New London, Oct. [sic] 5, 1845 [should be Nov, based on the postmark date of Nov 6]
My dear Friend,
You will doubtless be not a little surprised to receive a letter from me; & I must make necessity my apology for writing.
I wish to commission you to do a little matter of business for me if you are willing to, & can do so with convenience. You will perhaps imagine it is to obtain a few choice plants or the like; but it is a rather more difficult task I therefore rather hesitated to request you to do it, have concluded it can do no harm to write. You know I had had no help for some time before you left home, & was desirous to obtain some. I have not yet succeeded & cannot yet make up my mind to try the Irish as they are here.
I should not object to a Protestant one, but those you know are not found here. I know your sister is well acquainted with
thways of obtaining servants & thought she might be able to direct you where you possibly might obtain one for me. You know very well what kind of a person I would like; but I suppose that would be out of the question. If you could get one of principle but was not so well acquainted with work, I should think it a favor.Elizabeth told me about a house where the Welsh servant could sometimes be obtained & they were very much liked. I do not wish you to put yourself to any inconvenience, but if by inquiry you could hear of any that would be willing to come to N.L. you would confer a great favor to engage one for me & let her come on at the time you did. I would willingly pay the passage of one you could have any confidence in being a useful person.
I saw your Sister this morning, she said she was nearly worn out, & wished very much to see you home again. They were as well as usual.
Your flowers have bid defiance to the frost, many of them still look fresh as ever. With regard to tulip roots, I don't care to purchase, for I have so many I had rather have something else.
The Gladiolus is a superb flower (when it will flower) but mine did not all summer. I hope it will however another season.
If you are purchasing pot plants & can with perfect convenience obtain an Azalea for me I will be much obliged. I do not wish you to get it if they are very expensive, 75 cts, or dollar if a nice double one.
I do not know about the value of them, they are different colors. I think the straw pretty, or purple. If you can get 2 colors on the same bush prefer it, & would willingly give more. Am much obliged to you for remembering me in your purchase of Hyacinths. I presume you will return richly laden with nature's beauties. Please remember me to your Sister & my best love to Emma & Mary & a kiss to Frankey. That name is full of tender recollection of the loved and gone, but I must close as I am writing in great haste. Hope you will return soon, & if you cannot with convenience attend to my request let them be as if I had not written. with love,
Your sincere friend,
E.L. Havens[The writer of this letter was Elizabeth L. (Douglass) Havens, who attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, 1839-1840, and in 1840 married Henry P. Havens, of New London. The letter is written to her friend, Miss A. Davison, who was in New York City visiting her sister, Emma, who had married James O.L. Hillard in 1843 in Brooklyn.]