Letter addressed from Philadelphia, and sent by the hand of Hiram Wells. William Gay Butler writes to his father Jonathan Butler in West Hartford about his business peddling wares. He got in to the city the last Sunday evening and found a letter from his sister Maria Butler informing him of their father's good health, but wishes for more details about his trip to PA and how he liked the country where William's brother Epaphras Butler is living, and about Epaphras' situation and concerns. He asks Jonathan to send such a letter back with Hiram Wells, who he expects to return to Philadelphia shortly. He writes that he forgot to inquire for Epaphras after the man who dresses deerskins there, but will follow up and write about it in his next letter, as he wishes to send this one with Hiram Wells who leaves by boat in the morning. William writes that he wrote to Epaphras about February 1 and requested that he write, but he has received no answer. There is a peddler in Philadelphia who just came from Kingston and saw William's uncle Fisher Gay and the rest of their family there about ten days ago, and they are well. Of his last excursion, William writes that the first three weeks were as good as expected but the last four weeks very poor. There was a large snowfall when he was in Chambersberg, and instead of getting a sled so late in the trip, William decided to drive his wagon to the mountain off the turnpike. He drove his horses through the snow 8 or 10 days, and when the snow stopped the weather was wet and the roads were bad. He worked himself and his horses very hard but made very little. He sold $1600 worth of goods and made $120. He writes that he would like to return home earlier this year than last, as Jonathan requested, especially as he dislikes traveling during the summer months. He had hoped to be finished by July 1 but thinks it unlikely with how many goods he has left to sell. William and Hiram Roberts talked about making two more trips before July 10, then buying another load and heading to Pittsburgh, New Lisbon, Canton, Brownhelm, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Albany, then home to Connecticut. If they should decide not to, Hiram Roberts would still want William to go on another trip alone after he has gone home, to account for the remaining goods, so it is unlikely he should be home before September. William traded the mare he bought from Colonel Fitch on his latest trip, for a large young bay mare. He says he sent Jonathan six handkerchiefs, keeping one for himself, which he says cost $5.30 or 76 cts each; three pairs spectacles that cost 37 1/2 cts per pair; and 1 pair of stockings for 67 cts. The handkerchiefs were small but the biggest he could find at high quality. William writes that he and Hiram Roberts have purchased most of their next load and expect to leave the city the next Thursday and be on their route for six or seven weeks. An accompanying slip of paper in William's hand accounts for the enumerated goods, plus 12 3/4 yds of bleached shirting for $2.16, and a note for $220 plus 14 months interest at $15.40. It specifies the handkerchiefs as Flagg handkerchiefs.
