Margaret (Peggy) Ewing to Rebecca Gratz - May 15, 18[03]

Deeply affected by the death of her estranged brother Simon, Rebecca gives her sister-in-law Maria a detailed account of his last days and expresses hope that the family's relationship with his children can be restored.

Rebecca tells her friend Maria how much she is missed, inquires about members of her family and discusses the state of the literary journals The Salmagundi and The Port Folio.

Rebecca continues to tell her sister-in-law Maria of the activities of Maria's son Howard while he attends school in Philadelphia. She also recommends some books she is reading and the effects of the economic depression on some family and friends.

Rebecca conveys to her sister-in-law Maria her sorrow and her memories of Henry Clay's recently deceased daughter. She also updates her on the activities of Maria's two eldest sons who are staying with Rebecca while Maria is in Washington, D.C.

Rebecca tells her friend Maria of the birth of her sister Richea Hays's 6th son and updates her on friends and the social scene.