John Stow, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1792

John Stow, Letter to Benjamin Chew, 1792 Philadelphia April 21. 1792 Sir, After the extreme treatment that I received, I think that my appeal to the public needs no apology—Justice to my self, my family, and friends absolutely required it—I have herewith sent you two papers which contain what I have said on that truly disruptive subject—You Sir, have received a very Considerable advantage from the Estate of Mr John Smith, and had I have received no more than Justice I should have had it in my power to have done a good party his Orphans, my own family and have done Justice to my friends, but give me Leave Sir to ask, how can you bare the though, to hold that advantage at the Expence of so much distress—You Sir have always Lived in affluence and ease, beyond the reach of even the common misfortunes of men—You have no doubt extended happiness to your own family and friends, but Sir, I have with you an equalized Justice, and however near your family and friends may be to you. I have the same feelings for mine—How extremely hard is it then not only to be deprived of a sufficiency for their comfortable support, but even the very means of their existence, and God only knows what we may yet suffer—Take a view Sir, of your own family—Consult the feelings of your own bosom—Make the case your own case, and only suffer the smallest emotion of the husband, or the parent to be but tucked, and then perhaps Sir, you may in some small degree feel for me, and give me Leave Sir, to conclude with saying, that unless I should have some good degree of Justice done me, I shall always consider that your Estate and family are receiving the Benefits of more than Eight Hundred hands which [?] Estate of Mr. John Smith, and whatever Losses has taken in Concequence of [?], and whatever Calamities, my self, family, or friends, may suffer, I must Consider this as the foundation of all.— I remain Sir Yours &c John Stowe Writer [[Person John Stow|John Stow] Date written April 21, 1792 Paper x in x x in Pen Penmanship Style Collection Historical Society of Pennsylvania Chew family papers Collection 2050 Chew, Benjamin (1722-1810) Correspondence John Stow to Benjamin Chew (1792) File name John Stow 17xx-00x-00x-00x