Subject: Drawings
From Boxes 1 & 2

-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- [Addressed to:] Mr. Ebenezer Burr                                     Norfolk                                                            Conn. [Connecticut] Mr. I. Mills                                                                         Prairieville [Wisconsin], May 7, 1844. My dear Parents,             Mr. I. Mills called here unexpectedly last Thurs. P.M. and we were very glad to see him — He observed things pretty closely for he said he supposed our Parents would "quiz" him —             Daniel has been so busy this spring that he has not got the house & yard &c. in as good condition as we should like to have them — in fact we are rather ashamed of the looks of things but hope for better times —             We have not yet got <that> a mirror plate as they would ask for putting it in $1. in Mil. [Milwaukee, Wisconsin] & we have had other uses for our money.  I have had considerable leisure this Spring for reading — half or more of the time I take is consumed in reading news papers & Miss Heralds [The Missionary Herald, monthly publication of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions] — for the last 6 weeks we have had no milk of our own so that I have had less to do than usual — but the cow has calved to day — & we rejoice — we have had milk occasionally of our neighbors. as our appetites are not all the time very keen we find it rather hard to be deprived of <milk> it —             I am glad that you have got a pr. [pair] stockings footed for me, for I dont seem to get along with knitting as I do with sewing — I wish to knit Daniel a pr. [pair] suspenders, but cannot tell how to get it right — I have commenced two or three times & tried <till> long as I thought 'twould be of any use — no one here knows, at least that I have asked perhaps Matilda can tell you so that you can write — does She take off the first stitch & then put over the thread. & then narrow as we generally do? or does she narrow backwards — I suppose you will think I ought not to have forgotten.  I think so too, & had no idea I had, till I tried —             <The heels of the> The stockings that I heeled for Levi [Levi Grant] had apparently rec'd [received] but little attention & new heels were needed I thought — Mrs. G. [Grant] wished them — I knit them to accommodate & I know dried apples & peaches will not come amiss —             I saw recently in one No. of our Cultivators a cure for Corns. — An individual pared off what he could with a sharp knife & then bathed it freely in sprits of turpentine & put on it a linen cloth wh. [which] he wet with turpentine — in a few days the corns came out root & branch.  Daniel has just said that one of our neighbors recently applied some turpentine to a corn & it made him very lame & pained him so much that he was obliged to discontinue the use of it.  I presume it does not affect persons alike —             We last fall bought some corn & have & expect to feed it to the hogs & oxen, except enough for our own use, as the<y> oxen are old & need something beside this marsh hay             Daniel has written a letter to Uncle Pettibone [Amos Pettibone] & given some description of land wh. [which] would probably interest you though I do not know but Mr. Mills will tell as well.  Dan'l [Daniel] helped me make nearly half a barrel nice soap a few weeks since — [Written across second page:] My health is pretty good though I dont believe it is perfect. [2 maps drawn on third page: one of the plot of land, one of the house] Daniel drew this map of our farm & was expecting to describe it to you, but I think he will not have time — there are 40 acres in each square — that crooked line is nearly a dividing line between the marsh & dry land — most of the upland rises rather abruptly from the marsh — the land fr. [from] the E. boundary rises slightly as far as the barn — there is quite a pitch between the house & barn there is a plain west of the house extending about 50 rods & from 10 to 30 rods in width — the remainder westward is broken — the 10 ft. 35 ft &c. on the map means that distance above the marsh. as we guess at it. I think you will understand the house d. means door — w. window — if we stay here intend to have a closet partitioned off at the east end of the bedroom & perhaps move the partition between the bedroom & pantry so as to have the <pantry smaller> bedroom larger we yet go up chamber with ladder. intend to have the settee stand extending from the S.W. corner of the kitchen to the library shelves.  