Elisha William Hoag letter to Thomas Rotch, 5th mo 13th 1818

               
  B-91-3
                         Sandy Spring  5th mo 13th 1818 
    Worthy Friend Thomas Rotch
                                Thou and thy wife have been
  very frequently the companions of my mind since I parted with thee
  feeling a near sympathy with you at this time,  I have thought a great
  deal of what passed between me and thee in regard to informing Patience
  that if she does not refrain from that habit of talebearing that she is
  so much addicted to it will be necessary to convey her character to some
  prudent friend where she is about to remove so that if she undertakes
  any thing of that kind there friends will be prepared to meet her.
     This appeared to me to be a proper method when we were discoursing
  on the subject bu5 on viewing it since my fears are that it will give
  her and her family (for thou mayest understand that her family
  gets the knowledge of what passes between her friends and her espe-
  cially when it is disagreeable to her) an opportunity of saying that
  thou art a going to do something similar to what thou condemnest
  in her for they are very keen to see faults in others.
       My judgment is that it will be best for thou and thy wife to
  call on Patience together with the Elders Overseers Isaac Bowman
  and wife and then go into a thorough investigation of her conduct
  in regard to what she had told at different times to the disadvantage
  of either of you or any other person by this method she may see that
  it is the desire of her friends to reclaim her from the grand adversa
  ry that has so nearly captivated her.
        I feel free to lay this much before you for your consideration
  If you do not see any thing in it let it pass and pay no attention
  to it.  
      Farewell   From thy sure friend      Elisah Wm Hoag