My dear Husband,

It seems more than three days since I left my pleasant home and my dearest earthly friend; for although we had a prosperous journey and my first day with my cousins has passed very pleasantly, yet I find that every enjoyment is incomplete, which is not shared with you, My dear, and however pleasantly the days may pass, when evening comes, I miss the presence of one whose smile of affection, and words of love are worth more to me than all the world beside. It is only when we are separated that I realize how truly we are one. May a kind Father in heaven guard you from all ill, and permit us soon to enjoy together the society of our friends in this land of our birth.

Our trip across the lake was very pleasant. To gratify Isaac I sat on deck a part of the evening. When we went in, I met Mrs. Duggan and her brother Mr. Hudson who took rooms adjoining mine. Capt. W. was very polite, Mr. Hudson got us ticketed and our trunks checked for Boston, at Oswego, and we had their company to Albany. I met Mr. and Mrs. Warren in the cars, returning to N. York. Our train was half an hour behind time so that when we reached Albany the Springfield cars had just left. So I went to the Mansion house and occupied our room which Isaac thought was very funny when I reminded him of the mouse. The next morning we took the cars at 9 o'clock, stopped half an hour at Springfield and reached Boston at 5.

The heat and dust were almost intolerable and last night was the hottest one I have known this season. It is more comfortable tonight. Isaac is a very good boy and is enjoying and seeing a great deal. This morning he rode to Malden with Dr. Fuller. He and Fanny are as great friends as Alice and he have been. He cannot tell which he likes best. He is asleep or I dare say he would have some message to send. How are you and Lizzie¹ getting along? "Do they miss me at home?" I wonder if you have had any more company. I have been thinking that Esq. Burrows and family would arrive after I left.

The clock is striking eleven and Aphia has run out in her night dress to bid me go to bed. She left her regards for you. Mrs. Fuller says tell the Doctor we cannot let him off without a visit of two or three days. Please direct a letter to me here as I shall not leave before the last of next week. Tell Lizzie to write too. Love to Calvin² and William. Goodnight my dear and a thousand kisses from your own,

Lizzie.³

¹ The writer is certainly Elizabeth Fuller McQuesten and the other may be a relative living with them at Hamilton, very likely Lizzie Currier who is probably Elizabeth's F. McQuesten's niece by her sister Mrs. [Esther?] Currier, who spent some time in a mental asylum, see W1216, W1193 W1205.

² Calvin may be Calvin Brooks McQuesten, Dr. Calvin's son by his first wife, Margarette Lerned. In 1855 he was eighteen years of age.

³ Elizabeth Fuller McQuesten (sometimes called Lissa or Lissie), was originally from Boston, Massachussetts but moved to Hamilton after she married Dr. Calvin McQuesten on Dec. 22, 1853. During their courtship and their first years of marriage, Elizabeth seemed pleasant enough but grew more and more temperamental and demanding, harping on her husband and stepsons, particularly Isaac who tried to intervene on his father's behalf. She would often demand money and sometimes made threats to get what she wanted. She also attempted to coerce her husband into changing his will in her favour but Dr. McQuesten and his sons thwarted her with a trust deed (W0234) and secret will which granted her a basic annuity while her stepsons received all of their father's property and investments. See W-MCP5-6.351 for more details and links.