there are three rows of shelves on the N. & W. sides of pantry — the lowest one not quite three ft. from floor — on each end of the upper shelf on the west end stands a pile dishes not often in use, on the north end of the shelf large platters &c. between them are the canisters sugar boxes, &c. — on the second shelf at the S. end of the shelf first is an old tin platter with knives & forks daily used on it — next are the common earthen dishes tumblers &c & then blue cups & saucers plates &c. on the lower shelf at the S. end stands the soap dish the remainder of the shelf is used for milk at the farther end & between that & soap I put dirty dishes — the lower shelf on the N. side is used for milk & tin dishes, the second one for food & the third for candlestick & many "notions." Dear brother Erastus,             We would like your help & company & I will write for Daniel something that you might expect D. [Daniel] says. people get from 12 to 50 bushels per. acre according to the quality of the land, the time of sowing & the manner of plowing & getting in seed to the ground — 50 bushels per acre is a very extraordinary yield — many say 25 " [bushels per acre]  is an average yield but D. [Daniel] thinks 20 is — our land was not plowed well & some of it was sown rather late & D. [Daniel] thinks we shall do pretty well if we get 15 bushels per. acre this year — it now looks as well as <some> almost any other<s> about — The price of wheat is generally 50 cts. [cents] per. bushel, many times more & not often less. he does not know how much it will cost to prepare the land & gather crops, or at least cant very well tell now, but perhaps will sometime, but he says you could probably earn from $10 to 11 per month the year around —             I think of you a great deal & love you much I want you should form right principles & opinions now & pious ones too — be kind to all — if you do sometimes feel that it is hard to be,  Your affectionate sister, Caroline. [Caroline Burr Grant] [Written across last page:] We have got our crickets partly made -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- [Addressed to:] Mr Ralph E Burr                                     Norfolk                         Litchfield County                                     Connecticut.                                                             All Well [Written across address:] Mr Sheppard please send this up and charge the trouble to Wm [William] Hill                                                                         Flemington [New Jersey] Nov 4th 1849 Dear Ralph             This letter may come unexpectedly to you for I have just thought of writing it and not from any sudden movement of the spirit but because I have received an order to night for ten thousand more lead pots to be delivered in as short a time as possible.  Now we shall require more help than we have engaged at present and if you have made up your mind to come to New Jersey this winter and could set out immediately and would be willing to work one month before going to school we would be willing to give you 20 dollars for your service exclusive of board.  There are several reasons for my wishing you to come & one is that my Father is almost over done with hard work and I should like to releive him in some way.  Do not wish to persuade you to come against your Friends wishes or interests and if they are not perfectly willing at home for you to come why do not come on our acc/ [account] but write to us immediately that we may know what to do;  Have not done a single hours work out on the farm since my first letter to Mary when she was at home  We hired all our corn cut & are hireing men to husk it besides the hands that we have in the shop We have about 650 Bushels of corn in the crib and have a goodeal more to husk — The weather is still quite pleasant the last two days have been indian summer quite warm and pleasant.  Our new rooms are walled up, roof not on yet, Mason built the new oven to day.  I myself am pretty tired of constant work at the same thing but will have to get used to it I see — We have 400 bushels of lime ready slacked that wants spreading and a good many odd jobs, in fact at present I see no end of work — are building a new corn crib 25 1/2 feet long 8 feet posts and 4 feet wide at bottom, set up on posts 2 feet above groung to keep out the rats, Thus " [drawing of barn of stilts] I find it takes a good eal of thinking & considerable moving about to see that things are done rightly on the farm also to carpenters & masons and do my nearly two days work in the shop  Had 3 two horse loads of Yankee pumpkins in the corn from the seed that I brought from your house last winter; all together we had 8 two horse loads and I have had the pleasure of chopping up 1 1/2 bushels noon & eve for two oxen that I am fattening for the good of mankind, for a month past, Should you come on now you would still see a little of the country and be able to judge a little of the manner in which farming is done up in this unenlightened community.  