University of Virginia Library

LETTER CLXXIV.

Your letter of the 21st reached me to-day, together with
one from Ryland, under your cover. I received, at the
same time, another letter from him, dated as far back as the
14th of March, from Milledgeville, addressed to your care;
that address is scratched out, and, in a very clumsy hand,
"Pr. Edward, care Mr. P. Randolph," inserted: the "Richmond"
post-mark is dated "April," but I cannot make out
the day. Poor Ryland is afflicted with a quartan ague that
he brought from the south to Virginia, and carried back with
him. I heard, also, to-day, from Edward R., who has just
set out for Kentucky. This is my first intelligence from
Amelia, since I left it. Mrs. R., of Obslo, is much afflicted
with a cough. Miss F. A. is to be married to William E.
This is the amount of his news.

You do not mention what "Springs" Mr. C. is carrying
his daughters to. I am much concerned to hear of F's.
situation; and yet, poor thing! it is, perhaps, a blessed escape
from worse afflictions: "never by a rake suspected, never
by sot neglected." I am very sorry, also, to hear of
Mr. B's. ill health. You say nothing of G.; and I hear nothing
from him or D. B., which last circumstance rather mortifies
me. Leigh has long given up writing to me. Neither
do you mention the C—s, in whose welfare I feel a strong
interest.

You speak of my leaving this place, as if it were in my
power to do it at will. Unless I could find a purchaser for
it, I must remain a prisoner here, probably for the brief remainder
of my life; although entirely unable to attend to
my affairs. I have twice mounted my horse and rode down
to Colonel C's., and staid all night, being unable to endure
the want of society any longer. On one of these occasions,

I saw his lately married daughter. The very thought of
meeting with any person who cares a straw for my existence,
tightens my chest and swells my throat. It gives me somewhat
the same sensation that I felt after poor Randolph's
death, the first time I took the road to Obslo, below B's. If
I did not fear tiring out the welcome of my friends, I would
go to Amelia for a week or ten days: and yet the return
would be but so much the more bitter. Use reconciles me
to it a little; but the first few days after I get home, are almost
intolerable. God's will be done!—This is a better reliance,
believe me, than "submission to the power of destiny,"
of which you speak.

I have seen W. M. W., once, by accident, on the road: rather,
I rode as far as his lane, and met him. Asked him to
dine with me; but Mrs. W. was in daily expectation of the
sage femme, and he was obliged to watch the incubation.

If ever I get as far as Richmond, I shall accept your offer
of a bed. Did you get the gun-locks? They were left at
Mrs. K's. for you, on the parlour table. About this time,
you have, probably, seen P. R. He was to go to Richmond
on Tuesday last. He and Mr. B. spent the day after Charlotte
Court, here. He is always in such a hurry, and so
much engaged, that I am deterred from visiting him as often
as I otherwise should do. This letter is written with a pen
of your own making, that has not been mended, and has
done all my writing for nine months; besides, a good deal
for W. L.

I pray God to keep and bless you.