Joseph Whitall letter to Thomas Rotch, Woodbury,12th Mo 10th 1800

               
  B-208-3
  
                          Woodbury 12th Mo 10th 1800
       Had I the wings of a dove it would not be long before
  I should pay a visit to my beloved Friends at West hart-
  ford, but since that is out of the question must content
  myself with being present with you in spirit which has
  been frequent since I gained intelligence from dear Lydia's
  pen that you expected to depart their coast about the mid-
  dle of the lst month.  Altho I have received no acknow-
  ledgement from my dear Thomas of a Letter written some time
  last spring, and not from a redundancy of heavenly virtue
  upon my mind, but in much weakness and poverty have I
  taken up the pen to salute you at present,  tho i hope in a 
  measure of that love which arises between kindred spirits,
  and is at seasons as a brook by the way.  When I heard that
  you were likely to go so soon, it awakened in my mind a near
  and tender sympathy without beloved friends at New Bedford,
  who no doubt will affectingly feel your absence, but in a more
  particular manner my mind was turned to sympathise with
  you, who have left so many endearing ties, yet it revived