Dolley Madison on Quaker Community News, 1785

Background

In this letter to her friend Eliza Brooke in Maryland, Dolley Payne describes the Quaker community in Philadelphia. The 17-year-old Dolley had recently moved to Philadelphia from Virginia with her family.

Transcript

A Letter from Dolley Madison to Eliza Brooke Jr., ca. 1785

Philadelphia

How much am I indebted to thee Dearest Eliza For throwing off that formality so stifling To the growth of Friendship! and addressing first, her who feels herself attached to thee by every sentement of her heart, & who often In her “hours of visonary indulgence” calls to Recollection The too love’d girls who rendered her so happy during Their two short stay in Philadelphia—

I should most gladly have offered you The Tribute of my tender remembrance long before this, by the Performance of my promis of wrighting, but my ignorance of a single conveyance was the only preventitive—

Let this however, my D^r Betsy obliterate the Idea of neglect, occasion’d by my prospects of Happiness for be assur’d that no sublinary bliss Whatever should have a Tendency to make me forgetful of friends I so highly value—

This place is almost voide of anything Novell, such, however as is in circulation I will endevour to Recollect in order to communicate— Susan Ward & thy old Admirer W S have pass’d their last meeting & are on The point of Marriage, Sally Pleasants & Sam Fox According to the common saying, are made one— their Weeding was small on account of the death of a cousin M Roads, The Bride is now seting Up in form for company I have not been to visit Her but was inform’d by Joshua Gilpin that he Met 40 their paying their respects ect

A General Exclamation among the old Friends against such Parade— a number of other matches Talked off but their uncertainty must apologize for my not naming the partys

A chaming little girl of my acquantence a quaker two, ran off & was married to a Roman Catholic the other evening— Thee may have seen her Sally Bartram was her name

Betsy Wister & Kitty Morris too plain girls Have Eloped to effect a Union with the Choice of their hearts— so thee sees Love Is no respector of Persons —

The very respectful Compliments of Frazier await the 2 Marylanders— Frazier that Unfortunate youth, whose heart followed Thee captive to thy home. do call to mind this said conquest Betsy, I see him every Day & Thee is often the subject of out Tete a tetes— he says the darn in thy apron first struck him & declares that he would give any money for That captivating badge of thy industry—

After bloting my paper all are with nonsense I must conclude with particular Love to Debby Pleasants when thee should see her & respects to her Brother James— write often & much to thy Affectionate correspondent

D Payne

 

Source: Dolley Payne to Eliza Brooke, ca. 1785, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC05102.

Excerpt

A Letter from Dolley Payne to Eliza Brooke Jr., ca. 1785

Philadelphia

How much am I indebted to thee Dearest Eliza For throwing off that formality so stifling To the growth of Friendship! and addressing first, her who feels herself attached to thee by every sentement of her heart, & who often In her “hours of visonary indulgence” calls to Recollection The too love’d girls who rendered her so happy during Their two short stay in Philadelphia —

I should most gladly have offered you The Tribute of my tender remembrance long before this, by the Performance of my promis of wrighting, but my ignorance of a single conveyance was the only preventitive —

Let this however, my D^r Betsy obliterate the Idea of neglect, occasion’d by my prospects of Happiness for be assur’d that no sublinary bliss Whatever should have a Tendency to make me forgetful of friends I so highly value —

This place is almost voide of anything Novell, such, however as is in circulation I will endevour to Recollect in order to communicate . . .

A charming little girl of my acquantence a quaker two, ran off & was married to a Roman Catholic the other evening — Thee may have seen her Sally Bartram was her name

Betsy Wister & Kitty Morris too plain girls Have Eloped to effect a Union with the Choice of their hearts — so thee sees Love Is no respector of Persons —

The very respectful Compliments of Frazier await the 2 Marylanders — Frazier that Unfortunate youth, whose heart followed Thee captive to thy home . . .

After bloting my paper all are with nonsense I must conclude with particular Love to Debby Pleasants when thee should see her & respects to her Brother James — write often & much to thy Affectionate correspondent

D Payne

 

Source: Dolley Payne to Eliza Brooke, ca. 1785, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC05102.