Eliza Rodman letter to Charity Rotch, New Bedford, 9th mo 30, 1823

              B-291-6 
	
	                         New Bedford  9th mo  30th  1823
	                       Little did I think my belov d Aunt when
	I reciev d thy last letter not three weeks since, that when I next
	address d thee it would be under feelings of so painful a nature
	as the present, but surely as thou remark d in an almost
	prophetic manner,  we know not what a day may bring forth, 
	& wisely are the events of futurity veil d from our view or
	often would the present be unbitter d by what awaits us.
	    It was indeed unexpected intelligence to us announc d  last 5th
	day in a letter form Deborah Graham to my Uncle Wm, & every
	sympathetic feeling was awaken d fro thee my dear Aunt, that
	thou shouldst be call d upon to witness a scene in which all the
	sensibilities of our nature are excited, & indeed one which thou
	who have realized it I presume can only form an adequate idea
	of- the feeling that constantly accompanied my mind with
	regard to my dear Uncle was, All is peace, & tho thou must
	have had in this assurance, the greatest of all consolations,
	yet I can readily believe a separation of this kind would
	seem like the loosening of every earthly tie, & that we might
	with propriety adopt the language of the excellent Fenelon
	on an occasion of this nature,   all my bands are broken .
	the that sustains us in all our conflicts can alone speak peace
	to the heart, & we have in reality no other source of consolation