Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-09-14
(CoPy.)
BosroY, Aug. 5, 1850.

DOSTON, aug. u, looO.
Rev. DR.. PARKMAN.--Dear Sir: can
not leave this world in the peace of mind
for which | pray, without addressing you
as the head of that family which l have so
deeply injured and afflicted, TO make known
TO you and them the bitter anguish of soul,
the sincere contrition and penitence have
felt at having been the cause of the aflliction
under which you and they have been call
ed to mourn. ! can offer no excuse for my
wicked and fatal ebulliion of passion but
what you already know, nor would | at
tempt to palliate it.
had never, until the two. or three last
interviews with your brother, felt towards
him anything but gratitude for his many
acts of kindness and friendship. That |
sh ,uld have allowed the feelings excited on
those occasions 10 have overpowered me so
as to involve the life Of your brother, and
and my own temporal and eternal welfare,
| can, even now, hardly realize.
may not receive'from you forgiveness
in this world, yet cannot but hope and be-
lieve you will think of me with compass
sion, and remember me IN your prayers to
Him who will not turn away from the
humble and repentant. Had | many lives,
with what joy ! would lay them all down,
could /, in the least, atone for the injury !
have done, or alleviate the affliction have
caused but | can now only pray for for
giveness for myself and for every consola-
ton and blessing upon every member OF
your family.
In justice to those dearest to me, beg to
assure you, and entreat you to believe me,
no one of my family had the slightest doubt
OF my entire innocence up to the moment
when the contrary was communicated tc
them by DR.. Putnam. That they have
your sincere pity and sympathy feel as
sured.
There is no family towards every mem
ber of which have always felt greater
degree of respect and regard than that o.
which you are now the head. From more
than one have received repeated acts o
friendship and kindness, for which .hav'
ever been and am most truly grateful.
Towards yourself in particular have no
. only my own feelings been those of th'
most sincere regard regard and gratitude
but every individual OF my family has tel
towards you that you were their pastor AM
friend. Often has my wife recalled tn
: interest you took in her from her first be
coming your parishioner, and often has sh
: spoken, with feelings of deep gratitude, G
the influence of your public ministrations
and OF your private instructions and con
versatlons, and OF your direction of her in
d qulries and reading in what related TO he
religious views. These she has often re
l. called and referred to as having firmly e.
tabliShed the religious faith and trust whlc
are now such sources of consolation an
support to her and our children, as well {
to myself.
Nothing that has occurred has weaksne
these feelings, and although those lea,
behind me, may not meet you without ii
of keenest anguish, trust you will exonera
IS. them from any participation in, or know
re ledge ot the fathers sin, up to the nome
~ ~ / have mentioned, and may you iememb
them in your prayers TO the Father Of Il
tatherlew and the widows God.