I have recd. a Letter of the 20 Inst:1 from you; but from William none arrived by the last mail. The Ballance due to your uncle Peter will be somewhat less than $500— he may repay me the Difference. Your Cousin Wm. L. Watkins has sent me his acct. and according to it I owe him $43.63.— I presume it is right— ask him for a Copy of it, and pay him the Ballance—

Nancy is again much better— Doctr. Keeler was here last Saturday — He spoke of the Fever as new. That in many Cases the Symptoms indicated the propriety of bleeding, but that very few who had been bled recovered. That calomel had proved an excellent medicine, for that when a Salivation could be brought on, the Danger was nearly over. He mentioned a singular Circumstance— that at present, in Disorders unconnected with the Fever, much larger than the ordinary Doses of Cathartics were necessary to produce Effect; and that in almost every Case, a more than usual Quantity of Bile was evacuated. He observed that the milder the Weather, the milder the Fever; and that in his opinion it would abate and cease as the Summer approached—that the Number of his patients (in the fever) had amounted to 60—of which only three or four had as yet died— it certainly is less fatal then it was— so that there is less Reason for alarm, and more for hope— A Letter from Mrs. Symmes to Nancy, represents New York as being very sickly— These are not good Tidings— I shall be glad to hear that you are free from cold and sore throat

Saml. Merritt has been here, and paid me $30 on acct. of Int[erest]s.— this I am satisfied with for the present— In Octr. Interest will be due for another Year, and he promises to be very punctual— I mentioned to him your Costs—he said he intended to be at NYork the first week in May, and would certainly pay you then— I hope Wm. has been mindful of what I wrote to him abt. Dona— vizt. that unless he consented to be in the same chamber and bed with Chester, it would not be convenient to us to have him here— I expected he would have informed me on this Subject— probably he did write, but sent his Letter to the office too late— Our love to Mary & to him I am Dr. Peter Your affte. Father

H. Haight has recovered; and it is said that D. Haight’s Daughter will probably recover also— I have just heard of several new cases—

[at top margin]^Our brass Kettles are nearly useless— If you can, get a Copper one made, to hold a Barrell.^

[in left margin] ^The Branches of the Hemlock are used with advantage in the Fever, as a safe and powerful Sudorific.^