Mary Trist Jones Tournillon to Nicholas P. Trist
| My Dear Child | May the 13th 1821 |
Your last letter was dated the 28th of February, only that I console myself with the belief that your letters are detained (for it is a month since a northern mail has arrived at Donaldsonville) I would be truly unhappy as your general habits of attention secure you from a suspicion of negligence; As I hear from every person who has seen you that you are very slender and delicate, and you complain of suffering from the keen air of the north river I feel alarmed about your state of health, Tis true dear Nicholas my desire for your distinction increases as I hear you commended, yet your health is far dearer to me, besides I am confident you will employ your time usefully wherever you are placed therefore my dear Son if your health requires a change of Climate, or you think this One will be more congenial to your constitution do not hesitate a moment in returning to your family. Lewis Livingston sailed for France last month from thence he intends going to Italy but I fear his voyage was too long deferred as he was reduced to a shadow had an attack of fever morning and evening and was a prey to the deepest melancholy.—The admiral has gone to improve his fortunes in South America after convincing his family there was no hope of a reformation, His brother dined with us last Sunday, he is attending the Court at Donaldsonville and is quite inflated with self importance—after [. . .]lia1 and General Jackson also occupy the first rank in his vocabulary The general had reserved the place of Attorney general for Lewis not knowing he had left the country and would have given it to Browse had he been here—so Mr D— says—he was very profuse of his Compliments about you and assured us The General expressed a desire to become acquainted with you so highly had you been spoken of to him. How Pleasing to your Mother!I was greatly shocked on hearing of Mrs Baches death—It will gratify me much if you will call on her Children and assure them of my sincere and lasting attachment I will write to Sarah as soon as I know where to direct, I had inclosed a letter for her Mother to Browse before I heard she was no more—I am very desirous you should see your friends in New York which would not detain you more than a day there, Do not neglect paying your respects to Mr Monroe whose active Friendship has been of such essential service to you,—and I think you ought to call on Mr Madison he gave you a polite invitation to his house and the acquaintance and good [. . .]on of such men will be honourable an[. . .] to you, as I hope and believe [. . .] will receive their full proportion [. . .] your respect and attention it is unnecessary to give my advice on that subject which otherwise would be all important —give me a faithful account of the state of your health and that of your brothers and an unreserved one of all that happens to in2 Virginia as the time approaches I feel a great anxiety about your visit there, I hope Browse will accompany you—Mr Nott sent you two hundred dollars last month and I wrote you on the 22d and your father on the 9th of this month—Farewell my darling Nicholas—