From Jane Collas (unpublished)
Boston July 16th. 1788
My dear and Honord Uncle

I hope I shall not appear too forward in imbraceing this oppertunity by Mr. Williams to acknowledge your very kind favor April 12th.

It caused a glow of pleasure, of self confidence if I may use the expression which my poor depressed Heart has long been a Stranger to, to have my presumptuous Scrawl so far noticed by you, occationd tears of gratitude attended with such a Smile as denots those Sweet Sensations which the blessed Spirits forever feel. O when shall I expeirance it without alloy. Happy as you are my dear Uncle and ever deserve to be I could wish, as you seem to hint a desire to docr: Lathrop, that we could make a bargin as in other matters, I would freely give up my remaining years tho twice the length of yours; freed from the distresses that must ever follow mine and take my flight this instant, my only condission should be that you allow me a small share of your long Expeiranced Philanthrophy nor impute my desire to depart wholly to murming discontent or selfish views. No the instant I read the Sentance I Joynd heartily in your wish from this Idia that could your life be prolonged those times predicted by you would be hasten’d by so able a hand, and that you yourself would resign your life with pleasure, Seeing the full Completion of human knowledge, and that the happiness of Succeeding generations was esstablish’d.

Mamma differd a little She Said you did not Consider that in Heaven we Should know every thing for a good woman of her acquaintance who was just a going long’d to hear from Ingland first, that She might carry the News of the Stamp Act being repeald to her Father who was a good old Whig. I asked her if She thought they would hear when Maulding Bridg was finished, that She thought too trifeling, So we concluded upon the whole, that there would be more joy in Heaven over one Sinner that repented then Ninety and Nine Such things. I must my Honored Sir make the Same apology to you for my trifeling as to a worthy Minister who indulged me in a corrispondance that great Men required relaxation, that the great Nuton amused himself with blowing bubles out of a pipe and as mine was innocent tho: not so usefull an amusement I hope to be forgiven. Please to accept my thanks for your every kindness, in perticular your kind reception of Mr Collas of which he wrote me work and that Mr. and Mrs. Beach treated him politely, which was every word I heard from him, the reason he gave for being there was the fear of being frose up where he was and that being the first Vesel that Saild. I was much Suprised at his very improper and imprudent request to you knowing how ill he had suckceeded and am happy in your refusual, Mr. Collas is a very industrious active Man a Sweet kind benevolent disposition, has been ever very tender of me and does all he can for me his Errors are of the head and not the heart. In respect to his capacity in business he is most recomended as a good Seaman perfect in the art of Navigation both in practice and theory has been commander out of this Town many years has Bought and Sold cargos to Satisfaction as far as I know, but out of that line of business I have no reason to think he need hope for Success, he has lately Saild from the Westkindias, first Mate of a Brig bound to the Cost of Africa he writes me he is to have the command next Voige. It is a twelve month Since I have been able to get a line to him flying as he has been from place to place in Sarch of imploy, so that ware I capable of giveing him advice, he could not receive it. I never Saw your letter till very lately tho: it would have given me pleasure on many accounts, Mamma has given you a reason. Our frames are so constructed that it is impossable if the Heart is in distress that it Should not affect the body, I have had a large Share of the bitters of this life and but few cordial drops, my uncles notice and my pearents love would be great ones indeed and ever greatfully acknowledged by your dutifull and affectionate Neice

Jane Collas

p s I know not weather my Ideas through the whole of this letter can be found so clumsy are they expressed the uncertanity of another oppertunity obliges me to send it the hury I wrote in must plead my cause.
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