Page:Republican Court by Rufus Griswold.djvu/42

see blunders, or if she should, that her kindness will find excuses for them. ... The letter is so long that you must make the girls take a share in it, as I have not time to write to them now, and there is nothing new to tell them. Tell Peggy Chew I hope she 'll accept the spangles and thread — 't is the only return I can make for the pleasure I receive from her very entertaining letters. Yesterday the grenadiers had a race at the Flat Lands, and in the afternoon this house swarmed with the beaus, and some very smart ones. How the girls would have envied me, could they have peeped in and seen how I was surrounded! and yet, I should have been as happy, if not much more so, if spending the afternoon with the Thursday party at Woodlands. I am glad to hear you 're out there, as the town must be dreadful this hot summer. New York is bad enough, though I do not think it as warm as Philadelphia. Your health, in punch! The Van Hornes join with me in begging to be remembered, particularly to Mrs. Harleston and her mother: I hope you 'll visit them; do, if 't is only on Harleston's account, whose memory I ever shall respect. I have spent happier days with him than I fear I ever shall experience again! If you tell Billy Hamilton I say so, he 'll swear I still retain a remainder of my former penchant; but assure him 't is only a pure and lively friendship. Letters, this moment, from you and Peggy Chew, and one from Mrs. Arnold! I must stop to read them... Tell Peggy I give her leave to read all I write, if she 'll take the trouble. I am happy here; tell her 't is only for a visit; I wish to be with you... Love to every body."

This letter is very characteristic of its author. She was the youngest of three daughters of David Franks, a wealthy Jewish merchant of Philadelphia. The eldest sister, Phila, was married to General Oliver De Lancey, who soon after the breaking out of the revolution accepted a commission in the British army, having