29th March 1813
Your letter per last week’s mail I did not receive until a day or two after the mail left town on account of a visit I was then paying to Mrs. General Gale. Having had assurances from Polk that he wou’d not take any advantage of the kind I had fear’d, I ventured to go and was glad I did, as the good old Lady seem’d cheer’d and benefitted by my society, and I found all right when I return’d.
I am obliged to you more than I can express for the carriage and horses, and as you have arranged it, as to the opinion of the world, it will all be snug and proper. Indeed, on a further trial of my bread cart, I found my ride to Mrs. Gales intolerable, it jolts, as bad as ever. The lace and oats &c as mentioned all came in good condition. As to the bonnet you mention having design’d for me, I shou’d be glad of a good large straw bonnet for the summer and spring, not caring for any thing more than such as will be so comfortable. Some thing to keep my lilies from sols' scorching kisses is what I want. The lottery tickets in Nelsons lottery I hope will prove successful, as when Elizabeth is married a suit of pearl wou’d be very pretty for her you know, as to my old face, pearls