Having been against our expectations detained at this place, my dearest Mother, I my first care is to perform my promise of writing to let you know that we have advanced so far in safety, and have little doubt of reaching Washington under the same favorable auspices. Nicholas seems perfectly well...

Your letter of the 8th reached me yesterday my dearest mother, enclosing 20 $ for which I am very much indebted to you; I have not been in want as yet, but the addition of 20 $ to my funds is no small source of satisfaction—if you should receive this before Margaret Nicholas leaves the county,...

I have been owing you a letter for a long time, my dear Nicholas, and have delayed writing, in the hope that an improved state of health and spirits would have enabled me to discharge my debt with some pleasure to you, as well as to my self, but days and weeks have passed, and left as they found...

I have not written to you for a long time my dear Nicholas, for I have as usual had nothing to write about. you receive such regular bulletins from other sources, that but little is left for me to tell, & that little before it could be committed to paper, has generally escaped from a head at...

Really, my dear Nicholas, you are quite too modest and humble; you will never make your way in the world with so poor an opinion of your own merits; do you not know that with the common herd a man often passes current for the value he chooses to fix on himself & that impudence is the most...

I have ruined the sheet on which Ellen has been writing; and the day is so warm, and her black “Isaacs” so uncomfortable, that she has gone to lie down, awhile, and has left but a poor substitute, to continue her letter—; before doing so, I will transcribe what she had written. “Contrary to my...

We arrived here in safety, my dearest mother, at four oclock in the morning, & have taken up our quarters at Gadsby’s within a stone’s throw of the Vails. they have all, except the old lady, been to see me this morning & it made my heart swell to find myself once more re-united with...

The post goes out immediately, dearest mother, but I will if possible write a line to let you know of our safe arrival here. we reached Boston in the stage coach between ten & eleven o clock last night; the family had given up expecting us for that day & had all retired except Joseph’s...

Mary’s letter of Nov. 10. arrived only yesterday, my dearest mother, when I had been nearly a fortnight without hearing from home, except through a letter to Mr Hilliard from Grandpapa, which, letting me know that all was well, prevented me from ...

I was prevented by a touch of headach from writing to my dearest mother yesterday, the ‘jour de l’an’, to offer her the best wishes of the season warm from the heart of a grateful & devoted daughter; many many returns of the same day to you my own best loved mother, marked by more auspicious...

Your letter, dearest mother, post marked the 16th reached me this morning, and I am attempting to answer it by candle light to be secure of to morrow’s mail. I am greatly relieved by the knowledge that the terrible business of the sales is over ...