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Norwich, Friday, July 17th, 1829.

My dear Friend,

Trusting that you have ere this arrived at the place of your nativity, and introduced your sweet infant into that paternal mansion where you have enjoyed and imparted so much happiness, I take my pen to bid you an affectionate welcome. I should have deferred my congratulations untill it was in my power to present them personally, but finding that I cannot leave Norwich so soon as I had at first intended, (not having made a visit here for three years, and having been prevented by an ague in the face, hitherto from returning any of my numerous calls) -I felt a necessity of addressing some one of our "sacred number" respecting our arrangements for the approaching first of August, and felt that our Secretary, as the principal officer, was the natural organ of commiunication. But let me mention, in the first place, my dear Mary, that knowing so well as I do, what the care of an infant is, I do not wish you to take on yourself a single burden, but merely, on account of my absence, to set in motion the officers of the Society, who are always equal to every duty, and zealous in its performance. Our contribution which has not been taken since 1827, it will be expedient to collect this year. The preparatory step to this design, is to convince the officers as a board of consultation, which should not I think be deferred, beyond next Tuesday. They consist of yourself Secretary;-Elizabeth T. Edwards, Treasurer, -and the four Directors are, Mrs. Toucey, -Caroline Morgan, -your sister Elizabeth, & Frances Ann Brace: -choice spirits, and ready to every good work. -In consulting, upon an object of charity for the present year, say to them I recommend the "widows and orphans of Athens," whose letter from Mr. King from the "caverns of Egina,-naked, barefoot, hungering and in want of daily bread,"-I am sure has touched your compassionate feelings, and fills my eyes with tears, as I now think of it. -What can institute a stronger claim to charity than the extreme sufferings of these exiles? -and to classical minds like yours does it not convey an additional excitement, that they are exiles from Athens? I am informed by a benevolent gentleman from New York, in habit of correspondence with Mr. King, that a bounty, even smaller than ours usually is, would it be highly acceptable, and that he would transmit it for us. -Be so good as to present this object in your own eloquent manner to our board, and say to them that as they have already scattered the seeds of their liberality in our western wilds, and on the shores of Africa, it might be well also to sow a few in the soil of Greece, and trust the God of Harvest, -If they agree, as I presume they will, as there has ever been but one mind and one soul among us, the next step is to explain it to the Society, and receive their contributions. Time will be saved by doing this when the invitation is given for the festival of the first of August. By apportioning among the officers the number of those to be invited, according to the list which I enclose, not more than five will fall to the portion of each, and by selecting those in their immediate vicinity, or their particular friends, I conceive that no fatigue need be incurred. This division should be made on the day of consultation, and the respective contributions, with their accounts paid to the Treasurer, by the last Tuesday in July. -One other subject it would be well to attend to, when the board of consultation is convened. By our constitution we are required to choose officers every year. This has long been neglected. Perhaps it would be well to be faithful for once. -If they will decide on those they think proper to fill the offices, so that the voting could be done by nomination on the first day of August, it would save time and trouble. It is my wish that those who now fill the offices would consent to retain them, as they are all of "those first fifteen," in whom I cannot help feeling a peculiar confidence. I would also suggest the propriety of choosing a Vice-President which we have never done, for it is literally the business of a Vice-President, with which I am now troubling my Secretary. -I believe nothing remains to be arranged but the invitations. I wish all "our faithful and true" to meet in our consecrated grove, with their usual simple refreshments, at three in the afternoon of Saturday, August 1st I desire also the invitations to be extended in my name to parents -to husbands, where there are any, especially to my grandchildren, (of whom in all places, I have forty) -and likewise to friends staying with the parties, if it would be pleasant to them to witness our primitive entertainment. These all are requested to come at five. With regard to the inviting of the female pupils at the Asylum to walk out at six, the young ladies know it has ever been pleasant to me to do it, on the principle that they have but few recreations, and so judicious was the management of the Committee of Arrangements at our last festival, that not the least inconvenience or bustle resulted from it. Still if an objection rests in the mind of any of the officers, I will not on this point urge my wishes: -if there is none, I shall probably be at home myself two or three days before the first of August, and will save the officers the trouble of coming so far out as the Asylum by sending over the invitation, if they decide to have it sent. I wish Mrs. Child to be invited to meet with us, and become one of our Society. -With regard to the contributions, Mrs. Henry Tony, and Miss Mary Wells of Boston (now I believe in town)- paid theirs the last year, not knowing but it was to be collected as usual. I have had it by me a year for the Treasurer. I believe this is all the business. May God give us a happy meeting. -Out of our original 84,- nine have fallen, -Thirty-two are married, & dispersed widely into different states. Let us who are diminished in number still keep our ancient feast in sincerity and love.