I take a bite of maple sugar almost every night and seldom forget here's to old Ralph or something like it,  Often think of you all and would like to see you all very much,  I love the wild and uncultivated spots of Connecticuts back bone and some of the places that I saw in that squirrel hunt are still present to memory,  Mary says tell her mother that she made a mistake in sending for the yarn and that my mother wants two pounds of grey yarn and only one of white instead of the other way as Mrs Mary B Hill had it, she sat it down from memory and had confusion in her brain as all young housekeepers have and ought to have for dear knows they have enough to think of and too enough to do,  Aunt H B Hill is spending the evening with us and she and Mary are chatting of many things at my elbow, but I do not pay much attention to what is going on. Well you say here's a pretty budget of trouble and work of what is done, doing, and to be done, you can judge by this what occupies my mind I cannot think of many things beside work at present. Now dear fellow if the things in this letter suit you and yours and you can come soon say first of next week or even the last you would be of considerable service and I will keep my promise made in the first part of this letter,  Remember me kindly to Erastus & family your Father & Mother Carrie and all the rest & also to Maria Phelps when you see her, The Presbyterian Minister left here (that is resigned of charge this week) and there is now an opening [for] a good minister that will put up with 500 or 600 dollars for a salary.  Good night Dear Ralph hoping to see you soon I am as ever                         Your Brother                                     Wm Hill [William Hill] I will just add — that William is almost tired out too — & I should be extremely happy if it would not be too much against your interest to permit Ralph to come            Most affectionately                         Mary [Mary Burr Grant] William has written this with the speed of a steam engine & is <waiting> in a hurry to be off before the mail closes. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- [Addressed to:]                        Miss Caroline Burr [Caroline Burr Grant]                                                 Present [Circular design small dashes with writing that says:]            To Caroline Will you my friend when far away, Think of the hours you’ve spent with me And If at evening as you stray, Think of a friend who thinks of thee Olivia Cowles. Colebrook [Connecticut], Feb. 22, 1837. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- [Addressed to]                                    Mr. John Grant                                                 Colebrook                                                 Conn. [Connecticut] Politeness of Mr. Gaylord. [A diagram showing the orbit of earth and the comet is drawn on the first page.]                                                 New Haven [Connecticut], Nov. 3, 1837. Dear Brother,             I have written to Daniel promising to give you a short account of Prof. Olmsted’s theory of Meteoric Showers.  I have but very little time before Mr. Gaylord leaves and must therefore be very brief.  I have drawn a rude figure which may perhaps give you a better idea of the thing than any mere description.  S is suppose to represent the Sun, E the earth in its orbit, which you know is very nearly circular, B a body of the nature of a comet revolving round the Sun in the same period with the earth, and coming very near it on or about the 13th of Nov.  The orbit is very far from being circular and is supposed to be nearly like that represented in the figure.  This body is now to be seen by those who have practiced looking for such things, and I have seen it this morning, but it is of such a nature that I very much doubt whether any of you would be able to discover it.  It is sometimes seen immediately after sun down <at> appearing something as is represented in the following figure [Here follows a hand drawing in pencil, showing what is being described in the letter.]                                                  Horizon             The little round spots which I have made are intended to represent stars, and the body of which I am speaking runs up from the Horizon in much the <wa> same way with the pencil marks I have made over a part of the stars.  It is now to be seen before sunrise, and best about 4 o’clock in the morning.  If you were acquainted with the constellations I could very easily tell you in what part of the heavens to look for it, but as I suppose you are not it would be very difficult <for me>.  It reaches now above the Sickle <cons> which is in the neck and shoulders of the Lion.  It is evidently very thin and light from the fact that most stars are very easily seen through it.  Its form is very nearly that represented in the figure.             But I have not yet told you in what manner this causes meteors.  On or about the 13th of Nov. this body comes very near the earth and a part of its matter is supposed to drawn from it into our atmosphere where it takes fire and forms what are called shooting stars.  Prof. Olmsted says he has observed every year since the great meteoric shower of Nov. 13th 1833 and has seen the same phenomenon occur each year on the very same day. <thou>  Though the number of meteors has been very small in comparison with those of 1833, yet they have started from the same point in the heavens, and have exhibited the same appearances.  