ADVICE TO MY DAUGHTERS. Salem Osgood. 25 March, 1704. A mid-nineteenth century manuscript on thick paper in red, blue and black inks, title and 20 pages mounted on silk stubs; text within blue single filet border and charming pictorial borders. Handsome contemporary black blind-stamped crushed morocco, little rubbed, small 4to. Being a charmingly executed copy of 'an old letter penned at Holfield Grange, Essex', according to pencilled notes, perhaps by an Emily Barclay, whose name and the date 1859 is found on front endpaper. Salem Osgood, who fears his life is shortly about to end, offers the wisdom of his years to his daughters. He discusses the values of reading and walking, honest Christian devotion. He advises on how to choose a husband, as well as 'housewifery': ‘and make yourself acquainted with all the necessary parts of cookery, pastery & preserves.’ He ends his letter, ‘That this may be your portions is the fervent desire & constant prayer of your poor, weak & almost worn-out Father.’ Osgood was a City of London merchant, who lived at Oldfield Grange, Coggeshall, Essex. He had family connections with Virginia, and amongst the terms of his will was 1/200th part of New Jersey. He had two daughters, Rebecca and Anne. Anne married John Hanbury, ‘a rich Virginia merchant’.