Ann Bull Letter to Charity Rotch, New York, July 5, 1824

              B-238-7 
	
				         New York  July 5th  1824
	My Ever Dear friend
			It will give you little satisfaction to know
	It was my intention & wish to have written you long since, but
	procrastination has left it for me to address you from this
	great & noisy place, my health has been but poor this spring
	& summer & I hope a change of air & seeing my friends
			                  here	
	might prove beneficial, I have been ^a forth night.  my family
	were all well when I left home.  Your friend E. Todd is appoi-
	-nted, residant physician to the Insane Retreat. of course his fam
	-ily, has removed to the premises.  The situation is delightful in the
	summer but in winter they will find it rather inconvenient.
	His office will call forth all his benevolent & kindly feelings
	into the highest exercise, may a gracious Heaven crown his
	laudable exertions with the desired success, there are 16 patients
	already. Your past favor my Dear friend though short as
	usual afforded my much comfort.  It bespeaks your mind
	in a calm state of resignation to the will of the all gracious
	disposer of all events, I wonder not at all that you are dis
	=sirous that your first impressions of grief should remain,
	such grief softend by the lenient hand of time spreads o er
	the mind as it were an Hold calm, which the world has little
	to do with, and I am perfectly satisfied that your better
	principle will preserve your mind in a comfortable state of
	equilibrium.  I am more & more convinced my Dear friend
	how great an attainment it is to live on Earth for Heaven,
	my own experience is, that nature is ever ready to rise up
	in opposition to the allotment of an all wise providence.
	Though of humble resignation is our duty and Interest.