If I have succeeded in making myself understood in these explanations I think you will very gladly make some observations and see if any thing remarkable occurs.  It is only by repeated observations that the truth or fallacy of the theory can be ascertained.             I have no time to write any more, as Mr. Gay- leaves in a few minutes.  Give my love to Martha and Marcus, to Uncle Luther’s folks, and all the rest of our friends.  Write to me as soon as you can, conveniently, and let me know how things are going on at home.                                     Your affectionate brother,                                                                         Joel Grant. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- [Addressed to]                                    Mr. John Grant                                                 Mill-Brook                                                 Litchfield Co.                                                 Conn. [Connecticut] U. S. Ship Potomac Monte Video            [Uruguay] Oct. 21, 1840 Dear Brother,             It is now one month since we sailed from Rio to this place where we arrived after a passage of eight days.  We are obliged to come to anchor at a distance of five or six miles from town on account of the shallowness of the water, a circumstance which renders my situation rather unpleasant as it gives to the ship much more of the nature of a prison than is agreeable.  My school of course occupies me generally during the five days of the week, and the only days which I can, without express permission, spend on shore are Saturday and Sunday, upon which days the weather is very likely to prevent my going. As there is no land to the south and east of us and none within a hundred or more miles to the west the waters are much affected by the winds from those quarters, so much so that it is often with the greatest difficulty that boats can reach the shore or come from the shore to the ship.  Of course on many days a boat does not leave the ship at all and I am sometimes unable to go ashore <when> my duties on board would permit.  I have however been on shore once, and will endeavor to make known to you some of the impressions I received.  Monte Video [Uruguay] is a city with a population of about 15,000 principally of Spanish descent.  Its houses are all of brick or stone and built in such a way as to resemble a city of forts or prisons rather than the residences of peaceful people.  The following figure will give you some idea of their form.            [Diagram of a floor plan for a house is drawn in the corner of this page]             The outside wall is built very strong and in some instances the only opening it has is the entrance the <light> windows all opening inside towards the court, which is an open space paved with marble brick or stone according to the wealth or taste of the proprietor.  In the middle is a cistern so fixed as to receive all the water which falls upon the roof, and as this means is universally resorted to procure water for use it is a matter of much importance.  The roofs essentially differ from any I have ever seen.  They are nearly flat and like all the floors of the house are built of brick supported by wooden sleepers and plank. The top of the house being then made safe by the height of the outer and inner walls becomes a very pleasant place for the gambols of children, the dances of <the> light hearted youth, and the thoughtful walks of soberage or youthful gravity.  In this country the advantage derived from them is inconceivable.  The seasons do not vary here as they do in Colebrook [Connecticut]; the winters are not cold the summers are not intensely hot, consequently there are but few days in the year in which a promenade on the roof will not be agreeable.  By this means every parent can afford to his children a play ground without the necessity of sending them into the street. <for amusement>.  If there are any windows opening into the street they are defended by strong iron gratings thus rendering entrance against the will occupier impossible, without the use of battering rams or some like instrument.             Montevideo [Uruguay] is at present the capital of a province which claims to be independent called Banda Oriental or Uraguay [Uruguay].  <It calls its> They call it a republic, but I doubt its ability to govern itself well.  It was originally a province of the Viceroyalty of Buenos Ayres [Argentina] but was eventually claimed by Brazil as a part of its territory, and became the occasion of a protracted war between the that empire and Buenos Ayres [Argentina], which resulted in a treaty that the disputed territory should be left to itself for five years at the end of which time it might choose for its master whichever of the contending parties it saw fit. <for its master>  The result was as might have been expected; the province after managing itself for five years concluded that it would never more acknowledge a master.  This is rather a bold step for a people like this numbering it is generally supposed not more than 70,000.  