[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, May 5, 1810]

Mentioned in this letter

Education, Religion, Literacy, and Culture: Gender roles
Historic Homes and Places: Eyre Hall; Teackle Mansion
Home, Health, and Social Life: Gardening; Gardening - Flowers
People: Dennis, Elinor “Nelly” Jackson, 1770-1827; Eyre, Ann Matilda Upshur, 1780-1829; Eyre, Margaret Taylor, 1739-1812; Gale, Mary "Maria," 1777-1822; Harwood, Dolly; Jones, Milcah Gale Wilson Chaillé, 1772-1836; King, Mary Ann; Natt; Taylor, John, -1812; Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1836; Teackle, Littleton Dennis, 1777-1848; Upshur, Arthur, 1789-1830
Places: United Kingdom - Caribbean; United States - Maryland - Somerset County - Princess Anne; United States - Virginia - Northampton County

About this letter

Description: Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre. She expresses that she misses Ann very dearly. She hopes that her husband finds some success in business, so that she can continue to enjoy her domestic countryside life. She mentions talking with her cousin Eleanor Jackson Dennis.
Creator: Teackle, Elizabeth Uphsur
Creation Date: May 5, 1810
Subjects: Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1837; Eyre, Ann Upshur, 1780-1829
Item Type: letter
Identifier: MSS 2338, 2338-a, 2338-b Box 1
Publication Information: Papers of the Quinby, Teackle, and Upshur families, 1759-1968, Accession #2338, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
Institution: ASSSC
Collection: VOESH
Place Names: United States - Virginia - Northampton County; United States - Maryland - Somerset County - Princess Anne

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May 5^th, 1810 PA.

My dear girl

Mr. Taylor has call’d to enquire for my commands to N-. It has very naturally occur’d to me what a scold I shall be held to on a default of my duty in this particular department.

I am so brim full of every sort of affection and communication, that there is no room for the necessary action of my mind to give vent to them. I am at a full pause, just such an awful one as etna exhibits previous to a dreadful rupture. Alas! When it bursts, you will be inundated with burning expressions of the warmest love, for I do love you, God knows how well. I do wish for you, heaven knows how sincerely. Oh! my sister, what convulsive throes do pent up feelings cause the soul. Mine have been accumulating

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nine long months. Nine long months have elapsed since we parted and my heart knows no confidant but you. My head shall never run against another participater in all my wishes, another so kind to excuse my errors, or feel for their consequences. None but a woman can understand the infinity of a woman’s weaknesses, or the sensitiveness of a woman’s mind; none but a sister can correct or sympathize them. My dear girl, I am eternally at war with all my host of enemies. My caprices, my follies, my vanity. And I have gained so little ground, that I despair of a conquest over myself. When we set about the subverting the Tyranny of such despotism as this, the Fabian system is the very worst in the world. It will never do to march on to the attack and pause when you see the legions of your foe advancing, for while you deliberate, you are lost. You

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are my faithful ally. Succour your beleaguered sister with your strong sense, with your faithful attachment to my interests. You can not fail to relieve me, to bring me off with flying colours. My dear Mr. Teackle is daily expected by his almost deserted family. He has sold his vessel I am told, and I hope advantageously, with out the necessity of making so hazardous a voyage as his contemplated one to the W. Indies. I hope all will yet be well. I begin again, with my wonted sanguine enthusiasm, to look forward to future peace and tranquility, to competency, and independence, no matter how little, provided it is independence, with a prospect of something like a regular plan of domestic life. I am more and more enamored of my little circle of domestic enjoyments, of my little rural avocations, as perhaps, they have been proportionately, jeopardized: as my mind enlarges