 | Berkeley papers |  |
How soothing to me was your kind consideration in writing
to me the particulars of the death of one who was indeed dear to
me, from all the touching incidents & good relations of friend and
neighbour for allmost 20 years, the Mr Wertenbakers had been
thoughtful & kind in writing of her severe & protracted illness,
her death and the disposition of her small saveings; but your
letter was so full so feeling, it conveyed in full force the sad
but happy result. All my letters to her have as far as I thought
expediant, have been intended to draw her mind to a happier world,
for [OMITTED]felt the truth of this being forever a blight and dark one
to her. Let me tell you, I had more cause to love that humble
friend than anyone at the U. V. was aware of she alone except the
Proctor knew of our destitution at Mrs. Bleatermans house, she
supplied us from day to day with food, appeald to old Mrs. Lewis
for wood, informd Mr. William Rogers & Mr. Brigs of our situation
& they gave her money. She sent us so much, I rofused to take it
from her pitance, she then told me she had asked these gentlemen
for aid. Necesity made me accept, I offerd to let Colonel Woodly
have articles that I felt belonged to me as gifts, telling him of
my reduced circumstances, he refused to take them, saying I had no
right to sell them, but offerd me no assistance & told me the professors
had lost all sympathy for me because I would not sell my
negroes. He knew I had no right to sell the negroes of my children
and as was afterwards shewn in court I could not make a bill. When
Mrs. Woodly was taken in labour, he came for me at night I went to
her(you know I was allways with her at these times) after that he
sent me some supplys. My whole frame tingled with pride to be paid
for what I had often given to her, as friend & neighbour. I could
not ask extort of these wives help from milk. I would not involve
my good son Dr. Conway further, and should have been driven to the
necessity of beging if it had not have been for small sums of
money sent me from a distance to buy keepsakes for myself & daughters.
Nanny Hunter gave my poor Nanny a $5 gold piece, Mrs. Patterson
sent me $20. Oh when Mrs McKennys flowers, fruits and nicetys
from her table came over, it tantalized our feelings. Mr. & Mrs.
Wertenbaker contributed substantials, but the did not know the
extent. After I left I wrote a circular to the professors, explaining
how it was I did not sell, and telling of our extreme want for
four months, as an evidence that I could not sell legally. I did
not want such noble men, such friends and gentlemen from whom I
had allways received such marked & grattifying attention, as I
believed from a knowledge of my unblemishd generous, and correct
course, to change there opinion of me. I directed this circular to
Dr. Cabell, with a request to shew it to the professors. He did
so, & wrote me a most affectionate reply and said all he could to
soothe me. I heard from others that the Proctor had told the Professors
that I had in my distress at our difficulty overdrawn my
trials & that I had never sufferd for any thing. I recapitulate
this affair to shew what cause to love my dear departed friend I
have after her sore & mortifying sorrow, offerd her a home & tender
& heartfelt sympathy in my house, but she allways declined. I
would have nursed her & supported her to the last moment in which
I would have been kindly aided by my children. Little did I think
when she was a barfooted washerwoman, living in a hut in the meddow
& I sending cold victuals, and now and thenparsels of tea
she was to administer good victuals to me & mine. I have nothing
to tell you my beloved friend to turn the old and dreadful trial
from your feeling heart. Our removal to the West has been most
unfortunate for me, it seems I came out here to make a grave yard.
Font, Mr. Conway, then a grand child, then Dr. Frank Conway, then
[OMITTED]and 17 servants all in 9 years, manny of the negroes were
children. I have never been reconsiled for one moment & feel as if
I were on a steam boat & just tied to the bank of an ever flooing
river. I had the pleasure of having the lovely daughter of my
true & beloved friends Mr. & Mrs. Saunders at our house a week ago
on her way to Callifornia. It was a mellancholy pleasure. She was
happy & looked determination, sence, & resignation. I was delighted
with Dr. Pegram, he looked a real man full of [OMITTED]& tenderness.
I had heard of Margrets & the Drs. kindness in taking his &
her neices to live with them. You say you are afraid to tell items
of news, least I may have been informed of them. No indeed I have
not a correspondent in or about the U. V. or Charlottsvill. I made
several offers to draw occasionally some of my old friends into
an exchange of love & gossip, but I found them tardy & I quit.
