Outstanding postal history item. Very clean Exeter New Hampshire straightline postmark along with red PAID and manuscript 10 rate. Letter is from Dr. Benjamin Abbot, principal of Exeter Academy (see below) written to his cousin Abiel. "Our brother reached this place last evening at eight o'clock, fatigued, chilled with cousin Ann whom he took fro Beverly the day before and rode all day in the snowstorm and reached Andover eight or nine at knight--destitude of money--and clothing and equipment suitable to such exposure. He left us this morning for Portland from necessity as he said, and could not be pursuated to remain longer with us. Of his movements after he left you, we could gather little--he is cautious of relating his movements here knowing we do not approve his eccentric rovings alone at this inclement season. The letter continues with displeasure over the traveler's position in a property deal "the importation of worthless fellows who were fleecing" the property owner. Excellent and easy to read. Letter has tiny hole where seal was broken, otherwise pristine.

Dr. Benjamin Abbot, (1762-1849) was the son of Captain Abbot of Andover, Massachusetts. He was graduated at Harvard in 1788 and that year became the principal of Phillips Exeter Academy. His ancestors were either deacons of the church or captains of the militia and he was known for his gentleness with authority. He was head of Exeter Academy for 50 years. Among his pupils was Daniel Webster.

Abiel Abbot (August 17, 1770 – June 7, 1828) was a prominent clergyman. He was born to John and Abigail Abbot in Andover, Massachusetts, and went on to study at Harvard University. He married Eunice Wales in 1796.

He started working as a preacher in Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1793 and remained there through 1803, having been promoted to pastor in 1795. He then moved to Beverly, Massachusetts, and became a pastor there. He remained in that position through the end of his life.

In 1828 he traveled to Cuba to recover his health but died of yellow fever on his way back. He had one book published posthumously, Letters from Cuba, in 1829.

Excerpt from an historical record: Dr. Abiel Abbot was a first cousin of Dr. Benjamin Abbot. It was Dr. Abiel Abbot of Peterborough, then preaching at Coventry in Connecticut, who persuaded Jared Sparks, the future historian, but then a carpenter in Mr. Abbot's parish, to go to the school at Exeter; and he carried the young man's box, slung under his parson's chaise, to the academy, while Sparks went on foot the whole way. This was in 1809, and Abiel Abbot was on his way then to visit his brother, Rev. Jacob Abbot (also a good teacher), who had succeeded President Langdon in the parsonage of Hampton Falls in 1798.