Eli Todd letter to Thomas Rotch, Farmington, April 20 1808

               
  B-194-2
                              Farmington  April 20th 1808
                   Most gladly do I avail myself of a few
  moments leisure, to write to our very dear friends. Among
  the many lingering hours which have elapsed since our
  parting, these few valued moments, are all that I could
  have rightfully called my own. Yet think not beloved
  friends, that the claims of the sick, because they have de-
  =barred me from the satisfaction of conveying our thoughts to you, 
  have likewise withheld our minds from you, and from
  the sweet pleasure of swelling upon you with the most
  endearing recollections.  Indeed, we have followed you thro'
  your course, e have fondly hovered over the imagined spots
  from stage to stage where you might have rested, and
  much indeed shall we be aggrieved, if your adventure
  shall prove to have been as fruitful in adverse incidents,
  as our mental one has been.  We were fondly led to hope it
  was far otherwise, from the two precious letters received from
  our dear Charity, dated at N Haven & N York. for these letters
  receive a thousand thanks, & for the relief & the pleasure they afford
  =ed my Rachel & thy friend E.  Today we are again depressed,
  by the intelligence brot by Richard & Alexander, from them we have
  alas, that so many unpropitious thanks should have combined
  to cloud the cheering prospect which this journey had presented
  to my mind. But I cannot but hope still, that the failure
  of expected benefit from the exercise of the journey, results from