Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Davenport, June 1, 1730

[June? 1730] 6

Dear Sister,

Your kind and affectionate Letter of May the 15th, was extreamly agreeable to me; and the more so, because I had not for two Years before, receiv’d a Line from any Relation, my Father and Mother only excepted. I am glad to hear your Family are got well thro’ the Small Pox, and that you have your Health continu’d to you. I sold your Husbands Watches for about £3 10 s. this Money, and I now send him 3 Barrels of Flower (tho’ it be long first) which come to about the Money. I reckon my self very much oblig’d to him for not being more urgent with me. The Flower Brother John 7 will deliver to him. Please to give my Respects to him, and excuse my not sending sooner. I am sorry to hear of Sister Macom’s Loss, and should be mighty glad of a Line from her; and from Sister Homes, 8 who need be under no Apprehensions of not writing polite enough to such an unpolite Reader as I am; I think if Politeness is necessary to make Letters between Brothers and Sisters agreeable, there must be very little Love among ’em. I am not about to be married as you have heard. At present I am much hurryed in Business but hope to make a short Trip to Boston in the Spring. Please to let me know how Sister Douse 9 is, and remember my kind Love to her, as also to Brother Peter, 1 and Sister Lydia 2 &c. Dear Sister, I love you tenderly, adieu.

B. Franklin