Accept my sincere wishes that My Parents may enjoy all the happiness that ever mortals know. Still I hope I am Your _dutiful_ Daughter, ELIZA SOUTHGATE. Robert Southgate, Esq. Boston, Jan. 30, 1798. My Honored Father: By Capt. Bradbury I was informed that you wished me to come home with him, which I should have complied with, had not I have seen my Uncle William[9] to-day, and he informed me that you had concluded to let me spend some time in Boston, which I was very glad to hear. I shall now wait until I hear certain, which I wish you to send me word by the next post.—I shall enclose in this a card of Mrs. Rawson’s terms which you may peruse; until then I remain with the same affection, Your dutiful Daughter, ELIZA S. Boston, February 13, 1798. Hon. Father: I am again placed at school under the tuition of an amiable lady, so mild, so good, no one can help loving her; she treats all her scholars with such a tenderness as would win the affection of the most savage brute, tho’ scarcely able to receive an impression of the kind. I learn Embroidery and Geography at present and wish your permission to learn Musick. You may justly say, my best of Fathers, that every letter of mine is one which is asking for something more; never contented—I only ask, if you refuse me, I know you do what you think best, and I am sure I ought not to complain, for you have never yet refused me anything that I have asked, my best of Parents, how shall I repay you? You answer, by your good behaviour. Heaven grant that it may be such as may repay you. A year will have rolled over my head before I shall see my Parents. I have ventured from them at an early age to be so long a time absent, but I hope I have learnt a good lesson by it—a lesson of experience, which is the best lesson I could learn.