As you have had an explanation of this silence of rather more than three weeks, you can have felt no uneasiness, or conceived yourself neglected atall, I shall therefore make no excuses, but proceed to tell you what a pleasant visit we have had to Bedford, and that Grand-Papa bore the fatigue of...

Mrs. Trist with Emma & Mr. Gilmer arrived at Farmington a few days ago, My Dear Nicholas, and this morning Mama & Aunt Randolph have gone to pay their respects and learn from your Grand-Mother when we shall have the pleasure of seeing her here. She bore the journey from Bedford very well,...

I wish I could say one single word my dear husband, to prepare you for this stroke which has fallen on our unhappy heads. My dear, dear mother is gone! She was confined to her bed with a severe head-ache yesterday, but we felt no alarm until this morning, her head-ache encreased, a spasm came on...

Had I not much better reasons for my long silence, I might, my dear Trist, sans reproche, place it to the score of reciprocity. My time, for the last five or six weeks has been very fully at least, if not always very usefully employed. About a month ago, and just at the close of a seven weeks’...

I have just received your letter & proceed forthwith to make a reply. If $50 would suffice, I might retain that sum or thereabouts, for I could conscientiously leave a small debt in consideration that there is no uncertainty, unless fortuitous, as to my receiving money to discharge it. What...

I owe you many apologies, but my delay in writing has been unavoidable:—much occupation, and not a little perplexity, is the lot of every man in business during times like these. The last year has been one of universal embarassment; those who made fortunes 30 years ago may congratulate their rich...

The Competitor has arrived in Hampton roads all safe. This intelligence we received here early yesterday morning by the steam Boat from Norfolk, which came up about midnight—on Friday, having landed a passenger with the Professors whom he left well on Board, at City Point, whence he went to...

Your Brothers long expected letter of July 24th I recd the 14th instant, it gives me pain to hear that you have had an attack of fever God grant that you may have better health in future and that your Brother may enjoy the blessing of health which I fear will not be the case if he removes to the...

Oh my beloved Friends what a Misfortune has come upon us, unexpected unlook’d for, if I cou’d have been taken from the world in her stead how freely wou’d I have resign’d my useless existance, but God knows best and we must endeavour to submit to his will, tis some consolation that her sufferings...

I shall not apologise for keeping your letter 3 weeks by me unanswered, exact punctuality is not in my power, fortunately perhaps for my correspondants. as you did not receive the Louisville packet in due season I am almost sorry that my part of it at least had not gone to the bottom, for old...