University of Virginia Library

LETTER LXVIII.

After I had written to you yesterday, your letter
to St. George, of the 22d of August, was brought (late at
night) from Mr. Rice's, whither it had been sent with some
of my own, for what reason I cannot conjecture. I beg of
you, my son, not to expose me again to similar casualty—for
St. George's stay with me is quite uncertain; being interrupted
every two or three days by his necessary attention

to his mother's business. She is in Staunton. I am relieved
at finding that Mr. Clay is not worse, and that you are not
yet exhausted by nursing. May he who alone has the
power, watch over and protect you both. At the same time
that your letter to St. George arrived, I received one from
Mr. Dillon, and infer from his silence that your sister is well.
If my accounts by the next post are not more satisfactory, I
shall, forthwith, set out for Philadelphia. I can bear any
thing better than suspense. There is no fault more common,
or more to be avoided, than egotism. But is it egotism
to tell an anxious friend the state of our health? I am
glad that my good friend, Dr. Brockenbrough, found you
out. Cherish the acquaintance of that man. "He is not as
other men are."

I perceive some trips in your orthgraphy: for example,
"benificial," which, I own, surprised me; the etymon being
a safe director: "allways:" "loose," the adjective, or
imperative, for lose.

Mr. Hackley has sent me two Spanish pointers—one double-nosed—the
only one, of that species, to be procured.
However, I question if they are better than Echo, or Dido,
whom old Carlo is now guarding with a Spaniard's jealousy.

St. George goes down to-morrow, which enables me to
send this scratch in time for the Genito mail. Tell my
friend Clay that my heart is with you both.

God bless you! my son.