[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre - April 1799]

My dear sister,

You know when I left you I promised to write to you. I fulfill my promise with more pleasure than I otherwise shou’d have done as I have good news to communicate. I will go on to tell you of it, leaving in the background my intended journal. This morning, cousin John Teackle was reading the news paper thus, “arrived the Ship Delaware¹, Captain Sword from Canton – 135 days passage.” Now who knows what may happen? Perhaps your friend Longman may make his appearance in the south ere long. God send it if you wish it. I am truly happy that he has return’d to his expecting friends. This voyage, I fancy has in a measure sober’d him. After all you may have seen the intelligence in the paper before now, but I have to say what I know will be grateful to you even if I am sure I shall bring “coals to Newcastle.”²

We had a very tolerable journey up, neither merry nor sad. Mrs. Parker is a kind woman and treated us with the strongest marks of hospitality. I slept very little that night, the conversant Mrs. Vear talked with me after we got to bed

hours. After she went to sleep, my flesh became full of whelks I think they call them, and it itched terribly, no agreeable companion, you may be sure. The next morning Mrs. P. sent us out to Pungoteague in her chair. Dr. T was not at home, but we met him returning from Miss S. Townsends wedding. If we may believe him, he was very glad to see us. There was not a single passenger in the stage except ourselves, viz., I and myself. I was glad of it. When we were a mile from the court yard who shou’d we meet but T. Bayly and Dr. Evans came out on purpose to meet us. Edward looks quite thin, I scarcely knew him. Studying hard I fancy is the cause. Your humble his brother was here today. Enquired very tenderly after you.

This family is charming. Henrietta improves in my esteem hourly. Her father is, I should almost say, sweet. He says I must think him my father. I love him almost as much. Today he told me I was so much like my dear father that it added to his love for me. The company who were to dine here today did not all come. Mrs. J. Dennis was not here. No one but [page crumpled] Dennis, J. Evans. Cousin Betsy came here this

afternoon with Sally Upshur. I never changed my dress at all. Henrietta says they were not very merry at S. Cropper’s wedding. Want of Beaux I suppose. There were but 3 young gentlemen there. I am not sorry that I was not there. I shall see all I want to see without the trouble of sitting starch’d in finery for a whole evening. They were married before sundown. Henrietta informs me that the next day Mrs. Wise spoke of sending for me when she heard I was at Mr. Bayly’s. How cou’d the woman be so simple? I wonder if she thought I’d go? A great many of her friends are offended. I am not.

Col. Cropper will go up by water, not the thing for me you know. He says he shou’d like my company vastly, and don’t know how I shall go for my part when I go home. I shall cogitate upon the subject with your ever faithful admonisher.

Did you ever know such a trick? Turn’d the standish of ink upon my paper instead of the sand, but I fancy you can trace the characters.

I hope Letitia went down. She promis’d very fairly, if she did, give my love to her. We were put to it to know who a smart Buck was who went down the

neck as we came out. Some to whom I have mention’d it think he was a negro buyer, as those people dress smarter than most men. I concluded he went to our house, if so write me word. At any rate you must write to me.

I left my tooth brush and powder, please send them by the stage. There is not a brush in any of the stores or I shou’d buy one.

Cousin B.D. sends her love to you. I am going out to look at Col. Savage’s fine chariot so good bye.

Eliza U.