From Jane Mecom (unpublished)
Boston Decr. 29 1785
Dear Brother

I send with this a Box of Soap Containing Sixty Pounds it is good and solid but not so high a green Color as the sample you sent I thought it best to make it acording to Ruil as cousen Jonathan was to Inspect it and the Extrordenary Green color of that was Produced by a circumstance which I should not be willing to Put in Practice if I had opertunity fearing it might not be wholsom if any of it should be Used as medison, I made it at our Friend Greenes in a Brass ketle by the way it must allways be bras or copper and some circumstance which I have forgot causd an Intermition of I beleve a week betwen the first and second Boiling considerable of the soap Sticking to the kittle and was clean I did not have it wasn’d but turnd it down to keep it from dirt and when I came to use it it was grown Green round where the soap stuck and not considering it as I have done since and thinking the salt Lye might settle it I procded to finishe it, I know I Deserve your Censure for that and feel Ashamed to confess it but I know you Pry in to all Apearances and I ought to let you know the Truth I have also a Conjecture but not a certinty that by some mistake in the weights I put in a Larger Proportion of wax than I ought, this I intend to try if I Live till Spring and let you know. I have Left the Exact Recipt in cousen Jonathands hands to take a coppy and shall send it to you, I hope you continue as well as when you came and do not over Fatigue your self with Biusnes. Love to all from your Affectionate sister

Jane mecom

p s As you Love to know the meaning of all Apearances I must tell you the Reason of my sending some Irreglar Peices of soap in the Box, the mold to Cool it in is made Exactly twelve Inches in width and twelve Inches in Depth but much Longer than I had soap to fill we therefore fixd a board to shorten it without taking the Proper Dementions and did not take the car I might have done in cuting up so that I had not Even cakes anouf to make the weight I had amind to send neither are they Regular as they ought to be if they ware for Sale which Shuld be Exactly Eight ouzs when cat up and many of those were ten and I have a gage on Purpose to Regulate them singly, but I thought it of no consequenc now, and the Rouf Peeces will Ansure for your self and Famely

J M

Addressed: His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esqr / President of the State of Pensylvania / Philadelphia / with a Box
Endorsed: Sister
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