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EBENEZER HAZARD (1744-1817) was born in Philadelphia and was an American businessman, publisher and public official. He served in several key postal roles during and after the American Revolution, including first postmaster of New York City under the Continental Congress in 1775, surveyor-general of the Continental Post Office starting in 1776 and postmaster general of the United States under the Articles of Confederation from January 1782 to September 1789.
2 1/2 pp, 8 x 9 1/2, ALS, Philadelphia, June 8th, 1807, Hazard writes to his sister Elizabeth Breese at Charlestown, with content relating to family and business matters.
“I am not at all in good humor for writing, but I have been so long in your debt that I declare I am ashamed of it, & I begin to fear you will suspect my love for you has cooled, (which I should be very sorry for) especially if I should not write when so good an opportunity as Mr. Rockwood’s return affords, is presented...delighted with the Information he gave us that you had all met at New York, & that you were going on with Dr. & Mrs. M. to Charlestown, & Abby’s letter had told us of your safe arrival. How much better Providence plans for us than we can for ourselves! how apt are we to worry ourselves about things, as if we thought nothing could be well done without us, or so well as if we had an hand in it. Vain man would be wise though he be born like a wild asses’ Colt.
“My good wife recd your letter…by Post. We shall be sorry & if Arthur & Caty should not find it convenient to give us a call, for we should be happy to shew them by our kindest attentions that we have not forgotten them & would really be very glad to see them. Your information about Col. Linklin & his wife, & Genl Forman is very pleasing. Divine Grace is not confined to Cities, & I think we have some reason to hope that the time is fast approaching when even the wilderness should, in a spiritual sense blossom as the Rose. Perhaps we may not live to see it; but surely there is no absurdity in supposing that our happiness in heaven may be increased by the glad Tidings which Angels shall bring us, of the Triumphs of redeeming Love on Earth. Will it not tend to animate our Hosannas & make our praise more cheerful?
Since I wrote to you last, I have recd yours enclosing Betsey’s acc of the things sent by Mr. Carnahan, which I now return. I had forgotten to charge them sure enough. The account now stands as follows viz
“Mrs. S. Breese — 1807
“Jany 20 To Cash by Post — $30
“To rugs sent by Mr. Carnahan, omitted to be charged before coz
“1 bt linen 25 yds @ 7/6 25
“1 black gauze handkerchief 3.1
“I 1/2 yd black ribbon @ 1/6 2.3
“1 yd Tape 2.6
“3/4 yd. Muslin @ $2.50 2.87
“2 dz dutch thread 6.3
“osnaburg to pack them in 1.10
________
1.5.11. 1/2 3.46
“March 3 To cash sent Dr. Moure on her act & by her Direction
in a letter from Betsey to Abby 50.
“May 22 To her Interest for April credited by her order to S.F. Snowden 30
“Cr. 141.33
“1807 — By bal due to her G. Acct sent her—-71.70
“Jany 1 By additional interest due 1st June 30
“April 1 By do do 30 131.70
Bal. due E. Hazard $9.63
“There will be another Quarter’s Interest due to you the 1st of next month. The Genl Assembly has dissolved. I never knew one Mr. Alexander (now Minister of Pine Street Church) made an excellent moderator but the assembly knew little about how Business ought to be done. However, they got through, either by Hook or by Cork & are generally dispersed; which gives us an opportunity for a little more enjoyment of with our new Hartford friends. We often pleased ourselves with recollecting & talking about our friends at Charlestown, & you may be sure Sister is not forgotten: some of us have such a partiality for her as to assert that we should not be surprised, & should even be glad, if she should keep her carriage yet before she died. I hope you have got pretty near it; if it should happen before Fall. May be my charmer & I may have the pleasure of riding with you for it is not impossible that we may see you then if we live Old Folks, like Boston Folks, are full of notions; & it will not be more surprising if we should take it into our heads to visit Boston this year than it was that we should go to Whitestown last year. We seem to follow you, go where you will; but whether we come or not you may be sure we love you & I am confident every individual in my family would desire me to tell you so if they knew I was at that part of my letter where such things are usually said. We are all in usual health, & none wishes you more happiness both here & hereafter than
“Your loving Brother
“Eben Hazard…”
Folds, toning. Some bleed through. Bottom margin has chips, affecting very little. Seal tear. Integral address leaf. Very readable. Fine Americana.
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