Frances Gratz Etting to Rebecca Gratz - September 08, 1802

Rebecca informs her brother Ben that his wife and children left in the morning to return to Lexington and gives an update on the family's health.

Rebecca sends her condolences to her brother Ben and his wife Maria on the recent death of their eldest son Benjamin and invites them to Philadelphia.

Rebecca updates her friend Maria on health news, remarks on the popularity of two star actors and the portraits of one of them, and discusses the voyages their respective brothers are taking.

Rebecca writes to her sister-in-law Maria, updating her on the preparations for her niece's wedding and expresses her sorrow over the deaths of her synagogue's minister, Abraham Keys, and a close family friend, Gertrude Meredith.

Following Nat Turner's Rebellion and the subsequent racial violence in Virgina, Rebecca writes to her sister-in-law Maria about the immorality of murdering innocent Black people, and expresses her belief that Maria could be an advocate for them, despite being a slaveholder.