[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, July 29, 1810]

Barren Creek 29th July 1810

You will observe from the date of this where I am, and will be a little startled to hear I have been here a fortnight. Our cousin Retta Teackle came down from Easton with Mr. Bancker. He proposed to me to come as far as this place with him on his return, and here poor Retta has been confined with a severe bilious fever (which attack’d her on the road) ever since, and I, and humanity, have remain'd to nurse her. However, we seldom lose much even in this world, by performing a benevolent action; and I have the consolation to feel my strength equal to the task imposed, from the efficacy of these excellent waters, which have proved more useful to me than all the quapin¹ Columbo &c with which I have been dosing myself since you left me.

I have been silent for some time expecting [torn page] Mrs.

Bancker who still holds out the idea of a Southern trip, for the benefit of her health which has been delicate for some time. Her child’s illness prevented her from accompanying her husband when he came, but he says he wishes her still to come down as the little girl is something better. We shall get letters p^r this mail, and I leave this unclosed that I may finally give you the necessary intelligence.

When did Dolly go over? You can’t think how I regret not having seen her. The scarf she sent me has been very much admired by the ladies I have met with here. We have not suffered from want of society, several parties having, occasionally, remain’d here a few days. Amongst the number Mr. Charles Goldsborough from Shoal Creek with his lady and two daughters,² a Miss Smith from Phila[delphia], Doctor and Mrs. Murray, Lieutⁿ Cox and bride from New York, doctor Craig from [Cambrid]ge, and the gallant Mr. Martin.

The great Virginia party is much talk’d of and many hold themselves back to be here at that time. Amongst the number, Miss Steele and the Manydiers. Mr. Martin wishes to know when Mrs. Eyre will be at B Creek, and I have promised to make Mr. T notify him. He is to be married the first of October. I wish you may meet Mr. C. Goldsborough and his family here. You will find them truly of the old court - politeness, plain, but perfectly polish’d, the true Tuscan taste. None of your composite frippery and jumblement of coarse and fine, rough and smooth.

Bless you, I have been complimented out of my humility. I have “all my usual colour”. I am “more beautiful than ever.”

Major Carroll who is nowhere (came up last evening with Mr T). He “wou’d say something agreeable to Mrs. Eyre, but despairs of saying anything equal to her deserts.” The man is a man of the world, but he is the very best soul of all Chesterfield’s disciples.³ His admiration of you must be sincere, indeed. He surely wou’d never have said that over sho[torn page] openly

in defiance of my displeasure, have given a name to it. Indeed, he has quite lost sight of that good and notorious maxim in gallantry. “When you are with a woman never let her dream that she is not the sole subject of your thoughts.”

You have been a sad slut¹ not to write me a scratch of a pen in all this time. What do you say to yourself? I have written to you twice. How are you all? Is Mr. Eyre as warm in the ardor of gallanting Miss Gray to Somerset as ever? I hope so. I hope he will not have quite so much trouble with me when we meet again as he has had, for my proud muscles are rather more unbended.

30^th
The mail last night brought letters from Mr Bancker, in which he expresses his concern to be obliged to give over the idea of bringing his wife down until the fall, at which time he has some idea of coming. In consequence of Retta’s indisposition, we are obliged to decline going to Northampton b|ut wish [torn page] [h]asten up [now] with your

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