
          flowers for an Equisetum! Dr DeKay says if I will come out
 again he will take me to Jerico (no I was there Wednesday but to
 Babylon.) He is very kind & the ride would be no doubt highly
 interesting to me but I doubt its feasibility.


 Never was a house situated more pleasantly than Dr
 D's. It is on a beautiful beach in a fine bay apparently
 in the heart of a wilderness. Still he is close to a road from
 which no part of his ^ [inserted: house] is visible & close to the landing _ much
 nearer than the Village is from which also his house is hidden.
 Miss DeKay sings much & well _ reads Latin French German &
 Italian. A tutor is employed in the family - formerly a member
 of Douay Coll. & I fear still a Jesuit. His eldest son is
 Mr Smith's constant companion & I fear much under his influence -
 thinks Luther was in danger of excommunication for
 licenciousness at the time of his rebellion - & does not deny
 the real presence & (why should I deny it?) is at heart a papist.


 There are no naturalists in the family & Mrs. D till lately even
 supposed mice were young rats. The children are very amiable
 & kind to each other & respectful to their parents. No government
 seemed to be needed. The family seemed to manage
 itself. There must have been two servants but I only saw
 one & that accidently. Mrs D seems languid. They enquired
 very particularly after you & your family. Dr D is a zealous
 Episcopalian & a declared enemy to Onderdonk. He was the
 means of having a cross erected on Our Church. The Children
 are 3 daughters & 4 sons. Miss D is I believe both organist
 & prima donna in the Choir & a laborious S. S. Teacher
 & I suspect not friendly to "dissenters" as such.

        