[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to Esther Maria Fisher Teackle, April 5, 1813]

5^th April 1813 Princess Anne

My dear Hetty

As you are amongst the most attentive of my correspondents, I think it but right to treat you as you deserve answer by answering all your letters promptly. No doubt you will probably appreciate this attention of mine, and use me accordingly. Not but at this particular time, I must say, I am not in much of a writing mood. However, this is of no great consequence, as fancy has very little to say to me at any time, and I can write you a dull epistle as well, and as good of it's kind when I am out of the humour, as when otherwise: and moreover as I have gotten my name up in your opinion, I need not mind the matter at all.

And you have really commenc’d your operations on Mr Seargeant! Well, to do you justice (and justice among rogues is a proverb,) you are a most notable girl, and very considerate withal, and I do not doubt of seeing you married one of these odd-come-shortlys; which, as you say, will be a great relief to your friends. I never as I live, had much notion to an old mind’s vestal dignity for myself, nor do I wish to have the supreme honour of seeing myself allied to any of the venerable fraternity. In this opinion I have ever been consistent and unchanged. But what do you say to my having actually applied

to the gentleman in question, through Mrs Eyre, for Elizabeth? Every one for himself, you know, as much as I have your interest at heart. Yes. I have bonafide written to my sister, on this strength of your inviting description of his wealth, style &c., to beg him to wait a little while for my daughter. And let me tell you she is not to be grinned at, for doctor King who is an oracle, has declared his belief that she is pretty, and I think so too, Lassy. And a wit I am resolved she shall be. So you old aunties may look sharp or little niece will cut you out. What will you do? Child, I advise you to turn your thoughts on doctor Haynie again, and commission me to intercede for you, perhaps he may be led to have you at last. Who knows! As to Eliza—there is Willy Nilly ready for her, and will be willing, if she behaves herself.

Where do you think we are all to dine tomorrow? Why at the Washington Hotel! Old Zadoc it seems, on the return of his reform’d prodigal son Tubby with a rich wife of fortune, has deem’d it expedient to give us all as much as we can eat. All the genttel people in the county are invited, and all are going, so they say. They say Tub’s wife is of a really genteel family from the western shore, and a woman of education!!

If you knew as much about this lad as I had heard, you wou’d be as much “stonish” as “Missus Troup” was when John Brown went to “[spar] Miest-Poke.” I hope you remember that good story of mine. Poor John is here now on a visit to his children, and I never saw any creature more delighted than he was to see us all.

What are you doing with my s[ister A.] Eyre? What is she about? Don’t let [her] stay too long in P. for I am crack’d to see [how] she expresses great satisfaction at your treatment of her, all of you. Mentions Mr. E. Chauncey with acknowledgements, and I thank him too for his friendly attentions to my darling sister. She is, she informs me, to stay with Sarah during Mr E’s visit to his sister. In fact, she declares that her most sanguine hopes are exceeded in the attentions she has met with, and I am bold to say she deserves them all, to every iota. Huzza! There is nothing like speaking up for one’s friends. Take the hint my dear, and speak a good word for me.

I have become an amazing gardner this year and have a most promising prospect. Don’t you want to see my hyacinths? I assure you all shall be in appropri[ate] order when you come, which to be sure will be soon. It’s time now I think if you mean to make a spring campaign against the doctor, in which I wish