You know enough of me to ascribe my long silence to the right cause, an insuperable aversion to wrighting writing and to a procrastinating spirit which is my greatest misfortune, and I therefore hope for your forgiv pardon, and a renewal of those letters which have given me so much pleasure....

I thank you My Dear Nicholas for the proofs you give me of your remembrance, which to hearing you are well & doing well constitutes my greatest pleasure and happiness my anxiety that you shou’d make the very best use of the opportunity afforded you and that you will acqi acquire habits of...

I shou’d be very uneasy at your Long silence if your Brother had not inform’d me yesterday that he recieved a few lines from you on the 22d of March dated he believed on the 11th I have not had a line from you since the 22d of Feby I wrote you on the 9th March and therefore am not in arears to...

You will have no cause to complain of my neglecting you on the contrary I fear I shall become tiresome but you will excuse me when you know my motive is to give you pleasure. last Sunday I received a very affectionate letter from your Dear Mother date 22d ...

He often made us little presents. I remember his giving us “Parents’ Assistant,” and that we drew lots, and that she who drew the longest straw had the first reading of the book—the next longest straw entitled the drawer to the second reading—the shortest, to the last reading and the ownership of...

when it grew too dark to read, in the half hour that passed before candles came in, as we all sat round the fire, he taught us several childish games, and would play them with us ... When the candles were brought, all was quiet immediately, for he took up his book to read, and we would not speak...

Really, my dear Nicholas, you are quite too modest and humble; you will never make your way in the world with so poor an opinion of your own merits; do you not know that with the common herd a man often passes current for the value he chooses to fix on himself & that impudence is the most...

I feel a degree of uneasiness not hearing from you since the 21st of October and had I not received a letter from my Darling Browse dated 21st Dec in which he mentions that Mr Tournillon and your self had been to New Orleans on business, the information created a good deal of uneasiness in my...

I was not aware, my dear Nicholas, when I wrote last that the blues were so strong upon me, or I should have prevented them from tinging my letter with their sombre colours. this is in every body's power, if they must feel uncomfortable themselves, they can at least avoid making others so, and in...

No apology is due to me Dearest Nicholas for any delay in answering my letters, who have now before me two of yours unanswered. It is really a singular circumstance that loving you, and thinking of you as much as I do, I should still be so much under the influence of a habit contracted in early...