Jacob Lyon Hall

Letter to Polly Pritchard written by Jacob Hall, October 5, 1795
Landinburgh (Landsingburgh,N.Y.)
To Miss Polly Pritchard
Waterbury, Connetticutt
Dear Madam,
I with trembling heart once more addresss myselfe to my Dear, inquiring for your health in which I would be very happy to hear I am in health at present. My Dear, every month seams a year while in your absence. O that I had wings like a dove, soon wold I leave this place of sorrow and injoy the homes of my love. My Dear, I find you to be a girl after my own heart. I am constantly courting you when setting on the roed to my dayly labour. My heart Is loct up in your bosome. O that I could clasp my arms around your slender waist my heart wold leape for joy.
Dear Miss, I should be very hapy to receive a letter from you. I have spent many dark and lonesome houres since I heard from you. I have hopes that you lead your life more contented than I do. If I had not I wold leave this state and return to my Dear.
All the recriation that I take is walking the fealds and groves with my shop maits (Jacob was a tailor). The ways and manners of yong people in this place is so diferent from Connectticutt that they appear very disagreeable. If it twas not for that I could pass my days while in this place to my mind.
I had the disagreeable pleasure to attond a ball. I think I may well call it Disagreeable for there was nothing agreeable in the company. After I got into the company it caused me to reflect upon my conduct for I consider myselfe as a married man. Not that I thought I was ronging you but my own feallings for I find I cannot injoy myselfe in any company but yours.