William Rotch, Sr. letter to Mary Rodman, Dunkirk, 10th mo 1st 1792

               
 A-22-4
   Dear Sister                                 Dunkirk 10th mo 1st 1792
                            As my mind is often taking its flight to my native
  land, among the few pleasing scenes that have chequer'd the latter part of my
  life, I frequently recur to the days that I have spent under thy hospitable
  roof, and the hours I have enjoy'd in thine and thy dear childrens compd;
  which never fails to excite an ardent wish that is consistent with the will
  of Divine Providence,I might again participate of the same favour;
  but whether that may ever be the case, is known only to Him whose
  wisdom is inser[illegible], and will ever remain infinitely beyond the com=
  =prehention of finite Beings; we are now far separated, yet I tryst not
  at all times destitute of some evidence, that the uniting bonds of true
  fellowship still remain, not only without suffering any diminution but
  if possible with an increase, far beyond the increase of corn, wine, 
  or oil, which I hope will continue when ages of mortality shell be
  desolved.  I need not undertake to describe to thee, the almost insup=
  =portable anxiety that we suffer'd on acct. of the illness of our dear E. Rodman,
  although we had recd the most favorable accounts of her getting uncommonly
  well to bed, yet it was bur a momentary relief to my mind, s a gloomy
                                      on her acct.
  prospect which had long hung over me,^ soon resumed its former post; not=
  =withstanding I was by this means in some measure of prepar'd for the second
  tidings, yet nature gave way, and my fortitude was much shaken, and alarming
  apprehensions succeeded; which from the near approach of her dissolution
  appears not to have been wholly groundless; but in matchless mercy she is
  thus far restor'd (tho the time uncertain)to her dear relatives & friends, and still
  more interesting if possible; to her little flock, who have so much need of that
  maternal tenderness which hardly a substitute could equal; may this and our most