But in South America every body seems disposed to be independent, and to live rather by war than the arts of peace.             The people here retain many of the customs of their original country Spain.  Bull fights are exhibited usually as often as once a week, and what will surprise you they are made part of the religion and are exhibited on Saint days, in honor of the Virgin Mary St. Paul etc.  I am told that these exhibitions take place oftener on Sunday than any other day of the week and that the good Catholics attend them as their afternoon service.  I shall if possible attend one <if I can d> and if I do I will write a description of it for you.             The French still keep up their blockade of Buenos Ayres [Argentina], though there is now a prospect that a few weeks will put an end to it.  The more I learn of the affair the more I detest the conduct of the French, and the more I admire the conduct of Buenos Ayres [Argentina].  The matter is now in a very doubtful state, as it seems not unlikely that the French will bombard the city.  The inhabitants who do not carry arms are leaving the city in great numbers, and it is though that there are not less than 5,000 women and children, in this city from Buenos Ayres [Argentina].  The soldiers with <their> General Rosas at their head are determined to die rather than yield to the claims of the French.  To the original claims which occasioned the war France now adds about $4,000,000 which have been expended by her carrying on the war, a circumstance which presents a double barrier to the making of a treaty.  But of these things I will endeavor to write more then I know more.             While I was at Norfolk Va. [Virginia] I met an old <child> friend of mine, a graduate of Yale College, who had just set up a school there, and who was pressed for money.  As I knew his noble spirit would not stoop to ask me any pecuniary assistance and as I knew likewise he was in debt I offered <him> to lend him $50 or $60 if he wished it.  This offer he accepted and though I do not think he will be ready to pay it for some time to come yet as he may be I will state that I have his note for $60 dated April 17, 1840 and that I gave him a certificate stating that a receipt from my father, Elijah Grant or from Wm. [William] Gilbert (now a member of college) stating that the money with interest due had been paid should cancel the note.  The name of the individual is Samuel Bailey.  Perhaps it will never be paid (though I have no fears, if life and health are spared him) but if it should be this explanation will enable you to understand the transaction.             Our Commodore has gone to Buenos Ayres [Argentina] in one of our sloops of War.  It is impossible to tell how long we shall remain here but probably two or three months longer at least.  The country and the people here differ as much from those at Rio as those at Rio do from the country and people of Norfolk Va. [Virginia] and I doubt not I shall be much interested.  Beef here is very abundant, the best selling for no more than two cents a pound, and a fat sheep ready dressed for cooking may be bought for a dollar.  Beef and mutton however are the only cheap articles of food, as flour sells at about $20 a barrel and potatoes at about $8 a bushel.  These prices are not I presume permanent ones.             I now say I cannot be content more than six months longer without hearing from you.  My father and mother how can I endure to remain in suspense concerning them.  Perhaps they may one or both, be sleeping in their graves.  Let me assure you that, notwithstanding some faults, they, like other human beings have, never were children blessed with better parents than we.  Often let our prayers ascend that as the prime of their life has been laborious, self denying and prayerful their old age may be peaceful and happy from the virtues and character of their children and their death the sweet repose of the righteous. My brothers and sisters too how I long to know their situation.  And as from time to time I run over the list of uncles and cousins which it is my happiness to have, I feel that none but those who like me have wandered can like me feel the worth of home.  It is now summer here or rather it corresponds to your month of April.  The winds called pamperos blow here with great violence and last night we had one which drove off to our ship 15 or 20 poor birds that could not (or did not) resist its force             Your affectionate brother                         Joel Grant -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- [Addressed to]                        Mr. Daniel Grant Care of E.P. Grant Esq. Canton Ohio U.S. A. [Ahmeduaggur?], June 10, 1840. My dear brother Daniel,             Nearly a month has passed since the Brenda, a vessel from Salem [Massachusetts], laden with ice, reached Bombay.  The ice which cost the owners some 1500 dolls [dollars], immediately sold for $10,000.  But I was about to tell you it brought letters, periodicals, & books to us, which truly cheered & feasted us I had heard nothing directly from my relatives for 14 months previous.  