Nicholas P. Trist to Virginia J. Randolph (Trist)
| [ca. 12–27 July 1821] |
The desire of inducing her to “give up her family” is one of the last things I deserved to be suspected of by Virginia, for I knew her well enough to be certain that she would not accede to such a proposal, and she ought to have known me well enough to be convinced that I could not make such a one, to any person who was entitled to the professions of attachment she has received from me.—When I left her three years since it was my intention to attempt to establish myself in this neighbourhood, if it was possible to arrive at the only happiness I then coveted, or now covet: that of calling her my wife. It would be folly to attempt such a thing at present, when men of large fortune find difficulty in preserving their capital, and my father, who is rising fast, and on secure ground to a handsome independence, has tendered me his hand.1—I, some time since, formed the plan of spending three or four years with my family, who know how devoted I am to you and who would cherish you accordingly, during which I am confident of realizing fortune enough to enable me to pass the remainder of my days in Albemarle; I hoped that if it was my fate to be loved by you, this proposal would not be rejected, and as the resolution you communicated this morning may have been founded on an erroneous impression, I presume to communicate it. For God’s sake, reflect seriously before you answer.