away her modesty in this thing, if you think I can be of any service in that way, for I assure you ’twill gratify me. Tell Horatio[82] I am impatient to thank him for giving so pleasant an acquisition to our family, but I could do it more heartily in person in New York, if so I might be indulged. Since you won’t be honest and tell the truth, I won’t tell you what I’ll say to you. Do ask Papa if he could send us 6 or 8 barrels of potatoes, there is like to be a great scarcity in New York; put them in the hold of the vessel or anywhere. Col. Barclay has sent to Nova Scotia for a vessel load,—a housekeeper— What a romantic conclusion. Yours, E. B. New York, Nov. 10, 1805. Horatio is really married then; and we not married; and I suppose the next account your ladyship will be added to the list. How swimmingly you all go on! What a tremendous _marrying_ place Portland is. New Yorkers don’t marry—sad sett of them. I am half angry to think you are marrying in such an out-of-the-way season, that ’tis impossible any one can come to see you. However, I hope to come early in the summer, if nothing happens to prevent, and spend 3 or 4 months. I shall have so many new relations that ’twill be necessary to come often to keep an account. Robert Murray[83] came home quite delighted with his eastern visit, but disappointed at seeing so little of Miranda. What has been the matter with her, any thing more than a heavy cold? I wish she was here with all my heart. I am quite alone and require a companion more than ever, but I suppose Mamma could not hear of that. I wish Arixene and Mary could have found a good opportunity to come this fall, and we could take them home in the summer,—but I suppose I must be content. We have been in town since the 31st of October, the day your letter was dated; it has been a long time in coming. I got it only last evening. Mr. Bowne had found out Capt. Libby, and we were preparing to send the sheeting and diaper by him; he sails the last of the week; the other things you wish we will send as many as can be procured before the vessel sails, but ’twill be impossible to get any _plate made_ to send for several weeks,—we will order it immediately, and as it will not be bulky, there will probably be no difficulty in finding a conveyance. We made a sketch of the articles you wished and of the pieces, which cannot be very incorrect, as I took them all from our own furniture book, and we calculated that the whole of Mamma’s plate and another suit of curtains for Nabby included would come at about 400 dollars. Mr. B. has 340 in his hands of Pappa’s, about the sum that would buy all the things but Mamma’s plate and Nabby’s curtains; however, that makes not the least difference to Mr. Bowne,