I had two full letters from Joel, a part of one being written by mother, & among other items I learned that you were in Ohio upon a farm near brother Phelps. I was, as far as I could perceive, glad to hear it though knowing so little of circumstances, I ought not to have a decided opinion.  But in that land of enterprise, & improvement & progress if you take a right stand you will be respected & useful [...] have a pretty good foundation for an education, I mean you are somewhat thoroughly grounded in the rudiments, upon this, by your reading, reflection, & intercourse with men & things you may in 20 years erect a noble superstructure, & be a first rate farmer too.  Your first thoughts, after your soul, I think should be directed to the profession you have chosen.  This is desirable both as to success & comfort in your labor.  But dear brother, be not cast down by disappointments.  Settle that point that it will not do.  Be a happy man; a cheerful man.  Govern yourself.  Your habits have been some defective in this respect.  But this must not dishearten you.  Rise it is not too late, not too late for you to be all you wish. You may be as useful in your sphere as any of your brothers, though your vocation is different.  Do not compare yourself & your priviliges with others to your injury remember God only requires the best improvement of the talents with which he intrusts us. You will meet all sorts of society, but I feel confidence that you will be found in the ranks of the virtuous.  I feel that you will be where you can have access to good books.  You should not work all the time, but you must continually be industrious.  You should probably read some, besides devotional reading every day.  Besides keeping accounts straight I would recommend your writing a little every day perhaps in a diary, something which you read, or some fact you would like to retain or practice upon drawn from conversation or observation.  Watts on the Mind would be a good book for you to read with care.  Phelps will help you to standard works which read principally I think, but you will not read many volumes a year, yet by having a system, you will treasure up much that will be valuable, & tend to make you happy.  Improvements & arrangements upon the little spot made more green & lovely by your labor, will constantly tax your judgment, & the works of God, <will often> as manifested in the vegetable world, will often attract your notice, & raise your heart in admiration & love.  Yours is a noble employment, & is every where considered so.  Aim to have a plan, a system, & though often unavoidably [...] to deviate, yet do not give up.  Consider your habits, perfect the good, correct the bad, & create the wanting.  Be cleanly in your person, do not neglect the frequent use of water upon the whole system.  Be temperate in diet & especially be virtuous in every particular, yes, be chaste, every where, alone & in company in thought, speech & manner.  Be a Christian example.  One point more, important though delicate.  You will need ere long to select a bosom partner.  O what circumspection, & what guidance from on highs you require here.  Make this an important part of your intercession before God.  Your usefulness & your all will be affected by this step.  So do not be hasty, make yourself worthy of one of the excellent of the earth, not the rich, but one of the sensible, healthy, & virtuous daughters of new Eng [New England] I would say -- yet I would not choose for you.  I think some of your New Eng. [New England] acquaintances would make you happy.  In training your own habits, one motive may be, to make yourself what you should be as the head of a family  But dear brother, from my interest in you, I have written thus much, it is for your own eye, & for your own good.  Keep near to God. Aim to do every one good.  Remember the Sab. [Sabbath] & the Bible & closet.  I wish you to write me particulars about yourself.  brother Phelp’s family and all. Aff. [Affectionately] M. Burgess [Mary Grant Burgess] We are interested in our work, & happy [...] I feel that we have a wide field, & need the prayers of those who seek the extension [...] Christ’s kingdom at home.  Mr Burgess is devoted to his work.  It is a hard field, but we have encouragement to work on, Mr. B. [Burgess] has just commenced a school for teaching Eng. [English] & we are hoping it will be useful to the people.  I will tell you more of our work next time.  Do you see the Recorder’s that contain Mr. B’s [Burgess] letters. My very kind regards to each of the cousin Griswolds & their wives. also to Mr. [Golding?] & any others, who I should remember. Truly yours. M.B. [Mary Grant Burgess] Dear Brothers, Phelps & Daniel, & Sister Susan,             Through brother Joel & mother I learned respecting your return to Ohio, & your visit in Ct. [Connecticut] I am glad too to hear so favorable an account of that little niece.  I would like well to make her acquaintance.  I wish to hear from you as particularly as you can afford to write.  