Silas Downing letter to Thomas Rotch, Cedarswamp, 8th of 3rd mo, 1812 on L Island

              B-51-11
page 1

                  Cedarswamp 8th of 3rd mo 1812, on L Island
   I wrote our beloved friends some weeks past and put it into the hands of Daniel Mott ot take with him to them on his way to view that part of the coutnry, in order to find your habitation for himself adn family if the [illegible] suites, but his son having been [illegible] their leaving home, untill this time, and [illegible] a week after this, but an opportunity now offering, I forward a few 
lines to them, am willing to accompany the former letter with a few lines in addition to the former, if only to tell you, at a later date, of our comfortable health except my dear Phebe's leg, as mentioned in my other letter, which still continues much as when I wrote before, and what mayb be the issue thereof, is among the uncertainty's we are not a little uneasy about it, I at times feel a prevailing hope for the best. On account of our friends son, who is to come on with him, having been quite ill, they conclude to come in a waggon, on hearing thereof, my son Isaac became quite closely impressed with a mind to come on with them but his mother's state, and also the season being not far off before business on farms must be engaged in, and suitable help for business at the ensuing season of spring he has reluctantly given up the prospect for the present but does not wholly relinquishs a hope of seeing the land or country of Ohio, unless a change in prospect transpire he rather would choose to visit them parts in the fall of the year, than early in the spring.  I do not recollect all that I wrote in my former, may therefore repeat some things therein, but as my time is limited, and but short, I cannot say much, but I & my dear P and Children want to hear from you, how you are as to your health