Autograph Letter Signed, Newport, June 25th, 1842, to her father, Abraham Richards, New York

quarto, one-page, postal markings on integral address leaf, old pencil notation on address leaf" Militia mustered for trouble with suffrage party", in very good, clean, and legible condition.

"Mr A Richards

Dear Sir,

Nathanael has been much disappointed in not receiving the Pistol from Timothy, we hope it has not miscarried, as your reason to fear so – in consequence of not receiving it, my husband has gone this morning with his company to Providence his only dependence a pair of horse Pistols with flint locks which he feels are not much to depend on, one of his officers has a pair of pocket pistols and another none it is impossible to obtain any arms and if it had not been for a naval officer he would have been unprovided with a sword, you will see by this now important to him the loan from Timothy will be. All the forces of the state are in requisition, and every movement is more gloomy than the last, N with his company have been quartered in the Court house since last evening at 5 waiting for the militia to muster and be ready to take the same boat with them according to orders, the Artillery went yesterday at noon. The Suffrage party had taken 4 or 5 men and imprisoned them and it is said the Marshall also, they are very underhand in their movements and have done some mischief without any shew of force. I think this makes it more difficult to deal with them. We feel cast down but know in whose hands we are, I do rejoice that God the omnipotent reigns. I fear nothing will be accomplished without bloodshed, and the fearful question is whose will it be we all hope their friends will escape … Mary Jane"

The Dorr Rebellion was an effort made in 1840-42 to overturn the State government of Rhode Island by revolutionary means. After the Declaration of Independence, Rhode Island retained her charter government. Many of the citizens, headed by Thomas W. Dorr, of Providence, a member of the Rhode Island Assembly from 1833 to 1837, became discontented with the existing government and its limited suffrage. Mass meetings were held, and in October, 1841, a convention of delegates prepared a Constitution, which was submitted to a popular vote, and was claimed to have received a majority of the votes of the State. The legitimate government treated these proceedings as nugatory, and, in a measure, criminal. May 3, 1842, the "suffrage legislature" assembled at Newport, with Dorr as Governor. King, the legitimate Governor, proclaimed martial law. The suffrage party appealed to arms. Their troops were dispersed, and Dorr fled. He was afterward captured and convicted of treason but was pardoned in 1852.