(April 7, 1721)

My Dear Husband,
I hope this will find you and cousin Veets1) in good health.
The flour has been stored, and [I] have sold 2 tons for 12 [shillings] and 3 pence. I have spoken to Captain Warren; he said if he has it the 25th of this month, he will have it in good enough time. It is very dead now. I have been almost nowhere yet, except at Van Hoorn’s and at sister Kortlant’s2). I am grieved to see her in such a condition. They say Colonel de Pyster3) is improving little. May the Lord save us with his Spirit and grace so that we may remain in our right senses.
Van Hoorn has the cornel for 8 sh. a hundred. I am sending an oxhoofd of molasses and 2 kegs of sugar. I send you one and a half pieces of eight’s worth of palms. I ordered it from several people4) and saw that they were not willing to part from it; so, I have bought it [myself]. A draft5) by Leek6) is going along. I think ours will be trimmed like inside again and the palms around it, but if you know what to do with it, [viz.] with the draft, my heart may do as you wish.
It is true, indeed, that our Governor will have Van Hoorn’s daughter! Whatever objections his friends are making, it won’t help; it is in vain, it is said.
There is as much as 5 hundred lb. of cornel less than what you indicated to me! Tames said that he has taken in only as much as there is now. I am sending you some tuberoses. Van Hoorn sends you 10 lb.; he will get it back when it is received. I wish we could already sell it for 12 [shillings] and 3 pence. See to it that you will have the 2 cargoes ready by the time I come up again, for in May the Assembly will be in session, it is said. [I send you] 6 oranges and 6 for Alida.
I hope you and cousin Veets will enjoy yourselves. I long to be with you again. [I have] handed 12 gu. to the shoemaker’s wife. There are ramose [plants] and sets.
My regards to Alida Veets.

Your Beloved Wife
Alida Livinghston.
April 7, 1721

In the left margin
in paper money

Notes:

1) More commonly spelled: “Vetch”.
2) More commonly spelled: “Cortlandt”.
3) More commonly spelled: “de Peyster”.
4) Alida writes: “versch” = probably: “verschey(d)e(n)” = “several people”.
5) Probably: a design for Easter-decorations (with palms).
6) = possibly: Lake.