Marblehd. July 26, 1779

My Dear Granddaughter,

It affords me inexpressible plea
sure to hear of your Welfare & the Family's. I doubt
not, it will be equally agreeable to you, that to hear
that I am yet in the Land of the Living; & tho [I ]have
met with several Shocks that threatened an immediate
Dissolution, am at thro divine Goodness,
in as good a State of Health, as I have enjoyed for
several years. It will a little surprise you
when I tell you that I have not
only paid a visit at Mrs. Forster, at my neighbor Hooper's,
but even at Mrs. Combs's. I hear that
Dater Lee expects. I shall spend an afternoon
with her very soon. I wish my strength may
hold out to do it. If I shd, Becky will expect
one, poor Child! I know I sh[oul]d see an encumbered
Family. It increases with such Rapidity, that
her husband had need to have a large salary
to maintain them all. His people are indeed

very kind, under the Distress of the Times, that they
have no cause to complain: but Becky is of an anxious
make, & that you know she always will be.

As to Flora, she has become a great Madam
in the Town; & tho she has lost her two sons, Pomp &
Pique, I don't see, but she relishes & frolick as well
as any of the Negros; who do nothing else but
visit about, from one hose to another. They
have fine times of it. Their Husbands go a pri
vateering & her's among the rest (tho, by the way, I
don't know that you have heard that she had
consented to take Pompey [Hooper?] again, & is married
to him; & had like to have increased her flock of
Children, but a kind Providence prevented) they
go a privateering & bring home their black Ladies
such things enabl them to look down, with
Contempt, upon many of the Whites . But
this is under the Rose, for we darest not say
any thing.

I rejoice that your Daughters make
such an agreeable Figure. I don't wonder you
are proud of them. When such high compliments
are passed. I hope they will continue

to be your Comfort & by treading in the Steps
of sobriety & virtue be an Ornament to their
Name and Ancestry. Give my kind love to
your Spouse. I long to see you all, but whether
I shall, God only knows! My present sprightliness
may be only like the blazing up of a Snuff, in the
Socket, just before its extinction. May God's bless
ing be with you; I pray God to bless you and sancti
fy all your Trials to you: and if we never meet
here, may we meet with your pious Father
& Mother at the right hand of Christ.

Your most loving & affectionate Grand Mother,
H. L. [Hannah Lee]

The Shoes & Citron were
kindly received.

Remember me to Mrs. Higginson.

Flora sends her Duty to you, and her love to her
Child.

[Endorsement]

July 1779 Madm Lee

[Address]

Mrs. Mary Robie
Halifax