[Letter from John Teackle to Charles Nicoll Bancker, October 3, 1805, Vol. 1]

Kegatank 3^d October 1805

Dear Charles

I duly received your postscript to your mothers letter, at the 25^th Ult^o. hers and yours, were particularly pleasing, in that the health of you all were bettering, and the accounts from your City less alarming on acc^t of the fact, mentioned by my dear Wife, "That the fever had not been known to communicate from any infected person within the City to others," I say this information is very gratefull and satisfactory altho not at all surprising to me, because I have for some time felt a confidence, That the present malady of Philadelphia, is of an epidemic kind, which more or less has affected not only yours but all the Citys, and much of Country south of you, Baltimore and Norfolk, especially the latter, have the very complaint of P., circumstances only changing appearances. I have never suffered the least anxiety, on acc^t of any of your household, on the score of the fever, except yourself. For you I have been very sollicitious, and felt the greatest comfort under a faith, that the prayers of your friends for your preservation, would be heard.

It was certainly of no small consolation that you would discreetly examine well when you might goe, yet in the multiplicity of

your engagements. The necessary precaution might escape you; but what I had most to fear from, was, on account of your great fatigue of body and mind, the effect of which, must greatly debilitate your Sistem and subject you to the power of the prevailing disease. I beg you my dear Child to act Judiciously, and allow yourself every respite from business which its magnitude can possibly affoad you. You have so much on you, and I should be pleased and happilyly so that it was curtaild, I have long though on this last fact under impressive conclutions, of that kind, but feeling the want of fully know^g, and as well an impropriety of interference in the no doubt well digested and Judicious plans of yourself and partner, I have been silent, nor should I have now mention the concern, had not my Sollicitude for your safety beguled me thereto.

We are through Mercy all well here; except the indisposion of little James, as heretofore explained, not an hours sickness has been experienced by any of the family since you left us. John went to the Academy last Tuesday, in very good health, and the same day James enter’d with M^r. Beavans. The first day he exhibited unwillingness but since he and his man Jack goes of quite chearfull. In the Evening I send for him, he is very well in health. Edmund Bayley has bought Col^o Stockley place at Jingoteague and will move there before Christmas. The office he leaves with his brother on

a share of 1/3^d for doing the business.

I presume you know more of Littleton and his Elizabeth than I do, I have only had one letter (under 6th Ult^o) since he got to washington. He ought to be back about this time.

In regard to the goods, from every inquiry of Abel [Gricher?], and the people on board, I am led to hope they were so well cover'd with the fore and main Sail, that they did not receive Injury; the people at New Castle it seems, were not pleased that these goods were not taken down in their Packett. This perhaps, might stimulate them to say a little too much; but Rueben has in more Instances than that, behaved so improperly that I have discharged him. Cap^t. Coleburn will command the Sloop up, she will be laden with a freighted cargo except abt 7 or 800 Bus^lls of my oats. The other part will be Flaxseed and perhaps 8 or 10 Blls peech brandy which I wish to Sell. I want her to leave here ab^t the 20^th Insta. This will depend on the state of P. I wish it as soon as I can, because I intend getting some goods for a beginning. Henrietta writes to her Sister, and as she will detail the family and County affairs, I shall not write to your Mother, till next mail. I presume she will be at Bristol, her letter relieved in a great measure my anxiety for your Sarah. I trust the God of her father will be with and succour her in her present and approaching