[Docketing notation, top right corner, rotated:] H. [undecipherable] Barger / Rec 9 / [undecipherable] 1799 Samuel Hodgdon Esquire third door above Sixth Street In Arch Street Philadelphia [p^r Bethlehem Stage] Sign of the Washington, Doyles Town 1^st October 1798 Dear Sir, As the stage goes to Philadelphia to day, I shall make this second attempt to get a letter to you, it is with much pain, that I find myself obliged to absent my self from my business, at this particular moment, when my sircices are more indispensable, and would be much more usefull, than they would be at any common period. but Sir, sickness is imperious, and obliges us to submit. I have had perhaps as severe a fit [undecipherable] any person could have to recover, but [undecipherable] to an indulgent Providence, the fever has entirely left, [and] my appetite is returning. In time I have no doubt I shall be strong & able to return to your afistance, belive me Sir, my sickness itself has not hurt my mind more, than the necessity I am under of straying from you, because in the first instance I pledged my word, & I know I was the only person on whom you placed implicit dependance. The Doctor asserts confidently my sickness was the yellow fever, & from my pains, insanity, and the bloody streaks in my eyes, I am ready to belive it. I took it in Town the night before I left you by a violent chill while I was in bed which produced the most excruciating pains all over my body, I was almost induced in my own mind not to quit Philadelphia, but the danger of introducing the complaint into your family on the one hand & the horrors of an Hospital on the other, determined me to go. I am sorry to observe, that I mend so slowly that I am afraid it will be two or three weeks before I shall gather strength sufficient to undertake a journey to Phil^a. Please to give my best respects to your good lady, Miss Phillips, and all the family. It will be doing me a great favour to receive a letter, from you Sir, & I hope you will write to me by the return of the Stage, if the letter is left at Seshers Tavern, in second street the driver will leave it with me as the Bethlehem Stage stops at the Tavern where I lodge. Hoping your usefull life may be preserved, together with those of your family, & wishing you all the best blessings of both worlds I am Sir sincerely your friend & most obedient Servant Col^o S. Hodgdon Timothy Barger