Front of Envelope

Mr Caleb Slater

Eastwood,

Near Nottingham,

England,

Europe

Two Postmarks

Jun 14

Paid

Liverpool

BR Packet

26 Ju ’59

1A

Rear of Envelope

Postmark

Nottingham

A

JU 27

59

*********

June 12th, 1859

Perth Amboy New Jersey

My dear Brother & Sisters

I suppose you will be mad at me if I don’t write something or other either sense or nonsense, I could show you a long your but I am going to rjserve that subject for ? when I come so you need not ask any questions next time you write for I shall be inexorable   What doyou think of me wearing a gold ring   I have had one given me so of course I must wear it for the sake of the giver wether any body is ashamed of me or not, it is a plain ring with W.S engraved inside it and is at the present time on the little finger of my right hand. I was very much pleased indeed with your letters   I have not got them at hand just now. I remember from Sarah’s that she has been fetching some Jewelry down stairs, times must be tolerably good, one would imagine when you come out in such style, well I hope it will tell you what o clock it is but mind nobody “click’s” it. Mary Jackson has got married at last her name is Mecuskey now   she often talked about writing to you but really she has so much to do to hear her talk one would think she had the management of a house where there was 150 boarders   she does not keep school now and all she has to do is look after her old man   he is about 20 years older than her and as feeble as

P2

some men are at eighty he is 66. Mary used to ask me almost every time she saw me what I thought of her husband, ”isn’t he a Gentlemanly man?” she would say. I was at the weding by the bye and it was on the night I got you letter, ifI mistake not. She was married at home.  the ceremony is soon performed in this country. The old Gent is about as nimble on his pins as Colonel Homes but I think the Colonel would out walk him.

Now I must say a few words about W Watsons family    in the first place his wife is a very nice woman they have three children.     Sarah is the eldest she is at a boarding school in New York State, I expect she is quite accomplished  she is tall and has light hair

Cornelia is next and is about 12 or 13 years old she is a very nice girl she is very quick and can play very well on the melodeon and sing also   We have been singing some old fashioned tunes this afternoon and I like them first rate.

Next on the list is Samy the youngest   he is a nice little fellow rather delicate and they all think a great deal of him.

I think some of you told me to rate [berate?] John for not writing but as I’m not going to write an epistle to each of you I must not take it upon me to find fault. I don’t know how to write any more so you must excuse me this time   I’ll try better next time   I’m altogether out of time for writing but you must not think I love you any the less because I’ve not written much

Good by from your very Affectionate brother

William Slater

P2 Upside down

Next time you write, direct to me at Mr. W. B. Watson’s

Perth Amboy

New Jersey