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My dear Son — Monday Morn: March 12, 1804
Providence indulges me with this opportunity for enquiring after your health & dear family’s and to communicate an idea which have up in my mind after you left me on Saturday, of this [illegible]: whether if wou’d not be agreeable to convene upon the Subjects of our conversation in our late intercourse with Mr. French. Mr. F’s delicacy in wishing the ballance to be struck for and against by me lesson to have set me upon thinking, not wavering my motives as near as good to myself as ever, and altho’ no one can explain away the attention necessary on my part in order to fulfil my own ideas, yet the comfort and satisfaction of having order reestablished by one of such stabillity of Character weighs with me, to understake with an idea that, while I am availing myself of the privilege of one to sacrifice upon the Alter which has been so long vacant I may be made useful by that to the family, and perhaps it may be in my power to render him service– If my health shou’d he continued as tolerable as it is at present. now you will permit me to suggest whether we shall not all feel more agreeably, (considering it an important step) to consult our mutual friend and my spiritual teacher Mr. French upon the subject — I think he will be free to you in [[canvasing]] and determining — I think he is enough of the friend to me to produce the exposure of his sincere opinion that of he sees any impropriety on my part in makeing the offer; on everything ineligible respecting the matter, he will mention it. I’m [[fine]] oft chance any power to investigate that movements of my own heart, I think [[found]] judge my motives, which gave the furnishing to the [[proposal where inch]] as will hear examining; sent as every one day notice with similar hopes — I think it shall be better satisfied to have you call at Mr. French as you come here (you talked of being over this day) request him to give you his candid opinion for me.
Box 1 Folder 27
Phillips Family Papers
Phillips Academy Archives & Special Collections