Sarah E. Nicholas to Jane H. Nicholas Randolph
| Dear Jane, | Atamasco March 30th 1826 |
What do I think of W. Gilmer? I only wish that I could find language strong enough to express my abhorance for his most unfeeling & ungrateful conduct, for surely nothing could be more unfeeling than his writing against the lottery, let his opinion of it be what it might, when we consid[er] his intamacy with Jeff & his aquaintance with the rest of [the] family—and no ingratitude is so shocking as that towards a man to whom his country owes so much, as I suppose even Mr G— in his infinite wisdom must allow that ours owes to Mr J—and one too at his advand advanced period of life & so surrounded as he is by domestick afflictions of every sort—I should suppose that a young man with a spark of feeling, [. . .] as intimately acquainted as Mr G— is with these particulars, would not only have suppressed any little feeling that he might have had against the scheme, but have exerted himself to the uttermost to further it—But allas! I fear that the age of chivalry is indeed over in Virgina Virginia, & that that of sophists & of cold blooded calculators has succeeded
I certainly never expected to blush for my native state as I have done this winter, the whole union is crying shame, upon her—I beleive though that the central is the only one of her papers in her that has had hardihood enough to write against the lottery—I have no patin patience when I think of its editor, & really [. . .] think he ought to be tared & feather’d—my only comfort is that I never would agree to his being the wonderful genius that all those folks wanted to cram him down our throats for—& I do not think this business speaks well of [. . .] better for hi[s] head than his heart But I think you observed that you were tired of the lottery & no doubt would be obliged to me if I would change the subject, which I think rather un[reason]able considering1 the scarcity of subject at it—[we must?] oblige you—Mary Jane left me this morning she had intended staying till sunday but Sam came up last evening with some cock & a bull story about saturday’s being the last of the month, & his having business to attend to on sunday; & last evening being an idle one, he said to mother, he thought he had better come up, & mother [. . .] said, yes—so up he came—the whole truth of which being that he & mother & father & Margret all wanted Mary Jane at home & so cooked up these hobling apologies for sending for her—Dabney came up last sunday and took John down under the pretence of his being promoted & of sending him to W—but I understand he has gone out to M—D—said he was to be promoted this week, he applies for orders immediately on promotion—Mary Jane is to enquire as soon as she gets to town about the truth and will advertise you of the result—Sister P— advises you strongly to come as she is sure that it will be a wonderful improvement, and does not think you will have such another opportunity, and I think that the teeth will not only be an improvement to your apearance but that the jurney will benefit your health—which you know is always the first thing with [. . .] I had bought the ginghi gingham before [. . .] it [. . .]or Mag—it was the best looking that [I saw?] in town—and appeared to be a scarce article—[I] hope your black stuffs have worn better than mine which is a sight to be seen—I will send Mrs Hughes wrapper pattern by D—it is very pretty & very easily fitted—I brought Sam up he is much better than I expected he would be & I am bringing him on quite smartly in his book, can Caryanne read yet.
We are all quite well & hoping that these few lines may find you in the same enviable situation—I remain with love to all around you
I have opened my letter to answer your question about my throat—I took ten drops [. . .] of Iodine three times a day for a week when I encreased the quantity gradually to 14 drs a dose—[. . .] stopping it entirely if my bowels were effected—but as to how the Iodine was prepared? that is more than I can tell & I should suppose that would be absolutely necessary you then to apply to Dr D— for directions—sister C— has a frightful one on her throat, but even she will not venture to take the remedy with only my directions—I want her to take a trip to V— to consult Dr D— about it—I am convinced that it is one & much worse than mine—as she has it on both sides—This reminds me that my account has never been settled with my [. . .], I wish Jefferson would settle it for me, if he has not left V—& if he is not too much engaged—if his charge is greater than my Iodine will cover, Aunt C— I suppose can give him the money as she still has funds of mine in her hands—I hope Jeff will make a handsome apology for my not asking for my bill sooner, you know it was my intention to do so six months ago—& could only have been prevented from doing it by circumstances which entirely banished it from my mind for a time—I do not feel quite easy about my own throat but have shrewd suspicions that it will is growing again, I wish you would mention it to the Dr the first time you see him