1806 November 17, Philada, to Children, Weston

              Philada 11 mo 17 1806. Second Day. 
My dear Children 
I have been too much engaged between my dear Mother, and home to reply to the affectionately earnest enquiries of my Henry before. 
Mother is recovering now, very fast, gets up a great deal, relishes her food, and seems quite chearful. Your poor Cousin the Doctor has, I am afraid, but a frail constitution. He has been very ill indeed, three or four days during Mothers indisposition - but is better to-day. 
Alfred has been vaccinated twice but has not taken the infection. He is charmingly well, and Caroline, as her Father often expresses it, wantonly so. The Doctor I believe intends persevering in the operation on Alfred till he succeeds; but defers calling probably, in part because the case is not urgent, & in part because a very affecting circumstance has occurred, in which he is said to be particularly intervested. 
Perhaps you were present when Cousin [-]. Downing was speaking in such a high tone of disapprobation of the "young Chits", as she expresses herself now-a-days, marrying almost in their infancy and mention'd some instances; among the rest two daughters of Dr. Griffiths; both of them I think she said younger than her Eliza - Well - the youngest of them it is said was engaged to William Wistar, a young man, possess'd of a handsome fortune, and I am inform'd every way acceptable to her parents. But no age or circumstances secure from the [-------] of death. The decrees of Omnipotence are irresistable. On seventh day night he died suddenly in the night; it is supposed by some apoplectic fit. These are awful warnings, my Children! They preach more loudly and persuade more forcibly, than all the sermons & arguments in Christendom without examples - Here truth darts with full conviction on the mind - it siezes the Soul - it takes possession of all