 | Berkeley papers |  |
I have been wishing and intending to write to you for
come time past, but as usual at this season of the year so many
family cares crowd upon me I find it quite difficult to perform
my duty as a correspondent. After some deliberation your brothet
consented to let George attend the Polytechnic school in
Philadelphia, to prepare himself for a civil engineer, the vocation
he has chosen to follow. He left us on Thursday last, and
arrived safely in Philadelphia 12 o'clock the same night. I hope
it may be of service to him in many ways. He requires more knowledge
of the world before he enters upon it. He was suffering
from a boil on his neck, which I hope only occasion temporary
inconvenience. Mary is now unable to do any thing, from some
affection of her eyes, owing to nursing her baby Dr. Cabell
thinks. She is quite depressed from this cause. It is a sore
privation to one so active and busy as she is disposed to be.
Her sweet little infant is as fat and good as she can be.
The University has opened very auspiciously. There are
upwards of 415 who have been leave to matriculate. Your brother
has 175 or more in his class. Mr. Smith nearly a hundred; so far,
every thing promises to go on smoothly. I trsut it may continue
so.
I do not know that you ever heard of the agreeable visit.
we had from Mr. Tutwiler & his daughter Maggie, who is a fine
intelligent pleasant girl. They were here from Saturday until
the following Tuesday morning early in September. It seemed to
me he looked better than when last here. He asked very particularly
after his Harrisonburg friends, and seems to feel an unabated
interest in all his old friends. Edward has become a student
& I hope will be stimulated to greater exertion. Peachey,
Charley and Willie go to Mr. Fu—- a student. I teach Rosalie
every day.
Mrs. Wm. C. Rives has a fair in Charlottesville Friday and
Saturday. We do not feel particularly interested in it, as it is
to complete a very costly church in her neighborhood, which
ought to have been finished long ago. The whole Union has been
laid under contribution. She wrote a note to all of her acquaintances
here asking aid. Much against our will, we were constrained
to do a little out of courtesy to her. The Presbyterians and
Baptists also intend having fairs. I feel much more interested in
theirs. Maria and her little family are well. She was at Mary's
Monday spending the day. Mr. Broadus' congregation have raised
his salary to $1300. His church is not yet completed.
We had a visit from Judge Clement Clay of Alabama and his
charming wife, who is one of the most interesting persons I ever
saw. They called in Charlottesville & remained some days on their
way from the springs. She lives in Huntsville and told me a great
deal of Eliza Beirne and Maria Irwin whose name we heard for the
first time. She married remarkably well, but was in a singular
condition, having had every appearance of being in the family way
for ten months, without any result. I feel very uneasy about her.
Poor Eliza I fear will ultimately die from cancer. I fear the disease
is in her system, and that the operation performed will only
bring temporary relief. She has been at the springs all summer.
have prevented her coming over to pay us a visit. I trust
we shall hear she has been suffering less of late. With
best love to her, Margaret, Caroline, Fannie & a kiss for
Williette,
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