X
5 Feby 1800
My dearest Wife
It would greatly enhance my
present felicity to be able to expreʃs to you,
(who are the Cause of it) in terms equal to the
warmth of my feelings, how sensible I am of
the Bleʃsings I enjoy from an Union with You --
Mankind would be still more attached to
this Earthly State could every Individual after
the experience of [m]ore than1 fourteen Years, with
equal sincerity & satisfaction as myself, hail
with Joy the return of that day on which his
Wife was born -- May you most amiable
of Women & Best of Wif|v|es live many Years, and
continue to afford to our Daughter a bright
Example of every moral Virtue, unaffected Religion
& perfect Consistency of Character & diffuse around
You Cheerfulneʃs & agreeable & rational pleasure
to those who are so happy as to enjoy yr- society
Notes:
1 A few words on this line are affected by the tear across the sheet.