George Sheldon's acumen must do the rest.
Thus I begin my notes, with an extract from the fourth letter in the series.Mem.I preserve Matthew's own orthography, which is the most eccentric it was ever my lot to contemplate.
"_December_ 14, '42.

Indeed, my dear Ruth, I am ventursom wear you are concurn'd, and w'd tell you that I w'd taik panes to kepe fromm another.

I saw ye same girl w'h it was my good fortun to saive from ye molestashun of raketters and mohoks at Smithfelde in September last past.

She is ye derest prittiest creture you ever saw, and as elegant and genteel in her speche and maner as a Corte lady, or as ye best bredd person in Ullerton.

I mett her in ye nayborood of ye Marchalsee prison wear her father is at this pressent time a prisener, and had som pleassant talke with her.