 | Berkeley papers |  |
Yours of 14th inst was rec.d yesterday. In reply to what
you say about yr health I say that Boils or Biles are considered
by Medical solons as favorable to the general health of the body.
They being the natural effort to throw off the corrupt matter of
the body, & the only attention necessary is to promote the discahrges
by simple applications for a reasonable time, taking care
that a perpetual issue is not contracted. The nausea complained of
is no doubt traceable to yr mode of life. You do not perhaps take
sufficient exercise. You have been instructed by me in these matters
often before & it may not be necessary to say much more now.
As regards#your visit here & the talked of bridal journey,
I will give you my advice & you have anticipated me, as you could
see by consulting a letter I wrote Edw.d in May upon the subject
of a northern trip. I think you have decided wisely to stick to
Virginia. I am sure that a trip to the Springs would be of greater
benefit than a northern trip. Yr. Ma & I have been talking the
matter over, & she says that if it suits Marys arrangements she
would greatly prefer your coming on immediately, & remaining here
a few days, & from here going by way of Winchester & the Valley to
the Springs. You may wish to visit a week or two spent at Capon
would do you good, & we might possibly get over that far with you.
After yr trip to the South West you could again return here or to
the Uni. & in case of yr election this w.d suit you. I would advise
you not to think of a trip to the Northern cities. The lakes or
falls might do, but the mountains of Va. are preferable to any of
them. The Va. trip you must take, whether you are elected or otherwise.
I think relaxation from duty & a little bracing up is necessary
to you & perhaps Edward may need something that way. Yr. Ma
says yr. friends will expect you here, so that without some better
reason than you have already given for the nonperformance of her
wishes will not be rec.d for good. Besides the presents hinted at
could not so formally be made.
I enclose to you two letters from Mr. Janney & the other
from Gen. Rust. You can use them as you may think best. They are
placed in yr hands to do with as you please. They may possibly do
you good. Gen. R. is a rather prominent Democrat, & Mr. J. is
known as a cautious man.
We feel under many obligations to Mrs. Harrison for her
kind invitation to us all, but I suppose you know that we could
hardly all leave home at the same time, for so long a jouney, even
to witness so interesting a ceremony, & I do not know whether I
myself can get out, so that you of course would not feel slighted
in such case. Indeed my son I begin to feel some alarm at certain
symtoms of threatened disease in my case. I commenced this letter
on yesterday hoping to get it in the mail on 17th & had written
to the mark # on the first page. In the mean time a man called on
farm matters & we talked & became excited & animated, when while
sitting on the old Tripod, there was such a rush of blood or something
else which I felt sensibly passing up thro my neck to the
head that I bounced out of my seat & ejaculated "O my", called on
Mr. Dulin to get me some water & drank & wet my head & got relief.
I have feared something of this sort all along, my make & my
habits all favour attacks of that sort. I often find my head feeling
heavy & dull, particularly after reading a good deal & at
& days, night & day. This has continued with little intermission
for a year or two, untill I have come to regard it as of little
moment. I have no doubt but it is all owing to disarrangement of
the nervous tissue, want of regular & proper exercise. Bro.s
Sandy & John have both had similar affections. Dr. Lee gave me
some pills, would not bleed. I kept in the house all day & took
salts etc. & read too much, so that I feel this morning (Saturday)
a considerable dullness & disturbance in the head. Otherwise my
health is as good as could be expected. This spell tho a very
slight one, hardly sufficient to attract serious notice, reminds
me however that the time will come when perhaps you or Edw.d will
have to take charge of the concerns at home. I have prayed the
good Lord to whom I refer all my interests, that I might be able
to fulfil what I perhaps presumptiously considered my mission here
i.e. to raise up & settle my children, as my father before me accomplished.
I still hope this will be extended as a blessing to me,
unworthy as I know myself to be.
The shirts I am instructed to say will be taken in hand,
& 5 if not more may be ready by the time I should start to the Uni.
if I should go. If I should conclude not to go, what w.d you think
of it? or what would the family say? The journey is long & the
weather may be hot as now. Would you not excuse me? I am anxious to
go. Write again & soon. Dont forget yr dear friends in Md. Grandma
& Uncle Ed. I am afraid you have already forgotten them. They are
the purest & best people I ever know. God bless them.
I sometimes fear that Summys mind is unsettled. He has
often those odd ways of doing things looking dour & [OMITTED]& says he
cant help it. Cant sleep well, will get up & go downstaire to see
that all is right below & many other odd freaks. I have to soold
him often. I mention it now that you may if it comes in the way
know how to use him etc. Kind treatment is best always. If I come
out I will take Summy along. Our accademy is so poorly conducted
that I have not sent How.d & hardly can decide what to do with
him & Summy. Advise me.
May the Good Lord Bless you is the prayer of yrs sincerely
& affectionately
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