[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, April 21, 1825]

Princess Anne, Ap^l. 21^th. 1825

My dear sister

Mr Eyre brought me your’s of the 19^th on yesterday afternoon. He had been detained all the morning at Workington by the rain.

I thank you sincerely for the trouble you have taken in writing to Gen^l. Taylor, and for your promptness in doing so and in forwarding my letter to him. It is not without some pain that I am so often obliged to trespass on the benevolence of my friends; but I feel it my bounden duty to make every exertion in my power, which holds out even a remote probability of being productive of good to my dear husband, child and family; and I must rely on the kindness of others to excuse it for the sake of my motives, if I shou’d appear in any instance, importunate or wanting in the strictest sense of delicacy. It is no time now to be overscrupulous in niceties of this sort. It is, too, the privilege of the poor to beg, and of the rich and benevolent to bestow favours. It is said that a hungry dog knows the dispositions of those into whose faces he looks wistfully, and that he never applies, in his necessity to any but those he believes to be willing to rel[torn page] so it was with me when I wrote Gen^l. Tay[torn page] a confidence that his goodness wou’[torn page] and that he is abilities wou’d enable h[torn page]

And Miss Baraud is off sure [torn page]

and you, I hope, will find, in the various agrément of his extended excursion, some amelioration of any chagrin he may have felt at the desertion of the fair Lelia; and in the smiles and attractions of the other beauties of Norfolk, as well as those of Washington, (where Mr E. informs us he is going) he will be amply "remunerated," as our brother John used to say.

Elizabeth and myself feel grateful for your kind wish that we cou'd be with you during the proposed visit of your young friend from N-lk. It does not remain to be proved that your house has always had sufficient attractions for us, both to draw us to you, and to [have] us with you; And we are very sensible that the society of these charming girls wou'd give an additional gist to the enjoyments which we have always found at Eyre Hall. We often think of you and of our visit last winter; and I must say, that I constantly regret, more and more, the distance that divides us. I feel very unsettled at this time: but, I trust, that wherever we are finally located, God's merciful providence will continue to watch over us and supply our wants, as He has ever done; and that however distant from [torn page] dear friends, we shall always have the hap[piness] of knowing that they are well, and prosperous.

[torn page] ever since we returned from your house [torn page] wishing to write you a long letter, as

minute in its details as you could desire; but I have been in a kind of bustle ever since we returned, having had much writing to do, and in addition to it, a press of business out of doors, in the garden, and a great deal of occasional, calling company. I have never been able to collect my ideas to write a comfortable chit chat letter when I have had a half hour to spare for that purpose. And, in truth our future prospects remain so much in perspective, that on this subject, I cou’d have nothing to say more satisfactory than so far as you already know. We, however, still entertain strong hopes of a change in our affairs to our advantage. Mr. Teackle is going on to Washington in a few days, and designs to remain there some weeks, with a view to bring his application for an appointment under Government to an issue, before he leaves the City, if possible. If there shou’d happen to be a vacancy, I cannot help thinking that he will obtain a situation; for the more I hear of Mr Adam's private character, the more I am inclined to believe that he is not a man to encourage false hopes, or to forget his promises. In fact I hear from every one such accounts of him as confirm my opinion.

In the mean time we have been doi[torn page] well in our domestick matters since w[torn page] Thank God, we have wanted nothin[torn page] flour in the house, sugar, coffee, tea [torn page]