Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
Transcribed by Danya Bichsel with assistance from app.transkirbus.org:
Mattapoisett Mass. Feb. 11th 35.
Mr. Samuel T. Wolcott.
Dear Sir. It is a good while since I have heard any
thing from East Windsor, or have written to you.
When my Hartford Paper comes I look soon at the list of deaths
to see if there are any of my acquaintance. I have noticed
those of your uncle Bissell & Col. Grant. It is remarkable that
after having lived so long as near neighbours & friends they
should have been removed so near together. I had thought
it likely that Col. Grant might go to the age of his father,
but & believe he did not. Some time since I had a letter from
brother Francis, in which he informed me that your
mother was quite feeble, & had had a turn of bleeding. It is
a matter of much thankfulness that she has been preserved
by a merciful Providence so long, & so often been raised up
from such a low state. I often think of her, & hope that she
may continue to enjoy the rich mercies of a holy Savior.
My health is perhaps about as good as I can expect it ev-
er to be. I have some rheumatic pains, & cannot exert
much strength or activity. It is very necessary for me to
take a good deal of exercise, I cannot bear as much study
as I used to, nor bind exertion. My common pastoral du-
ties, which are not arduous, I perform, & this is the most
of my active labour. I have had no ill turn during the
cold weather, which has been as unusually severe here as
with you. My thermometer this morning was at 3 (degrees)
& our harbour is firmly frozen.
Page 2
I think it doubtful whether I go to Connecticut the present
year. Perhaps I may. If there should be a centennial celebra-
tion of the first settlement of the state, next fall, at Hartford, I
shall wish to be there. There ought to be such a celebration, and
I presume there will be. The Militia should take a conspicu
ous part in the transaction. – I want you to attend to
my land, make such improvements and contracts as you
think proper, and pay the taxes. I want, also, that you should
try to collect such of my books as have not been sent on
& have them ready when they may be called for. The
coasters will begin to go regularly in April or May. I con-
clude you will find it quite a take to collect them, but I wish you to
do it & make a suitable charge for your labour. I would not think
of the expense if I could get my books that are missing. On the
opposite page you will see the list. — I have not put down the third
& fourth volumes of Dwight’s Travels, which are missing, because I believe Dr.
Perkins had them last, & I conclude they will not be found. Yet they are costly
volumes, & I am sorry to lose them. Boyer’s French and English Dictionary was
lent to Dr. Reed, and I think some of the family must have it still. It is a large
octario, the cover considerably blacked with ink. If a number of volumes
appear to be missing, after getting together what you readily find, I wish
you to adopt any measures, by advertising or otherwise, which you
think proper. And if you want any further direction, please to write &
let me know. I shall be glad to have them boxed, and shall probably send for
them by a coaster in the spring. I am sorry to give you this trouble, but I
know of no other way so likely to get the books. The labour will be a prop-
er subject of change. My Library is becoming quite an object of atten-
tion in this quarter. Two gentlemen came from Bedford to see it last
week. Mr Crosby has made an addition to his house, & I am much
better accommodated them and have been. The Library has increased 100
volumes a year since I left E. Windsor.
I want to hear from you all, I hope you will write me soon and give me par-
ticulars about family matters. You may tell your brother & sister Marbell
that their friends here are very desirous of having a visit from them. I hope
Thomas is a good boy, & little Tudor. I hope your mother may again have
comfortable health. She is providentially preserved as was her mother
for several years. My best love to all, Yours &. Thomas Robbins
My ink has been frozen.--
List of “Books Missing, supposed to be at East Windsor”
[List of 70 books and their numbers]
[Side notes]:
I shall look with much anxiety to the result of your spring election. I should think the [illegible] in your district must be poor out for Senator Timber. A war with France would bear very heavily upon our Whalemen.
All of the volumes may not be at E. Windsor, but the most of them I presume are. Some of them are quite small, yet valuable to me, a part of them very valuable, as not to be replaced. The volumes that belong to Setts I should be very sorry to lose. I gave Ursula leave to retain a number, but I am now trying to get my Library together and find the want of them. I conclude Dr. Tyler has some of them; which I presume he will now be willing to part with. —
