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Glad to hear that they safely made it Ohio. News of family and friends in Vermont. Discusses the "great many Deaths around us," including a number from smallpox and "lung fever." Includes a poem about remembrance and separation. A list of items and their prices appears on the back, including mare feed, saffron, sweet flag, skunk cabbage, licorice stick, and others.

Sending two boxes of marine shells to Parsons, President of the Rhode Ilsand Society of Natural History. Including a catalogue of J. C. Jay's "Cabinet of Shells" and encourages electing him as a corresponding member of the society. "… he is one of the best Conchologists in the country; and is liberal in distributing shells."

Giving proxy to Odiorne for meeting of the Hydraulic Company, in hopes of expediting the "legal organization of the company." Committed to providing Boston with fresh drinking water. Studied Philadelphia's water system.

Doctor's bill for a long series of visits and medicines to treat Sanford's sick mother.

Delayed in their journey on account of a “disaster at sea.” Lost all of their goods and his wife, Marianne, has taken gravely ill with the influenza. The doctor fears her lungs are diseased and urges them to travel to Florida to help restore her health. “The course which Doct Phillips prescribes is designed to bring out the irritation of her throat & lungs to the surface by means of ointment to the chest & a blister to the arm.” Fearful that Marianne may die. Encourages her mother to come to Florida to tend to her. “I do feel that the presence of one of you- her Mother particularly- would do more to restore her to health than all other means combined.”

Printed circular with manuscript additions regarding an act calling for the establishment of an Asylum “for the insane poor of this commonwealth.” Resolution to create a committee to keep track of the numbers of the “insane and idiots” in each county and other relevant information. The committee is made up of Joseph Konigmacher, John W. Nesbitt, Wm. A. Crabb, Richard Brodhead Junior, and James H. Laverty. Provides a list of eight questions for the committee to answer for each county, including queries regarding who supports themselves financially, the annual expenses incurred by each person, what medical attendance they receive, and the employment status of those not receiving special provisions. Manuscript note reading “Please acknowledge the receipt of this circular” signed by Joseph Konigmacher.

Remarks on teaching and its difficulties. Relates family health and news. Bangor has been an unhealthy community, especially for children. Discusses the death of a Sabbath School teacher. Attends an astronomy lecture by Rev. Woodhull and remarks on [Mary] Gove and her anatomy and physiology lectures. Believes Gove to be "a real Grahamite" and describes the practices she advocates, of which Plummer especially approves of daily bathing. Attends an antislavery sewing society meeting and encourages Margaret to become an abolitionist.

Compliments the fourteen-year-old John on his refined letter, commenting on his education, good parentage, and responsibilities to live virtuously. Notes the impact of children’s behavior on their parents. Describes family members’ trouble with their teeth, including an extraction, and their frequent illnesses. “This intercourse to resort to Drs have not increased my confidence in their skill—on the contrary I have far less faith in them than ever.”

Proof sheet of Treasury Department's notice of distributing standard weights. Includes Ferdinand Hassler's instructions for use of standard weights, 1839. Also includes instructions for use of standard weights for U.S. Custom Houses, dated 1836.

Requesting information about the Hartford "Retreat for the Insane" in response to a member of his church becoming "deranged" in the previous few months. Desires to know more about the resident physician, Dr. Fuller. The woman is the wife of Col. Thaddeus Clapp and the daughter of Mr. James Colt, "families highly esteemed." "Her derangement has been produced by intense and continued anxiety absent her husband who has been for some time quite feeble and depressed in spirits, but is now recovering – still the effect of his solicitude, and watching, and abstinence has been to produce this mental aberration, which daily increases." Asks about the terms and expenses associated with staying at the Retreat, but specifies that this "is of little importance, only that the proper evaluations may be made." Docket by Gallaudet states that there is no room at the Retreat.