57

    To Samuel Savage

    Philadelphia        4 November 1791

    Dear brother

    Yours of the 25 October, from Weston [Massachusetts], reached me by this days mail. The account you give me of our honord. Fathers [Samuel Phillips Savage] illness creates grief and anxiety in my mind; and I fear I shall see him no more. I wished to have called upon him, & spent a little time at Weston on my Journey hither; but it was not in my power;1 and tho we took breckfast at Flaggs, in Weston,2 I could not call even a moment to see our sister Lucy [Savage Bigelow]—If ever you travled in the mail Stage you know how difficult it is for the passengers to visit, or call to see friends on the way—On receiving your Letter by Mr. [Daniel?] Davis, in August, I was rejoiced at the information of your intended visit to Biddeford; yet with a considerable draw-back on account of the necessity I saw myself under of being from home at the time you expected to be there—I had for some time meditated a Tour through the District of Maine—indeed my friends, in the eastern part, told me, they really conceived that I was under an obligation to visit every part of the District, & that it was generally expected I should—There being Courts in the eastern Counties for three weeks successively, I thought a more convenient opportunity might never again offer itself for meeting so many of the people together—And also the new arrangement that will probably take place on the return of the Census will prevent my ever standing Candidate to represent the whole District, I did not apprehend any ungenerous reflections from that quarter—These circumstances, & not any prospect of pecuniary gain prevailed on me to leave home just at that time.

    I begin to be homesick; and am almost weary of this mode of Life, that requires such perpetual absence from home; And did I not think it is for my interest at present, I would by no means submit to it. What in attending Congress, and Courts for the four last years I have not spent more than six months of that time with my Family. To a man so fond of domestic enjoyments as I am this is a prodigious sacrifice of happiness to Interest3

    I often hear from, & write to Brother William [Savage]—And if you send a letter for him, inclosed to me, I can forward it without much loss of time—

    Master [Shearjashub] Bourn is in good health—takes snuff & cuts his nails as usual—This will be sent under cover to our mutual friend, Mr. [Henry] Bass; who will be requested to direct it to you at Weston, or Barnstable as you may be at one or the other of these places—

    I am, dear Brother, yours. &c

    * * *

    FC, TFP