My dear
John,
You see by the date of this that we are back from the event- we left home as we intended, ^ [
Theophilies with us] the Monday after we left you and learned our way tho’ Williams town, still water- Saratoga, Johns town, Little Falls- here, by the way, we stayed Thursday night- and were obliged very reluctantly to leave Backland- who the day before fractured his shoulder, and was so lame as to be utterly unable to travel-
your Pa exchanged him for another horse smaller- but very smart- a little [Leave-y?] – but he formed the journey very well-. I could not help shedding a tear at [darking] with Backland, w[missing] has so long been a faithful servant to us-. That day we went thro’ [crossed out], a delightful county on the lands of the Mohawk, [verited Atica?] when we found more Lichfield friends- this is a place of so much belief, and so handsomely built that in saying this one of this much you would think yourself in the middle of Borlem- we went that might as far as Rome- the next day we should have reached Oswego, but the road in the afternoon was so extremely bad- that we were obliged to [?] fifteen miles the ride- at Mexico—the next morning we reached there a little after eight- found them all well-
Elizabeth was almost overcome with joy and new -[?]- as she did not expect us till Wednesday. Her babe is healthy, little, fair, sweet. – the [child joined?] with the church, and had her child baptized the Sabbath before we got there- the name is Elizabeth Phelps- after your mother --- --- ---. We spent a week there, very agreeably, and set off on Monday morning with the addition of the two Elizabeth’s to our party.
2 o’clock in the afternoon- Your Pa is in great haste to take this to the post office- so I will merely say we arrived at home last Sabbath morning about eleven o’clock- having been detained the day before at – [Litchfield (crossed out)] [parce moral the house?] by the rain-. By Francis, who came home last Monday in the storm, and will stay till after the celebration of independence- I shall endeavor to [crossed out] give you the [condension?] of the highly entertaining account- I reason you will show
William this- and probably he will show you the letters he received from us—Eben is very well and very happy, accepting when he has a [?] to harm- this is twice a day, and [?] his harm an hour and more each time- I wish very much to hear from you- with every [?] Elizabeth sends a great deal of love to you both- as we all do- and requests very earnestly that you would North come and see her. – If Mr. Fidas comes after her [?] with to her about the middle of [?] and carry them on to Franklin to see his friends- and probably to Bedford to see you- if not he will have this before the middle of {missing] august if you want either a coat or a [missing] your [mart processing them then?] – Be careful in every thing to seek the [affirmation?] pf your maker- maintain a daily intercourse with him that he may be always with you for time and eternity, as is your affectionate mother
Elizabeth.