Abstract: Letters from Coit to his wife Nancy, his eldest son Robert, and Charles Bulkeley, all of New London, Conn., chiefly written in Philadelphia, Penn., while Coit was serving in Congress as a Federalist representative from Connecticut, 1793-1798. Subjects include a dinner with President George Washington, levees for Martha Washington, politics, the prospect of war with Great Britain, the XYZ Affair, an altercation between fellow representatives Roger Griswold and Matthew Lyon, and religion. Topics also include family, the effect of Coit's absence on his family, and fatherly advice to his son including the importance of good behavior, helping with household chores, schooling, and proper letter writing. Many of the letters are accompanied by typewritten transcripts.

"All but two of the letters are to Coit's wife and son. Letters to his wife describe his feelings on family, religion, and politics and the burdens caused by his absence. Included in his correspondence from 1794 are details of a dinner with President George Washington and levees for Martha Washington and Coit's views on the prospect of war with Great Britain. In 1798 he remarked on an altercation between fellow representatives Roger Griswold and Matthew Lyon. Following the XYZ Affair and as a result of his efforts to prevent war with France, Coit wrote in June 1798 that he felt he would not be reelected to Congress. Coit died of yellow fever a few months later. His letters to his son include fatherly instruction and advice and focus on the importance of good behavior and helping with household chores, schooling, and proper letter writing."