Autograph Letter Signed, Philadelphia, March 28, 1837, to her brother, Captain Nathaniel Brown Palmer, the discoverer of Antarctica, Stonington, Connecticut

Quarto, three pages, plus stamp less address leaf, in very good, clean and legible condition.
"You may have inferred My Dear Brother, from my long silence, that your favour of the 12th was not most welcome, but I assure you, that you would wrong me in the supposition, for I do not know when I have been more gratified, than I was upon the receipt of your affectionate and unexpected epistle. I have been prevented replying to it earlier, with the expectation that I should have letters from Dear Courtlandt, and consequently deferred writing from day to day, and am fearful that I shall not now be able to write you as lengthy a letter, as my inclination would prompt. Owing to my having an attack of the influenza, and my eyes are considerably affected. You must tell Mother, that when I feel better I will write to her. The Dr. bled me this morning and I hope soon to be quite well again. I sincerely sympathize with you my dear Brother, in the suffering you have endured, as there is no pain, more severe than the Rheumatism, and from your account you have been one of its Martyrs. I trust however ere this, "Richard is himself again" and that my recipe has effected another cure, together with the good nursing you have at the Homestead and the attendance of a Wife I am sure you must soon be well. I quite envy Eliza, her happiness, for there is no pleasure to equal that of a Wife, when she can alleviate by kind attentions the sufferings of a dearly beloved husband. I had hoped, to have had Courtlandt, back this month, but I received letters this morning from him, pf as late a date as the 28th of February, in which he writes me, that his health is improving, and he has concluded to go to Paris, as he thought he would derive more benefit from a Sea Voyage, in the month of April, and consequently purposed leaving London in a few days for Paris, as his Physicians thought that change of air and exercise would be of great benefit, and would sail from Havre about the 24th of March so that I am doomed to disappointment, for I calculated upon seeing Courtlandt, ere the expiration of this month, but it is best as it is, for I have no doubt the voyage, will be of more service to him if he should sail when he contemplated leaving, and may anticipate having the happiness of welcoming him next month. It is well I think Nathaniel for those, that are bound for Europe, that I have not the power to control Boreas, for could I, for the next month South Easterly winds would prevail, and those destined for a Norther Port, would have long passages I reckon, if I had anything to do in restraining of the Winds. You ask me if we have had any tidings from Edward since his departure. We have been truly favoured, as we have had intelligence from him, at three different times. Once he was boarded in the Gaspar Straits, and then we had letters they were off Java, and last week we had letters from both my Brothers Edward, and Paul, from Canton dated the 12th of December, and had been there 2 weeks. Ed writes in excellent spirits, and was quite in love with the ship Anawan, but he must have something to love in the female gender, and talks in as much ecstasy of the ship, and you would suppose him as much in love with her, and if it was one of the fairest dames in Christendom, he could not extol her more highly, so completely fascinated is he, with the Anawan and her beautiful make, fast sailing that I should not be surprised if he returns in her. He writes that he is provided so well that during their passage, they had not had a Salt Meat Dinner, as they had so amply supplied themselves with livestock in Liverpool. … Elizabeth"
Nathaniel Brown Palmer, explorer, was born in Stonington, Connecticut, August 8, 1799, the son of Nathaniel and Mercy (Brown); he married Eliza Babcock, Dec. 7, 1826.
Palmer discovered mainland Antarctica at Orleans Channel, during a sealing expedition in sloop Hero, 1820; explored the region more thoroughly in ship James Monroe, 1822, discovered, with an Englishman, South Orkney Islands; made several voyages to the Caribbean with ships Cadet and Tampico transporting troops and supplies to Simon Bolivar; became a respected packet and China clipper captain, 1834; captained clippers Hougna, Samuel Russell, Oriental; he made many valuable suggestions for improved clipper design, took steamship United States to Bremen; superintended rebuilding of the Great Republic; director Fall River Line; became member of New York Yacht Club, 1845. Died San Francisco, June 21, 1877. (Inventory #: 31237)