Thomas Fisher letter to Thomas and Charity Rotch, Philadelphia 10th mo 18th 1822

              B-61-4
page 1
                  Philadelphia 10 mo 18th 1822
My Dear Uncle & Aunt
          Since my return from the Eastward & Northward I have several times intended to address you and give you some little account of my journey believing that it would be not uninteresting to you particularly as it was thro the land where the greater part of your lives have been spent and to which you no doubt feel much attachment though so far removed but have thus long de[illegible] it. I had not thought of a journey in that direction tho cousin James & Hannah had mentioned my accompanying them some time previous till one or two days before their departure when I concluded to do so and set off on 5 mo 23 and met them as expected on in New York on 25. Here the Yearly meeting being at hand cousins J & H were prevailed on by their friends to stay during the sittings. It was a very interesting one and we were very agreably entertained (as always) by my truly amiable Aunt and cousin Sammy. Uncle as you know being absent on a Western Journey.  After the YMg, we proceeded on along the Coast of Connecticut thro Stamford, Norwalk, Fairfield & etc to Newhaven. this is an exceedinly rocky & rough coutnry but afforded many beatiful prospects and the appearance of the Dwellings etc was very neat and evidenced an active and industrious population indeed nothing but a superior degree of industry and oeconomy enables them to live as comfortably as they do, and I do not wonder that the Yankees as we call them generally should exceed in energy & enterprize the natives of more fertile & more easily cultivated soils as I believe it to be the naural effect of education where so much industry & activity is absolutely necessary. we passed thro Hawfield and several other towns on the 1st of the week and observed the inhabitants attending thier "Steplehouses" (we were a little apprehensive that we might be stopped as used to be the case but is now abolished) which was an interesting sight. New Haven was much pleased with; the manner of building the towns in New Engalnd on a more liberal plant than our cities is very beautiful and neat; and being painted their appearance is equal to much more costly buildings. from New haven