[Letter from Abel P. Upshur to his cousin, Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, August 18, 1815]

Richm

My dear cousin

Having just finished a letter for Beckford and laid it quietly in my portfolio, the next thing is a letter for you. You see I am honest in confessing that there is one of my friends, I had like to have said correspondents, to whom you are postponed. This candour will make you believe me when I tell you that there is only one. I wish it were as easy to apologize to the straight laced gentry who look in at my window and behold me profanely employed on Sunday. But if they knew what I am about, they would think it better that sleeping in church. I hope you have discovered ére now, that this is not the first letter I have written since I left you. It was as usual, my first employment after my arrival, to give you information of it which I hope you received time enough to prevent you from going into fits. Why is it that I have received no answer to that letter? I will no longer stand at bay, but turn on my hunters and attack in turn. Pray do not let so long an interval elapse before you answer this and remember that the most important [page torn] of a woman's letter is the postscript [page torn] you can do to make that [page torn]

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And so there is an Italian [stay] at Workington without so much as a single cloud
to temper the rays of a burning sun. I rejoice to hear it, for "Happy they the happiest of their kind"¹ [illegible], which is perfectly true although a plagiarism. Did you not think there was something of envy in that bevy of bachelors who came to welcome the fair Lady of Washington? Let them take care lest having so long mocked the skill of Cupid, he should shoot none of them with a poisoned arrow. I should have been most gratified to be with the good people through out their round of merriment for altho I should not have cared a fig for their dinners, I should have liked some part of their company amazingly. Besides, under the rose, I wanted to see cousin Nelly make further comparisons between a certain lady and her own lovely daughter. I felt a gratified pride in the result of the comparison when I made it myself, and I know cousin Nelly's conclusion was the same with mine. Pray, how it was it after I left you?

I verily believe I shall be able to get a [com]fortable house in the course of next [Page torn] yesterday a gentleman promised to [Page torn] one by next May, so that you [Page torn] shall not be at a loss after the first [Page torn]

[Page torn] If I only [torn] was to persuade Cousin Betsy, I could [illegible] up as they call it, without the smallest embarrassment, I have funds enough and an infallible prospect of more. What then do I want? Nothing but a wife, without which I shall never be good for any thing in the world. If you can manage to find out what I have to buy, cook waiting maid, or what, I would begin my arrangements forthwith, as I should have done long ago but for what cousin Nelly herself told me. But it is necessary that I should begin before hand &c, all which is submitted to your friend by discretion.

As to my sister Elizabeth, with [Page torn] is so desirable to me as that she [Page torn] pursue precisely that course which you consider best. I only hope you will apprize me in time, of any demand she may have for money.

Really cousin Betsy, I appear to use you merely as a convenience, but I frankly own my head is so full of household affairs that I can think of nothing else. You know [page torn] how to sympathize with one in my [situ]ation and so most fervently wishing [Page torn] all possible happiness. I bid you and [Page torn].

Sincerely your friend A.P. Up [Page torn]