my views - but I would leave things to settle in father's mind & the choice to remain with him & sister. 
$46 90/100 will be credited for expense upon the [--------]. The last parcel has ar'd in good order, but am further convinced of the mistake made by changing their appearance. I take the blame to myself - very likely in attempting to be explicit, I have made a blunder. 
A sale of Muslins & Seersuckers took place yesterday - about 60 [------] of the former & some [-------] [----] were knock'd off lower than at any sales before this season. I suspect the principal part belong to Archer & Co., - prices from 85 to 95 cents. This was to be suspected for people here will never help out in bad times. I noticed some of the Seersuckers of same Marks as [those] held by [----] Williams last Winter & [---.] by the Ellicotts for Acheson & Co. at 110 cents. I was not at Auction (when the sale came) but [----] informed they were either [---.] in or sold at from 13 1/2 to $14. The weather has been much against summer goods. It was farthest from my intention to convey an idea that thee had made too dear a bargain for my interest in the [--------]. I wished merely to state the fact that British Goods being so little [tht.] of that it would appear necessary to give them up for whatever peoples pleasure might admit or value them at. On the 16th I observe