Episode 18 - Think Me Not Vain - part 1

Your Most Obedient & Humble Servant
Episode 18, Part 1: "Think Me Not Vain"
Published on March 2, 2021

Note: This transcript was generated by Otter.ai with light human correction

Kathryn Gehred 

Hello, and welcome to Your Most Obedient and Humble Servant. This is Women's History podcast where we feature eighteenth and early nineteenth century women's letters that don't get as much attention as we think they should. I'm your host, Katherine Gehred. Today's episode is, again, going to be a little bit different than our normal format. First of all, this is our first two-parter episode. And the reason for that is that the letter that we're doing this week is so long that it takes just in and of itself, pretty much the entirety of this episode. So this week is going to be the letter. And then next episode is going to be the discussion and analysis of that letter. My guest this week is a good friend of mine and public historian extraordinaire, Lizzie Thomas. Lizzie is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Sustainability from Wake Forest University, but she spent the past several years working as a in person. I called her a Live Action Interpreter, but apparently that's not correct. She is a Costumed Interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg, where she played a number of different characters. So, she is an actress and historian and she, I thought would be a good choice to read this letter that it really requires somebody who knows what they're doing. I'll just give you a little bit of context before we go into this letter. This is from Elizabeth Parke Custis Law, who if you have listened to an earlier episode, Episode Seven, "Strange, Most Passing Strange." We discussed Elizabeth and her marriage quite a bit in that episode. This is Martha Washington's granddaughter Elizabeth Parke Custis Law, she was something of a Spitfire, she had a very unusual life, she married a West India Nabob. So, somebody who made his fortune over in West India, and then came over to the United States named Thomas law, who were grandparents didn't completely approve of, because he seemed like he was a little bit of a social striver. He's very much new money. And he was definitely trying to profit off of buying land in Washington, DC as soon as that became the new United States Capitol. But, she ignored any advice and married Thomas law. He also had brought with him two sons from a previous liaison with a woman in India. So, he had two mixed race sons that he had actually brought over from India with him that Elizabeth Parke Custis Law helped raise. Interestingly, she doesn't mention those two sons in this letter, but that's a background that I think is important. So the form that I found this letter in was published in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 53, Number 2, April 1945. And, so it was edited and introduced by an author named William D. Hoyt, Jr. He was not able to find the entirety of the letter he only has about I guess, maybe half of it, and that I wasn't able to find the rest of it either. So, the half of it that was published is what we're reading. So this is a letter written on April 20, 1808, from Elizabeth Parke Custis Law to David Bailie Warden. David Bailie Warden is an Irish Republican who had been exiled to the United States for his role in insurrection. And he later became an American Consul to France, and he was apparently friendly with Elizabeth. There's some discussion on what the relationship was actually like. But this letter she wrote shortly after he had left to be Console, and we have 29 manuscript pages of it. And that's not even the whole thing. She writes the letter as an autobiography. It's Elizabeth Parke Custis Law's story of her own life, and it's a little bit of her saying, "Do you know who I am?" You can get that vibe throughout the letter. She was 32 years old when she wrote this. She and her husband had separated four years previous, but they weren't yet officially divorced, and she's writing this to someone who I guess is her friend. I don't know why she feels so betrayed and that she has to write this really long letter to him specifically. Not sure if she wants him to deliver it to Law. The context of that is a little bit unclear. So I believe that's enough context. With that. I will send it over to Lizzy as she reads this letter. And thank you very much for listening.

Lizzie Thomas

April 20 1808. 

