Margaret [sic],

You may, perhaps, deem it an unwarrantable liberty on my part, that I thus address you;--but I should be doing violence to my feelings, were I longer to delay informing you, that the impressions I had received during our brief acquaintance, are such, that I am unable (were I so disposed) to obliterate them.--Whatever course fate may have marked out for me in future, I must forever recur to the evanescent moments I have passed in your society, as among those of the happiest of my life.--May I be permitted to count upon a recurrence of like happy circumstances? May I ask for a humble place in your esteem--(No, not your esteem, for, did I not believe that I already possessed that, I should not dare to address you)--May I then be permitted to love you, with a hope that that passion will be reciprocated?--I am ready to confess that I tremble for the result.--If I have your permission, it will not be long before I shall have the happiness of seeing you. If not, you will know how to pardon the liberty I have taken.

I am, very respectfully,

Your sincere friend

C. Barton

¹ To learn more about Margarette Barker Lerned [McQuesten] please see W0609.