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University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 (1)
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1Author:  Cooke John Esten 1830-1886Add
 Title:  Henry St. John, gentleman, of "Flower of Hundreds," in the county of Prince George, Virginia  
 Published:  2003 
 Subjects:  University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 
 Description: It is a beautiful May morning, in the year 1774. I desire to be informed why you have not written to me, madam? Has that odious domestic tyrant, Mr. Willie, forbidden you to correspond with your friends? You may inform him, with my compliments, that I regard him in the light of a monster, an ogre, an eastern despot, else he would not keep the dearest girl in the world down at that horrid old house in Glo'ster—if it is so fine—when her friends are dying to see her. “Give my love to Mr. Willie, and write soon, my precious Kate. How I love you! Won't you come soon? Do, there's a dear! Vanely's looking beautiful with green leaves, and I long to see you, to hear your dear, kind laugh, and kiss you to my heart's content! Tom Alston said, the other day, that I reminded him frequently of you. I could have run and kissed him, I assure you. “I thought I should have died of laughing, Kate! He drove up to the door in his little sulky, with the pretty bay trotter, and got out with as easy and careless an air as if nothing at all had happened on his last visit. I think he is the most delightfully cool personage I've ever known, and were I one of the medical profession, I should prescribe for the spleen or melancholy, a single dose of Mr. Thomas Alston! His demeanor to sister Helen all day was really enchanting. The most critical observer could not have discerned a shade of embarrassment on his part. At first she was very much put out, but I believe she ended by laughing—at least I saw her smile. He inquired how Miss Helen had been since he had last the pleasure of seeing her; he was happy to say that his own health and spirits had been excellent! “I am just getting into the saddle for Williamsburg, but write to say that Serapis won the purse. He was nearly distanced the first heat, but won the two others over every horse upon the ground. He's worth a thousand pounds. “Sir:—The accompanying verses are sent to you by a Country Girl, who hopes they will meet your Approval. Your Correspondent withholds her Name from Fear of the Criticks, whom she truly detests. They're an odious Set! are they not, Mr. Purdie? A Portion of the Effusion may make you laugh, Sir. I offer you a Salute to bribe you in Favour of my Verses; but observe, Sir! 't is only when you find me out! That I'm resolved you shall never do. All I shall say is, that I've the Honour to be humble Cousin to a very high Military Functionary of this Colony, who honours me with his Esteem! Now do print my effusion, dear, good Mr. Purdie. I like you so much because you are a true Friend to the Cause of Liberty. We've sealed up all our Tea, and I'd walk with bare Feet on hot Ploughshares before I'd drink a drop of the odious Stuff! “Papa bids me write to your lordship, and say that you need not trouble yourself to engage apartments for us at Mrs. White's, on the night of assembly, as Mr. Burwell has invited us all to stay with him at his town residence, and I know somebody who's as glad as glad can be, for she'll see her dear Belle-Bouche—Miss Burwell once, but now unhappily a victim on the altar of matrimony.† † Ibid., No. XV. “Well, Tom, I've got my quietus. You've the pleasure of hearing from a young gentleman who's just been discarded! “Your letter really astonished me, my dear boy—it did, upon my word. You will permit me to observe that you are really the most unreasonable and exacting of all the lovers that I've read of, from the time of Achilles to the present hour. “I send you the contents of your memorandum, as far as I could procure the articles, and am sorry to hear that you are indisposed. I trust 't is but trifling. I might beg your pardon for detaining Dick, and for sending an inferior quality of hair powder, but I have been too much troubled to have my right wits about me. “Most beloved of friends, and estimable of gentlemen, but also most superstitutious of correspondents, and strangest of Sancti Johannes! I have perused thy letter with abundant laughter, and return unto thee my most grateful thanks for dissipating a catarrh which has troubled me this fortnight! “Your letter, my dear friend, was scarcely different from what I expected. I was perfectly well aware of the fact that my account of the singular influence I experienced would excite rather laughter than sympathy, and I even add that your reply contained less of banter than I expected. “I HAVE followed your advice, and made the journey which you suggested, carrying with me the letter, and intending to add what you advised me to add to my address. “Is it wrong for me to write to you? We were cousins once, with some affection for each other—I at least for you. I do not add that we have ever been any thing more, for that would doubtless wound and offend you. I would not wound or offend you; I am too unhappy to think of reproaches. Once I might have given way to my passionate temperament, and uttered wild words; now I have no such words to utter. I acquiesce in all you do and say, and scarcely dare to write these lines—to my cousin, as it were. “I have received your strange letter, in which you speak of our union, and your plans in making additions to you residence, suggested, you say, by myself. It was not my intention to make such suggestions, and I hope the addition will be stopped. At least I do not wish you to indulge the hope that I shall ever become its inmate. “'Tis so long since I've written to my Kate that she must almost have forgotten me. But you will not think, my dear, that this silence has proceeded from forgetfulness; that is not possible toward the dearest girl in the world. “Doncastle's Ordinary, New Kent, May 4, 1775. Received from the Hon. Richard Corbin, Esq., his Majesty's Receiver-General, 330l., as a compensation for the gunpowder lately taken out of the public magazine by the Governor's order, which money I promise to convey to the Virginia delegates at the general congress, to be, under their direction, laid out in gunpowder for the colony's use, and to be stored as they shall direct until the next colony convention or general assembly, unless it shall be necessary, in the meantime, to use the same in the defense of this colony. It is agreed that, in case the next convention shall determine that any part of the said money ought to be returned to his Majesty's said Receiver-General, that the same shall be done accordingly. “How long it seems now since I've written to my own dear Kate! I received, more than three weeks since, your kind, sweet letter, and only my unhappiness has prevented me from replying. You may not consider this a good reason, but it is true. When we suffer little sorrows, and are sad only, then we fly to our friends and unbosom ourselves, and the act brings us consolation. This is not the case, I think, when we are deeply wounded, as I am. I ask only silence and quiet, for nothing relieves me, not even writing to my Kate! “In my last letter, dear Kate, I told you I was coming hither in search of some color for my cheeks. I am sorry to say I've not found it. I think the air's not as wholesome to me as that of Prince George, and in a day or two I shall set out on my return to Vanely. “I have looked everywhere to find you, friend, having, by a strange chance, received what I know is of importance to you. 'Tis a letter which, with this, I entrust to my child, having an instant call away; my foot is in the stirrup. 'T will reach you in time, however, I do not doubt, for 20* Blossom has the unerring instinct of affection, to which I trust. “The words which you are about to read come from one who has been guilty of deception, treachery, forgery and robbery, and therefore at first you may not give credit to my statements. Before I have finished what I design writing, however, you will give implicit credence to what I say. ... “God bless you, my dear child! and grant that we may again meet, in your native country, as freemen; otherwise, that we never see each other more, is the prayer of ... “I conjure you as you value the liberties and rights of the community of which you are a member, not to lose a moment, and in my name, if my name is of consequence enough, to direct the commanding officer of your troops at Annapolis, immediately to seize the person of Governor Eden; the sin and blame be on my head. I will answer for all to the Congress.... God Almighty give us wisdom and vigor in this hour of trial.
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