come alone, we want to see you very much, & hope you will be able to come up some Sunday, as the stage runs so conveniently for you. L’d looks very handsome this summer, & is filled with company. Most of the L’d boys have been here with their wives, & some are here now, the two Child’s—James Seymour, John Adams, Mr. Clark, & E. Gould—I have not become acquainted with any of their wives, but Mr. Gould, but am told they are all _quite as good_ as their husbands. Did you know that S. A. Vanderheysen and her husband were both dead—that the brother & remaining sister were apparently on the decline, & that Jane is far from well. How can that family value property when their lives are so precarious. S. P. July. 10. 1833. DEAR JOHN & LUCY ... We had a queer celebration here on the fourth. E. Ford commanded the troops which consisted chiefly of the young mechanics, but he had the art to draw in all our most respectable men to walk in the procession. Mr. Hickok & Mr. Pallen, Col Tallmadge & Mr. Wolcott, Dr. Buel, &c. Mr. H. was so much engaged in talking with Mr. P. when they passed our house, we agreed he was making the first oration. The procession reached up as far as the corner, & I suppose equally as far in the South St. I think the exercise was rather fatigueing, in the middle of such a hot day. The ladies had been invited to secure themselves seats in the meeting house, where they waited two hours, for the orator of the day, & lost sight of the best part of the entertainment. The musick of the band, & the procession. The orator was a young man from the West. I think Kentucky. He is very young, & his oration discovered his age. Mary & Ann Landon were to have had a party in the evening, & Mary Ann Wolcott asked Mr. Landon after the oration was over, if his daughters would accept some flowers from their garden to dress their room, Mr. Landon groaned out, you may send one pink, not more, for I cannot bear any more flowers today. The two Childs, & their brides are making a figure here, they have a grand party tomorrow. The Dr. & Col. look very happy, & their wives appear genteel. My love to all your family. S. PIERCE. Sept. 3. 1833 DEAR JOHN. ... I have given up the management of the school to them (the trustees), & they desired me to write to a French Lady who had made application for her daughter to come & teach musick, french & drawing. The mother is a good house keeper, & wishes to take boarders. Should they come, I expect they will take your house, perhaps for a number of years, & will be profitable tenants....