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Passes on news of friends and family. Mentions various reform-oriented periodicals, including Lydia Maria Child's "National Anti-Slavery Standard." Tells the story of spreading antislavery ideas to a friend or neighbor, including lending them a copy of Theodore Weld's "Slavery as it is." Discusses a recipe for laundry detergent found by Elizabeth and Graceanna Lewis.

Passes on news of friends and family, including an upcoming wedding and tidings of Graceanna Lewis's sister Rebecca Lewis Fussell. Discusses preparations for Yearly Meeting.

Esther Ann Fussell's part of the letter discusses the beauty of the falls at French Creek, comments on Edwin Fussell's idea of moving to a utopian community, and gives recent news of friends and family. Esther Lewis's part of the letter discusses whether or not Graceanna Lewis should continue to teach at her uncle's school in York, Pennsylvania, and passes on news of friends and family.

Esther Lewis's part of the letter passes on news of friends, family, and the recent Yearly Meeting; mentions that Graceanna Lewis's sister Mariann is copying out a work of Sim&oaccute&n Bol&iaccute&var for Gertrude Kimber Burleigh; and discusses milking and butter-making. Esther Ann Fussell's part discusses a recent wedding; a speech given by Charles C. Burleigh at an antislavery meeting; an older Quaker's objection to Burleigh on the grounds that he was a "hireling" minister; and a faux pas involving letter-writing. Elizabeth Lewis's part discusses attending Yearly Meeting, mentioning the "anti-abolitionism" of Rachel Barker.

Mentions getting Esther's letter about their father's death and her thoughts thereof. Gives an account of everyone who is sick and how they are doing, saying most people are healthy, but a handful have a bad case of ague. Expresses sorrow and solidarity in hearing about Caleb Norris's death. Shares Solomon's real estate plans.

Abby Kimber's part of the letter discusses at length experiments with "Phreno-Magnetism" (apparently a combination of phrenology and animal magnetism or hypnotism) performed on Gertrude Kimber Burleigh by Emmor Kimber, who put her in a trance and then touched the various phrenological "organs" on her skull and observed her behavior. Esther Lewis's part of the letter, dictated to Mariann Lewis and dated 1843, discusses news of friends and family, including a problem with her foot that prevented her from walking for several weeks and the recent formation of a temperance pledge society nearby. Mariann Lewis's part of the letter discusses the travel-plans of Fussell's husband Edwin. Graceanna Lewis's part of the letter discusses her life in York, where she worked as a teacher in her uncle Bartholomew Fussell's school.

Dictated by Esther Fussell Lewis to Mariann Lewis, who, with Elizabeth Lewis, has added a good deal of news. Esther's part answers Edwin and Rebecca's request for advice about joining a communal settlement, urging strongly against joining. Elizabeth's part reproduces, from Graceanna Lewis's letter of 1842-10-12 (A00179475), a description of an experiment involving animal magnetism and phrenology performed on Rachel Wright.