Dec. 22d 1821. P.A.
My dear sister
Our little Tommy Thumb arriv'd last evening all safe, except that he was rather too fully suited in the cochneys preenning dress "vel-vet". Although for lack of his seven league boots he did not perform his journey in the "given time" yet I believe he did it with the "greatest care", and so far as his abode at E Hall was concerned (from his accounts of that place) I am led to think with the greatest pleasure, also. He brought my cap, and E's ribbon with his written dispatches very snugly, but with the said india shotted cap was "translated" to vel-vet. We return you many thanks for each of these very pretty articles. The ribbon escaped a dressing fortunately and is really beautiful. It wou'd be hard to say who thanks you most for the cap, E. or myself, as she had just screw'd her courage to the point of spotting me one, when your present fairly rid her of the trouble of such an exertion. As I sat at tea last evening, very proud of my acquisition, I reach'd to the cap and [having] the head piece round my fore head to ascertain if it cou'd complete a circle of such magnitude, observ'd to E – "It is a fine roomy cap" as big Caleb once told me when I had cut him a jacket about large enough for the Irish Giant. This made her laugh as [xxx pively] and I almost persuaded myself that either Caleb, or I, or both, were great wits. Tell Genl. Taylor if he sets up in that trade, I will go partner with him; in which case judging
[sideways writing] I am sorry I have not time nor paper to answer your queries about [illegible] subject to be sure, and one I like to discuss when I go to E.H. I shall treat of it fully.