18th Octr 1813 P.A.
My dear sister
I am griev’d and shock’d to learn the ill tidings your last letter brings. It has always been one source of comfort to me when I have been in bad spirits, or sick myself, to believe my friends were all well and happy; and now that I feel myself getting a little better in health and spirits, all those whom I love most in the world are comfortless and delirish’d with sickness. But I fervently hope soon to hear of my dear brother Eyre’s recovery, and that you are quite well again. It would be a bad thing for hope to desert us, and I thank God that in situations the most painful, I have always found some relief from hope. As to Ann Upshur, poor thing, and little dear Virginia, I calculated on nothing more than to hear of their present plight, and am truly sorry to have my fears confirmed. If she stays much longer in Peachburg her constitution will totally yield and she will become a valetudinarian1 for life. I have a horror for that courtyard. We are all pretty healthy here, and I wish you and Mr. E cou’d take a ride up to see us. I think a change wou’d do you both good. Indeed, I shou’d be heartily glad also to have poor Ann and her little family with us. We here have been confined a long time to the same scene. I hope Arthur keeps well. I think from what you write concerning Mr E’s symptoms that his spirits