Rockaway, August 24, 1804. Dear Girls: I enclose you a piece of Mr. Blovell’s poetry on the Miss Broomes’ country seat at Bloomingdale; as you both know him, I think it will amuse you. I expect Eliza and Jane Watts down here in a few days and should be delighted if you could be here at the same time. I wrote to you, Octavia, on Monday last a long letter,—answer it soon and tell me how far you mean to comply with my proposals. I spent several days at Flushing last week; they all enquired very affectionately for you; but I don’t know but Miranda is your rival—she is a monstrous favorite among some of them. I believe Mary Murray is engaged and all matters settled. I met the Murrays and Mrs. Ogden at Miss Curtis’s; they came up from New York the same day we did from Rockaway,—very fortunate meeting them, for it rendered my visit doubly pleasant. ’Twas the season for peaches, we feasted finely. I shall attend to your memorandums as soon as possible. Give my best love to Horatio and Nabby, if I may be allowed to connect the names, and tell him my plan. Mr. Bowne says I must write another letter to urge it more strongly; it must be so. Yours ever, E. S. BOWNE. [New York, November 9th, 1804 (?).] I have been in daily expectation of a letter from you ever since my return and none has yet come. I have not heard a word from Isabella, tho’ I have been very anxious. The trunks arrived yesterday with an old letter for me enclosed by Horatio in a _blank_ cover, not a word to say how all the family did, particularly Isabella. We are still at our Mother’s, and shall probably remain a fortnight longer; the house would be ready in a few days, but we think it is too damp at present. Every body expected you back, for the Murrays had told most of our acquaintance you were to return with me. John and Hannah Murray came to see me the day after I arrived. John rattles as usual, talks much of getting married—his old tune, you know: he has completed his thirtieth year now since we have been gone; he says, “I begin to feel the approach of old age.” Mr. Newbold called to enquire particularly after your ladyship, and Mr. Rhinelander[68] spent last evening with us; I think he improves fast; he told me a deal of news. Miss Farquar and Mr. Jepson[69] were married last night, Miss Blackwell and Mr. Forbes, and one or two others. Rhinelander says half the girls in town are to be married before Spring. Maria Denning for one; and the world says Amelia and James Gillispie will certainly make a match,—that I was surprised at. Miss Bunner[70] and John Duer are married; Sally Duer is soon to be; and Fanny is positively engaged to Mr. Smith, whom you saw several times last winter, of Princeton. So you see all the