Letters of Esther Morton Smith, 1820-1848

The letters from 1820-1845 are written by Esther Morton Smith to her brother Robert Morton, they are family and community news letters, occasionally with reference to current and Quaker events, including: Sept. 3, 1822 [fine for evading quarantine laws is $500];ca. Sept. 19, 1823 [Bob is attending a "military" school which has their father upset] +; Sept. 19, 1823 [tells how much family misses him and her own tender feelings; "Friend Kimber's school is dispersed" on account of sickness; illness of many around her, mentioning Dr. Hartshorne]; Jan. 11, 1824 [reports on conversation with Daddy Peter, their servant, who goes out to see the Black soldiers walk; reference to "Quaker Newlights" and struggle in Meeting +; March 26, 1824 ["Who knows but mother may be worth something yet besides her children"] +Nov. 19, 1824 [Orthodox and "Heterodox" in a great ferment about Elias Hicks -who preaches Deism in its fullest extent to crowded houses. All the young ignorant and low follow him... I.T. Hopper is his Jackall..."]. The letters from 1846-1848 are all written to son Benjamin R. Smith, who, at least some of the time, is a "Pottercaniers" apprentice, mostly about clothing and social conduct, but also including: (n.d., ca. 1848?) [Father (Daniel B. Smith) "did all he could to get up the school (Haverford?) and now when "its back is to the wall"... "let us too do all the little we can to help him"].