[Letter from Abel Parker Upshur to his cousin, Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, October 18, 1815]

Richmond Oct: 18^th 1815

Thanks, my dear cousin, for your most acceptable letter. It came this morning, like a reprieve to a condemned criminal, who had made up his mind not to hope for any other reprieve than the halter. If I had known the many [torn page]od reasons you had for not writing, particularly the last, is that you didn’t choose it. I should have troubled my brain no more about the causes of your silence. I think it a little uncharitable in you to have undeceived me so cruelly. I made no doubt you were sick, and I had worked myself up into as fine a strain of sympathy as heart could desire. It would have done your heart good to take [its] restorative draughts and agreeable decoctions which I, a skillful physician in my dreams, had prepared for you. Not [torn page] ache nor a pain, nor a twitch nor a stitch, nor any [torn] affection bodily nor mental, but I had its specifick [torn page] short, no Sangrado was ever so great in his own conceit
as I was in reality. I mean in imagination, and I [torn page] paid your exhausted system with a rapidity truly [torn page] when cruel to tell, your letter comes as health [torn page] as ever went on its travels. Then what becomes of [torn page]? Where are my blooming laurels, my civic [torn page] saving a citizen to the commonwealth!” Gone [torn page] of all the Capulets,” and I am a mock do [torn page] me tell you that if you are well, you are [torn page] if so great a physician supposes you to [torn page] his irregular and selfwilled health, is what a [torn page] while insult to the faculty, and nothing but [torn page] nature could excuse it by any means [torn page] shall pay one for my medical [torn page] I would I had a talent [torn page] sever to make his [torn page] something agreed

give a sprightly lady the hystericks as a moping com[torn page] you perceive that I have just made a long visit of this [torn page] to a certain personage, one of the “Eastern powers”, whose p[torn page] I could not prevail on myself to leave, until she began [torn page] yawn. I took that for an infallible symptom that she considered it high time for me to withdraw; so, the next time [torn page] you see her, I beg you to apologize for the unseasonable length of my visit, and tell her that I see her so seldom, I c[an] not bare merely, to make her a bow and leave her. I assure [torn page] those ague fits are by no means pleasant either, literally or [torn page] positively taken, altho’ they are generally succeeded by a [torn page] talking of the enclosed long letter, brings this pact of yours [torn page] to my mind, by a very [actual] association of ideas. Tu[torn page] will a chill of disgust or a fever of indignation ensue? [torn page] either event, remember that you are the nurse, and I conf[i]dently rely on your skills to apply the proper remedy.

How often have I occasion to repeat and to admire the admirable description which Virgil has given of concern[torn page] fame! The world is so fond of the Marvellous that t[torn page] alone has no chance to be believed. Unfortunately too have the highest relish for horrible and disgusting won[torn]
[torn page] always receive with the most willing credulity, to more
[torn page] dishonor and degrade our own natures. Robert L. Tayl[or]
[torn page]nished another proof of the truth of these hate [orn]
[torn page] the event of his trial you will learn from the
[torn page] papers, and from them you will also learn that
[torn page]nishment was very light and that he appeared
[torn page] counsel. I did not appear for him because I
[torn page] sure of his moral guilt, and very doubtful of
[torn page] the eye of the law. Other considerations too
[torn page] weight with me, but the fear of publick
[torn page] not one of them. From all quarters of the
[torn page] have heard exaggerated accounts of this [de]
[torn page] saction, and report has even gone so far as to
[torn page] twenty of his victims. Some ladies were
[torn page] saw his face, and others who are
[torn page] all is not this scandal
[torn page] least reason to believe,
[torn page] circumstances that he

[torn page]ed a serious shock to the modesty of any one
[torn page]ils except alone the unhappy little girl who appeared
[torn page] witness against him. It cannot be enough lamented
[torn page]at an idea should have gone abroad, which will throw
suspicion on the character of many an innocent girl, who
will probably feel its effects to the end of her life. It is
[torn page] possible, I am afraid, intirely to efface the injurious
[torn page]ressions which this deplorable affair has made upon
the publick mind, but justice to the innocent requires that
the real extent of the evil should be made known. The fact
[that] no serious evil has been done, except to Taylor himself
[and] his unhappy young family. He deserves the publick in
dignation and his family has a right to expect the publick
sympathies, but his pupils are to be failed, only so they
have been made the objects on very groundless and very cruel
suspicions. I know that your philanthropy will be gratified
with this account and you may rely on its truth with
[torn page] confidence, because I am well acquainted with
the circumstance of the transaction.

God help the man! I am tired of his very name and [torn page]
turn from him with great delight to a subject [torn page]
the very zenith of his nadir. When shall I be with [torn page]
I fear, not for a great while. My absence from Richm[torn page]
during the busy season will occasion more than as [torn page]
delay in certain final arrangements upon which [torn page]
himself more intimately depends I will not [torn page]
[torn page]my resolution, but I think nevertheless, [torn page]
[torn page] ought to resolve not to allow myself a grati[fication]
[torn page] which will impede my laborious progress [torn page]
[torn page] of my ultimate hopes. Are you, not of the same op[inion?]
But at all [events] I must interest you to [torn page]
[torn page] dear cousin, that she runs no risque in the [torn page]
[torn page]satisfying me with longer communications [torn page]
in the world can be sufficiently [torn page]
[torn page]to merit such a proof of her [torn page]
[torn page]an. If you succeed in tis [torn page]
[torn page]all favours. [torn page]
[torn page]and where is cousin [torn page]
your friend

[A.P. Upshur]