[Letter from Abel Parker Upshur to his cousin, Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, December 23, 1815]

Richmond Dec^r 23^rd 1815

Well, the court has been cleared, (rather unusual in such cases) the criminal arraigned, and the indictment read to him. He rejects with becoming dignity, all propositions for a compromise, acknowledges submissively the jurisdiction of the court, and to his indictment, pleads not guilty, and of this he puts himself upon the country. The attorney for the prosecution being heard, the prisoner, by leave, makes his own defense in the following words. "May it please your worships or your honours, or gentlemen of the jury, I am accused of high crimes and misdemeanours by a lady who knows a thing or two, because it is plain she has read Ossian¹. I acknowledge she has stated correctly the contract which I am accused of violating,² but I in no sort admit that she is equally correct in her accusation. May it please you, how could that be? None but lunaticks violate contracts which are obviously to their advantage, and from which they reasonably expect great pleasure. Now, am I a lunatick? A question not to be asked! And even if I were, I can prove by Bate's Almanack³ which is considered the most learned Almanack extant, that the moon has been in the wane for more than a week. Is not this presumptive proof irresistible? But I crave your credence my learned judges, to "a plain tale" which will soon [put] this matter at rest. Some three or four [torn page] I deposited in the Post Office a certain [torn page] such as is mentioned in the indict[ment] [torn page] which was another sealed paper of [torn page]

[d]estination was indicated by indorsem[ent] on [torn page] thereof. I gave it my particular directions to speed on its journey, and had it not encountered some unforeseen impediment, it must long ere this, have arrived in P. Anne. The lady who is my accuser, not having decreed to reply thereto, I begun to grow uneasy lest, being rustick and awkward, it should not have made its respects with becoming politeness.⁵ I accordingly determined to send a more polished envoy, to repair its faults and once more to make my peace at court. But before this could be done, there came a messenger from the Great King, who announced himself to me as Dan Jaundice, a messenger of war, with whom I have been busily contending ever since. And now, gentlemen of the jury, what say you? Is the prisoner guilty of the charge whereof he stands indicted or not guilty? "Not Guilty!" Hurra!

But "soberly as Lady Grace says."⁵ Not only have I replied punctually to all your letters , but I have even gone beyond it, and sent you two "sealed papers" for one. You may take it for granted that I shall not neglect Princess Anne, for I never in my life, felt less disposed to forget what I owe to it. I believe I delayed a reply to your last letter eight or ten days, during all which time I was deliberating and still unresolved, whether I should visit P. Anne in December or not. I finally concluded that as I should be compelled to return to Richmond by the first [of Janu]ary, I had better delay the visit untill the
[torn page]cation, which would be longer I am now [torn page] to start as early in January as I can, [torn page] not before the 20th, probably not [torn page] somebody who was and is a [illegible, torn]

[torn page] every body, to whom I wish to say something, but I do not know how to do it. Cousin Betsy, I really believe she sometimes persuades herself that I am susceptible of impressions unfavourable to her, from certain bearen images kept for shew in this city. Tell her to view herself with my eyes and with my eyes, to view the beaumonde of Richmond, and then if she looks "blank," I will give up the argument. But she shall have my viva voce lecture before many weeks have passed away.

I should be truely happy to meet you in Northampton and if I should meet you there, I promise to be ready to escort you to Somerset upon as short a notice as you please to allow me. I presume you will stay a month with cousin Anne, and if [torn page] start immediately after Christmas, our [torn page]ments will tally exactly. I assure you [torn page] impatient to a degree, and the first moment the little Chancellor says "you may go." I shall be off. I have more things to say when I get to P. Anne than I could put upon paper in a month.

That word "blank" in your letter, and the fireside conference taken together, have determined me to dispatch this letter "by return of mail." How little some people know how some people feel!! Take notice, this is not a reply to your letter. Y[torn page] [are}
in imminent hazard of receiving another [torn page] me before long, which per adventure [torn page] travel alone. In the mean time ask [torn page] I am as I ever have been in spirit [torn page]

Your friend [torn page]