Sam[ue]l L. Mitchill ALS to [Catharine Mitchill], February 19, 1806

this Opportunity of informing you that a Woman
named Dorothy preached in the Capitol a few
Sundays ago, in a manner surpassing most persons
of her sex; and many of the other. She was a sort of
free Quaker, and had a very distinct & melodious
voice.

I had read in the Newspapers, an account
of the Fire near Peckslip, arising from the burst-
-ing of a Bottle of Ether. You relate that it happened
from that Cause, and at Midday. I do not quite
understand how the inflammable vapour caught
fire at the Time. The gas exhaling from a bot-
-tle of Ether is very dangerous at night, on account
of the readiness with which it takes flame. I was
once singed by the flame of ethereal vapour, &
my left ear, and the hair of that temple conside-
-rably burned. The explosion is dreadful, and the
heat intense. If therefore you ever have occa-
sion to employ this subtil & volatile liquid, be
cautious to avoid approaching its Vapour by
any flaming Body, such as a Candle or the like.

My correspondent Patterson of Edinburgh
has sent me some Books & Pamphlets by the Ship