I have written one letter home since we commenced keeping house last Nov. but as you have not probably seen that <probably> I will introduce you to our pleasant home.  And that you may get a clearer idea even from an imperfect sketch.  I will draw the city with a pencil at one corner.  It is not a square, but it is longer from east to west than from N. to S. It is surrounded by a mud wall, 18 or 20 feet.  This wall is kept in a good state of repair.  The city is entered by 11 or 13 gates.  I forget which, some of these two or three entrances are not for carriages.  Pop. [Population] of the city is 23,000, the majority of whom are miserably poor, & degraded. <No. 1> Fig 1. represents the location of our house just outside the N.W. gate of the * [As best representation -- perhaps not entirely to scale, see original if necessary] *city Fig 2. the house Mr. French now occupies.  He has lived with Mr. Abbot till this week.  I value having them so near. Fig. 3. Mr. Ballantine’s place.  It is situated in the center of the city, but it is high & airy.  The female boarding school is in the yard.  Fig 4. is Mr. Abbott’s place a full mile from us.  In his yard is the boys boarding school.  The chapel too is there.  It is the only spot owned by the mission in Nuggur, & is in the S.E. part of the city. Fig 5 represents the fort, & the sixes the cantonments of Eng [English] residents.  A few of the Eng. [English] call on us & many are friendly. We are about 170 miles E. from Bombay the intervening road is good a government road.  The mail leaves for Bombay every P.M. & arrives here from there every morn, requiring two days in passage.  Postage is cheap is determined by weight, so that I have been telling my Amer. [American] friends that when convenient, write on thin paper.  Our upper rooms are peculiarly pleasant composed of a sleeping & bathing room, & Mr. B’s [Burgess] study.  In front is a verandah where I often walk at eve for the fresh air.  We have a thick cotton carpet on the study which cost about seven dollars.  Here is Mr. B’s [Burgess] library which consists of about 500 volumes, & I assure you we have no want of good reading (There is besides here a mission library.) a desk & table & about three chairs constitute the remaining furniture.  Here we spend our evenings when we have no company.  My room & our sleeping apartment has a much cheaper kind of carpet a wash hand table a towel rack, a dressing table, a bed, a wardrobe & some trunks, & a chest.  It is of good size & is airy. Our bathing room is one of our choicest luxuries, & we are not sparing in frequenting it.  During the hot season which is now giving way to the rainy season, it has been to us invaluable.  From the first of April to June 1 the thermometer (excepting two days when it stood at 99 [degrees]) has risen to above 100 [degrees] in the shade, (open air) -- quite a number of days it has risen to 105, 106 & 107, -- yet by keeping rooms shut, & by frequent bathing, in general, we have not suffered much from heat.  Yet there is a [languos?] which unfits one for rigorous action, & is one of the trials of missionary life in India.  Below is a parlor, breakfast room a small room, which I call mine, & a dispense room answering to a pantry at home also a room which I use for storing away things.  None of these rooms are remarkable, they are generally convenient.  The house is very old, but it is comfortable a part of it, is of stone, & part of mud brick.  In my parlor I have a ding table, a pretty table, a couch sofa like, & about 9 chairs.  We brought a rocking chair from America & Mr. B. [Burgess] purchased another in Bombay of the Capt. of our vessel.  So we have each of us one, one we keep above the other below.  My furniture is respectable better than I expected.  Indeed I wish you to think of us as happy.  As for eatables, we do not get much variety, though we have many good things .  Eggs are abundant & cheap, much more than fowls, Beef & mutton are good, particularly the latter.  Sweet potatoes & onions are our principal vegetables for cooking Rice is an important article of diet.  We also get good wheat bread from the baker, & I often make it myself.  I have my butter made in the house, every morning.  Fresh fruit may be had almost every day, some of which is very fine & would be so rare in America that we often wish we could get some to you. -- I forgot to mention that our house is surrounded by pretty gardens.  It has rose bushes, just arrived, artemisia, a species of hyacinth, & many other pretty flowering plants.  It is shaded too by the Tamarind the Pride of India, the gum Arabic tree, the mulberry the [pineful?] pimpuree sandal wood, & several other trees whose names it would be difficult for me to write in Eng. [English] I often walk in the garden, & botarize some have pressed some hundred specimens.  Next vessel I shall see a letter from you, I think. Any letter you know as posted in N.Y. [New York] will finally reach us. Aff. [Affectionate] your sister M. Burgess [Mary Grant Burgess] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---