[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her husband, Littleton Dennis Teackle, July 8, 1811]
Mentioned in this letter
- Business, Economy, and Travel
Hotels - Fountain Inn- Home, Health, and Social Life
Celebrations - Balls
Health
Health - Disease and illness - Headache
Health - Remedies and Medicine
Holidays and Observances
Weather- People
- Donnell, Anna “Nancy” Teackle Smith, 1781-1862
- Donnell, John, 1754-1827
- Gale, Amelia Williams, 1760-1816
Gilmor, Mary Ann “Molly” Smith, 1774-1852
Gilmor, William, 1775-1829- Handy, Mary Ann Pitts Gilliss, 1795-1839
- Quinby, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, 1801-1875
Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1837
Teackle, Littleton Dennis, 1777-1848
8th July, 1811. P. Anne
My dear husband
As you are no doubt solicitous to hear from us as often as possible, I write by every mail, although nothing new has transpired to vary the old scene of every day dog trot business. We are all in usual health—I wish I cou’d say mine has improved as much as your affection for me wou’d have it. I think another water drinking spell is still necessary to my body corporeal. I am taking quassia at present. I can’t tell what success may attend it.
Elizabeth is getting better. She has been somewhat indisposed with a succession of headaches, indeed the drought and heaviness of the air are sufficient to check the flow of animal spirits and paralize health. We have not had an appearance of rain yet except once and then not by any means, a season.
As you have not written, I entertain a hope that your presence at home will very soon supercede the necessity of this expedient to elleviate the pain of absence I feel it, be assured, yet with patience and lively hope that your presence in B-e may prove beneficial to your interest in some way
I hope amidst the drudgery of business you may yet have found leisure for a portion of amusement which is a degree necessary to stimulate the mind and refit it for sober avocations. What have you seen and done to this effect? Have the plays occupied your evenings? Balls and routs are now out of date: but social country parties are extremely pleasant. I suppose Messrs. Donnel and Gilmor, have, ere now, retreated from the hurry and dust of town to enjoy otium cum dignitate1 of rural shades, in which case you have had an opportunity to mark how the summer leaves have expanded and the children grown. This last seems laterally and properly to be the grand business of Molly’s and Nancy’s country as well as town pursuits, though in winter Town mixes with it other enjoyments. As to your poor wife she is now either in the way, or has missed it, which she has her doubts. We had a most hot and noisy festival on the fourth. The cannons just under my ear, were a very unwelcome serenade; and I rather have my doubts, that, their music, contrary to that of Orpheus and Apollo, has deadened the vital principal within me, rather than wake inanimate substances to life and motion.
Mrs. General Gale very kindly
invited me to spend a week with her for the benefit of my health, in your absence; but I did not think it proper to ride so far in hot weather. It was very good of her however.
Miss Morcross and Miss Gillis spent an evg with me. Miss M. is a very pretty girl and well bred. I was right in my conjecture that it was expected I should take her to V-a. I cannot go of course, at this time, and moreover shou’d like to know more of a lady before I pretend to matronise her.
I hope either to see or hear of
you soon.
Your affectionate wife
E.U. Teackle
8 July 1811
L. D. Teackle, Esqr.
Barney’s Hotel
Baltimore