How our hearts bound with gladness to know of the prosperity of
our beautiful & cherished home. Do you know I call it the Swedenborgians
heaven. They believe that we are not to leave this earth,
but our spirit linger, and all that was repulsive in life will be
changed, all of the best & brightest, most noble & intellectual
of people remain at the place they were at in life, all obnoxious
animals here banished, reptiles, the most beautiful and oderifeus
flowers, purest air, best water and all that is grand in nature
they have. Now where is that but at the University. I had but one
interview with mrs. Smith but that was very prepossessing. I hear
from her friends she is delighted with all of you & everything.
Let me tell you I was sounded & consulted by the medical facoulty
before Dr. Cabbel was offerd a situation in the medical school in
this city. I knew he would not accept but I wanted him to have
the honour. I expatiated on his merits, acquirements, his popularity
in such terms that Sarha was interogated to know if I was not
shewing of my oratory had lost sight of the man. When the Dr.
declined I said I knew he would but as they the western men were
disposed to detract from Virginia & our University I wanted to let
them see they could not get one of them. We have often heard of the
continued health of our old & valued friend Maria & of your papa
too. I wrote to your Maria about two years ago & beged her to ask
your papa to write to me. I wanted to put it on my center table to
boast of. Why did you not tell me how you look after blooming and
basing so many times. You know allthough a rose bush is as fragrant
and as highly prized as ever, but it looks after many summers,
seraggy and ugly. How is ti with you my Rose Mundi. How str
strange to my ear & recollection of you to hear you talk of your
grandchild. You have indeed been one of fortunes kind and peculiar
case, no sorrowing, no poverty, no home trials, a husband to love
honour & obey. Write again dear friend and tell me of your dear
good Dr., often did he sooth & shield me. Tell me fo Mary. I hear
she's to be married. And of your sons I want to hear. I am proud
of my sons, allthough not men of tallent they are honourable, industrious,
affectionate. I look on them as Virginia gentlemen. Sar
ah has changed greatly in appearance. She has sufferd more from our
losses than I. Harry was her pet her love and occupied all her
heart. Sarah will never marry, she has discarded three widdowers,
it would take a whole letter to tell you of Bet & Bets. She is
prosperous in every way, she is now the mother of six children. Mr
Shields is in all respects a son, but I will not let either he or
Mr. Atkinson know of my difficultys. I have visited them both once,
they bore my expences. I have been all through this long letter,
making room to tell you of Mrs. Bonnysastle. She has been here since
June last with Ann Robbinson. Mrs. Bonnycastle has improved with
years & experiance, she is now a most charming woman, looks young,
is fond of dress & amusement, but does not enter into it in this
city as Ann & her husband are verry pious members of the Episcopal
church. Mary is the most scrupulous young person I have heard of.
She will not speak on the sabbath, although elegantly dressed for
church, and bestows more time on her person on that day than any
other. She goes to privit balls & dances. Mrs. Bonnycastle appeared
at a privit ball in a white sattin, with white lace over it, short
sleeves, low neck, white plumes in her hair, lined with gold, all
other adornment in the way of jewelry. She is not pleased with Louis
vill & is anxious to get away. Sarah & I do enjoy her sosiety so
much, & she seems delighted to be with us. Dont this letter remind
you of the french woman, in the tales of the castle who had endured
so many trials and sufferd all sorts of sorrows & would sit down
under the shade of the tree & account then to her friend with convulsive
sobs. Should a butterfly wing its way in sight she would
run after it with the gayety of a child. Thus you will think of me.
Not so I wish to let you see our friends and neighbours. Let me tell
you how near I was haveing Mrs. Emet & Jane to see me summer before
last. They were on there way home from Charlston by the way of Cincinata
& wrote me they would be at our house in a day or two & that
George Carr would be with them. Just think of our delight when
they got to Cincinata they heard the Cholera was in the citty, wrot
me an affectionate letter & left us to regreat the event. I feel a
glow of satisfaction when I think Mrs. Emit has visited Burmuda, if
Mrs. Tucker could have been spared to enjoy it with them. I have
more things to keep that dear & valued friend in memory than any
one I ever knew that was not a near relation. I cannot leave you
without sending my kind remembrance to Charles, tell him my servants
are well & happy. The grown servants who are dead was Polly,
Peter Willis and Davy. Dear friend, love again. Your letter sooth
& delighted us.
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