Our dear little Girl being now in a sweet slumber, & the house all quiet, I will endeavor to employ some of my lonely sleepless moments in continuing an account of her situation.1 You know I wrote you by the last Post, which was on Wednesday evening;2 on thursday the Doctr. gave her more mercury, & finding her on friday considerably salivated desisted, and, tho’ her throat still continued ulcered, he told me the salivation was a favorable circumstance & he flattered me w[it]h hopes that she wd. recover I then regretted sincerely having inform’d you of her illness, & wish’d I had suffered alone the anxiety occasioned by it—. Yesterday morning however I was more reconciled to the conduct I had pursued; for when the Dr. upon examining her throat found the complaint still the same, he confess’d his apprehension of a mortification (for the situation of the dear little lamb from salivation was such as evinced the danger of administering more mercury) and requested me to call in another Physician lest you might be dissatisfyed shd. he prove unsuccessful. I told him, that I knew the Confidence you reposed in his skill, attention & friendship was such, that should that be the case, tho’ it wd. give You infinite concern, yet I was sure that he wd. remain perfectly free from censure; but that nevertheless, I was ready to acquiesce in any thing he proposed— he then told me that it wd. be agreeable to him to have further advice, & mentioned Bard—3 to him therefore Peter went immediately, & after a consultation; it was agreed that Bark shd. be immediately given in substance & by injection to prevent putressence—4 it has therefore been administred according to direction & I hope good effects will result from it— she has rested better this last night than heretofore— tho’ she has frequently awaked with tooth-ach & pain in her gums— a little while ago I put Laudenum on cotton & put it in her tooth, since which she has been easier— I long for 8 o’Clock to hear the Doctor’s opinion— Altho there are many persons confin’d with colds & sore throats, yet Nancy’s is the only instance we have heard of the putrid kind— the rest of the Children are well— as to myself, I am as well as can be expected— I have not left the child an hour since she has been known to have the putrid sore throat which was last monday, nor do I mean to leave her— the effluvia from her breath is so offensive that it creates a great nausea at my stomach— 2 o’Clock— The Doctors have been, and direct a continuance of the Bark as yesterday— they think her throat looks rather better— I forgot to mention that Susan is very ill with a fever, severe cough & pain in her side— Peggy Munro has had a miscarriage & is a-bed, but not uncommonly ill— I sent a note to church for Nancy—

7 o’Clock, Doctr. Charlton has this ins[tan]t. left us— he says I may assure you our dear little girl is out of danger. I flatter myself that you will receive this & my last letter at the same time & that therefore your suspense will be lessened as it will be impossible for me to tell where to direct to you in future you must not be uneasy if you do not hear from me, tho’ I imagine next thursday’s post may find you at Providence and shall accordingly write by that— Adieu my dear Mr. Jay! May you be preserv’d from every danger & restored to your expecting family & affectionate Wife