Maria Sabina Ross to Elizabeth Trist

My dearest friend,

How often have I exclaimed, Why my friend this long silence, to suppose You had forsaken me was too injurious to Yourself and painful to me, Sometimes I would say, I judge her by myself for my dearest friend has become indifferent to me, but Your kind, and affectionate favor has awaked every tender feeling and I find I Love You as much as ever.—To make professions of friendship After an intercourse of 30 Years standing would be rather suspicious of a dimunition of my affection therefore nothing but Death I hope will absolve it. And to assure You that every line of your letter appeard to breathe, What You ever have been a consolation to me. You will not doubt—that You are happy with your neice I can well believe for was she not tutor’d under Your Auspicious Care Can she prizes You too much. No, She knows the treasure she possessess, and may heaven long spare You to her—Mary mrs Brown and Your darling Sons have past the summer at Baton Rouge Mary I hear has been very ill I often shudder from the delicate State of health, that she will fall a Victim to the severe triels she has meet with but Godsend he will shower down his blessings on her and Your Sons, You will Observe I date Orleans I left Catharine last April—As all matters did not corrispond between the Major and myself I now am with George [. . .] Spirits and health much better, but Eliza You know my feelings, and to say I am happy Where is the one that can make that confession, Catharine is now with Us on a Visit, She had been confind of a Boy on the 10 oct Was ill during her Pregnancy and after her confinment found A Change of place absolutely Necessary, both for her health, and Spirits She has [. . .] Up amazeingly, And hope she will feel better reconciled to her Situation when She returns home She has Henrietta Elizabeth with her. She is a heartty promising Child, the Di Do of her Father—You must know what situation We are in, in this Country—The Fever never raged with such Violence, No sooner had the Minds of the People got a little tranquil, When We were through in the utmost Alarm—by a suspicion that the Negroos intended to revolt, We live two Squares out of the City on the Byayou Road, Mrs Ross whent to her Mothers Catharine and myself to Mr Tauls, in a few days the thing appear’d to were a different aspect—We returnd home, the Governor orderd the Volunteers on duty Command’d by George. the Patroles are still kept up, but all those circumstances is a very great Check to any comfort one might enjoy Last Evening, I heard Mrs Brown was in the City at Madam Abins, tho late Catharine, and myself Call’d at the House it was all shut, the Gate was open, I encouraged Catharine to Venture in, She saw a Negroess, And to our great mortification Mrs Brown had left the City for—Madam ABins plantation—but that she would be in town again in a fortnight—I hear She has come from Baton Rouge on business—that Mary and the Children are still at Baton Rouge And have been Sick the greatest part of the Summer Mrs Norris, who is a Widow is now in the City—She saw Mrs Brown—who informd her—that Mary had been very ill, and at times spit blood—her apprehennstions As an [affectionate?] Mother may be greater than the cause predictg for many have those symptoms and Yet lived to an advanced age—God send it may be the Case here for all Yours sakes Margaret Obrien is allso a Widow Mrs Gamble—You know She lives at Baton R— My anxiety for Mary lead me to inquire of her how they all were—She informd me that the roads were bad—and her own distressd situation had prevented her from seeing them—that Mrs Jones and all the family she heard had been ill—but at the same time observed that report gave MaryMr Depasso as an admired so my friend You the see what a World it is—William Brown is at Jamaci what his business is there—You know better than I do—Judge Prevost is arrived here again—I sometimes hear ill Natured things Said of him—Respecting Marys business—how true I do not pretend to judge as I know nothing but as I hear—but would to God Mary was placed above the Observations of the Vulgar and unfeeling—Mr Tait is Cashier of the Nw Bank they are very kind to me, and the only family I feel at my ease—The papers give you a better statement of things than any thing I could say—little business appears going on as the are too much taken up with politicks You know how partys run—and as to Society it is totally cut assunder—George is Notary publick—but very little business his prospects when he first got the appointment was very flattering—but this Summer every [. . .] looks bad Mrs Ross is in very good health and spirits and a prospects of [. . .] have a boy 2y & 10 months a very lovely boy and a very great pet She desires her most affectionate love to You—She is very kind to Me Catharine also says give my love to my dear and good Mrs Trist You know all in this family Love you with all their might This is 20th and So cold that I can scarsely hold my pen the Children runing under my feet for Eliza I have not a good fire in my chamber as usal for here you scarsly know the pleasure of a good fire for want Chimneys—Remember me with the warmest affection to Mrs Gilmore in which Cathrin begs she will except her love—I believe You still feel an intrest in Mr Tauls family they look for there Sons from England every moment—George says Mother do not forget me to Mrs Trist. How much do I love [&] think of You Words can not express ever Your affectionate friend

M Sabina Ross—

Your letter has lay lain by me 6 weeks unanswerd It had travelld to Rapide and as Cathe was on the point of setting off1 Knew she would be a more welcome guest by being the bearer—You must have heard that my good Brother John has pay’d the debt of Nature He was a good man—And as such his family lament his loss Let me entreat You will let me hear from You Soon

[. . .] directed in proper time

RC (NcU: NPT); edge torn; addressed: “Mrs Elizth Trist To the Care of Peachy Gilmer EsquireHenry Court House virginia”; stamped; postmarked New Orleans, 21 Jan.; endorsed by Trist: “Mrs Ross.”
1Manuscript: “of.”
Date Range
Date
January 20, 1812
Collection
Repository