[Letter from Ann Upshur Eyre to her sister Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, May 9, 1805]

Eyre Hall May 9^th 1805

My dear Sister,

We arrived at our mansion the evening after we departed from you and found all well except Grace and her infant, who still continue very much indisposed.

My garden looked delightfully and full of good things. We have had ripe strawberries a full week ago. We have a great many, and I most sincerely wish you were here to partake of them. They will be intirely gone before the much longed for period of your visit, tho’ I hope to supply their loss with plenty of cherries, for which we have a fine prospect. In the name of Mercy, I implore you and my dear brother not to disappoint my hopes of seeing you, and my beloved Elizabeth. Every family here who has connexions abroad are expecting them about the time you propose coming. Mrs Donnell and family arrived yesterday from Baltimore with her parents, and she will probably remain here till after Miss Louisa’s wedding which is to take place on the 10th of next month. I am told it is to be a splendid affair, and general invitation. I hope it will be convenient to my brother to come as early as that time, as I expect to have to try my possible on the occasion. Grace’s relations are daily expected from Norfolk

and I am anxious you shou’d become acquainted with Mrs. Taylor whom I consider as the first of women. Inform [Messrs] Jackson and Wilson that Northampton will be gay at that time, and we shall be much pleased to see them here.

I suppose Miss A. wou’d not be much displeased to have either for a partner in the dance. Or indeed …. ha ha. You remember, all how and about it. So, a word to the wise - is sufficient. Since our return, we have had the wedding party¹ from Mr. T. Savage’s to dine with us. The first time I have had the honor to see Mrs. Harriot’s elect. He is rather still, but his teeth are the handsomest I ever saw, when he can be brought to show them. “Mam,” which “Mam” he is not quite so fond of doing, as using “mam” this [is] his favorite expletive – “Mam.” Tell Mrs. Dennis, my new created cousin, that her flower seeds shall not be forgotten, but she must wait with patience till they are sufficiently ripe to save. Indeed, if she had them, it is entirely out of the proper time to sow them. Give my best love to her, and tell her I am afraid my patience will forsake me ere I have a “peck” (her favorite quantity of everything) of wall flower seed, and I think her best method to obtain them will be to come down and help me. At least I can truly say this mode will be most agreeable to me. In either case, and at all times I hope she may do well “mit” her husband and children

I have not yet visited Mrs. Donnell, so can give you no news from Balt. Nor have I yet seen Miss Winder tho’ suppose she has come down, as her brother went up for her when we came down. Both ladies I shall pay my respects to in a day or [torn page]. And hope to hear something from you, by the latter. For ind[eed] my beloved girl, I shall be uneasy till I hear you are in better health and spirits than you were when I left you.² Let me hear from you as soon as you can and be circumstantial, in this particular, as well as everything else which concerns your family. I shou’d even like to know if Sarah still persists in putting a certain vehicle in the wrong place contrary to orders, and also, whether manoe’s¹ are still plenty in Princess Anne, and if Miss Nancy bustles as much as ever, and whether the side board has yet undergone the disgrace of an oilcloth, or the closets, often set to rights. I assure I have had a general cleaning among mine, and have employed myself in getting something good to put in them. I have been engaged in making Brandy fruit and preserving, since I came home, and shall save my best things for you and my [broth]er. Mary sets and sews hexagons by the day, and talks of nothing but Maryland and Mr. Jn, and, burnished teapots. She begs to be affectionately remembered to you and family, as well as Mrs. Dennis. And I suppose she wou’d wish to be remember’d by some.

I went on Sunday to see Aunt Kendall and found her still sick and gloomy. Tho’ I think not worse than when I saw her before. The Col is still [illegible] daily and nightly [xxnent]. She says she does not know what she shall do with him. He has become so very insupportable. She is a miserable woman, divested of every comfort or gratification which can attach a human being to life. It is to me a wonder she can feel a wish to live in her situation. But the love of life, or fear of death seems to form a part of our being, and can only be extinct with the body. Somehow, I have, as Mrs. Dennis wou’d say, “manag’d” bad. To introduce these sombre matters at the conclusion of my letter, especially to a lady of your delicate nerves. You must read the last first, for I find I have not been able to arrive at Mr. Eyre’s mode of taking or doing things “best first, best always.” I suppose I have rather chosen to imitate an equal pretender to correctness. Miss Charlotte Smith who always, if you remember, ends her sonnets in death, or something horrible. I suppose tho’ I strike it a new mode, and make this [hole in page] my part a centerpiece and set up myself as a candidate to equal fame with these mighty personages. Will you second the plan? Or had you rather encounter it as it is than to run the risk of a vertigo attack [illegible] exertion of your ocular powers? Who shall decide?

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