A letter written from Philadelphia, reacting to news of a serious illness in Anna Wilkinson's family. The writer wishes to come visit the Wilkinson family, but is concerned about the "severity of the laws".
In this letter, Emma apologizes for not keeping in touch with Anna since Emma's marriage, and reports that she has traveled frequently, from Beaufort to Charleston to Savannah and back. She also laments the damage done to Charleston by a fire, particularly the destruction of its two Methodist churches.