My Dear friend, I take the pen to write a narrative of my life, from my earliest recollection to this time--however deficient it may be in other respects, it shall have the merit of truth & candor-- I wish not to appear better than I am--but justice to myself, imperiously calls upon me to tell the story of a life, which altho not a very long one, has been marked with events of no common orde--the world knows little of me, & it may possibly continue in ignorance--I speak to one, who shall know all I can tell of myself--who after proofs of regard which no other would have dared to give, now shrouds in misterious silence all which concerns himself, & wounds the bosom of his friend by suffering her to continue ignorant of his detination & to feel the painful conviction that he deems her unworthy of his confidence2--he family from which I am a descendant was among the first settlers of Virginia. I know not exactly from whence they came, but think I recollect being told they were from some part of flanders--this may be a mistake but tis not material--they possessed wealth at the time of their establishment & by good management became proprietors of some among the most valuable Lands on the eastern shore & lower Counties of the State they inhabited--I have always felt Pride in hearing that all who had borne the name of Custis were honest & just men--a circumstance more to be prised in the opinion of their descendants than all the pomp of heraldry or wealth could give had they even been destitute of them-- the father of my father3 was a good man--possess'd of a great estate a pleasing person of unblemished reputation he at an advanced age married Miss Dandridge to whom in her infancy he had been Godfather & often dandled on his knee the smiling cherub who was one day to be his wife, & afterwards the wife of Gen.rl Washington--he made a most affection ate] indulgent husband, to the most charming woman of the age she lived in--four children were the pledges of their union--two of them died in infancy & the loss of his eldest son so pray'd upon the sensibility of my grand father that he pined in sorrow which not all his other blessings could dissipate & sunk into the grave, leaving his youthful consort with a large dowery, & a lovely Girl & Boy to engage those affections he had shared with them. She was worthy of the approbation which her virtues obtain'd from all who ever knew her & after a Period of Widow hood in which her correct conduct added to the esteem with which she had been regarded she was selected by Washington to be the partner of his happiness & his Countries love--the first of men chose her as his wife--the companion of a life of glory, & well did she repay his confidence & attachment--ever honor'd spirit of my revered & ever lamented Parent,--look down upon thy child--how little did thy fond heart think that when caressing thy darling Eliza she would one day be the victim of Slander & persecution, & with a heart oft lacerated by the neglect of the friend most dear to her, should now commence a narrative of her life & family to convince [him] that he does not know her who he once vowed to love forever--to thy spotless soul I can appeal for the purity of my attachment, & rectitude of my intentions? With the hand of Mrs. Custis Gen.rl Washington received a large fortune--& became the Guardian of her son & daughter--they removed to Mount Vernon where he procured a tutor to instruct the children & where his wife acquired the esteem & admiration of all who saw her--he was a father to her children & desirous to give my father every advantage, placed him at the School kept by Parson Boucher, he was the handsomest youth of his day--to judge of his person tis only necessary to observe that his children who have been thought handsome are some of them to be compared to him--at the age of sixteen he became acquainted with the family of Mr. Calvert of Maryland--& soon fell desperately in love with my Mother then only fourteen she was beauteous as an Angel--my father saw her and loved for his whole life--he was but a Boy & altho his offered heart was accepted by my Mother, & her family exulted in her conquest it was thought best to insist upon his going to New York, to acquire advantages of education which could not at that [time] be procured more near--his Parents & Sister visited her--were highly delighted with the proposed alliance--& besought her influence to prevail on him to leave her & attend to those studies necessary to complete his education?--fter much contention with his family--the entreties of the lovely Girl he felt such reluctance to leave induced him to go, that he might render himself more worthy of he  I now leave him in New York to which place GenrI Wn accompanied him--& return to Mount Vernon, where my Mother had gone to spend some time--the Sister of my father was an amiable Girl, dutiful to her Parents she adored her Brother, & was much attached to his intended wife--she had bad health & when my father had been eighteen months at New York she was sitting with my Mother talking of her dear John, & said she would go to bring one of his letters--my Mother heard a Noise, & going to her room found the amiable Girl on the floor, without breath--she was put to bed--her Mother frantic at her situation, ran about seeking assistance, my Mother bath'd in tears leant over her, & the God like man who afterwards saved his Country, kneeling by the Bed solemnly recited the prayers for the dying--while tears rolled down his cheeks, & his voice was often broken by sobs--the Angel of Death hover'd over & snatch'd his prey from her afflicted friends--thus deprived of one darling child my father was sent for to console his Mother his faith was unchanged by absence, & he brought back a heart uncontaminated by intercourse with a world of which he was a brilliant ornament--many efforts had been made to supplant the woman he loved--all efforts proved unavailing--of a respectable family large fortune and a person beauteous as the God of Love, mothers sought to engage his attentions to their daughters, & many a lovely girl attempted to captivate the young Virginian--warm & unchangeable--his heart when fixed, was incapable of perfidy, & desertion, & he came back if possible more devoted to his Eleanor than when they parted--he swore he would not leave her again--& wished to be married at once but his impetuosity was so far contrould that he was kept single till the age of nineteen. When arrived at that age & my Mother not sixteen, they were united I have been told that when array'd in white which was the fashion of that day & standing in the midst of their numerous connections to receive the Nuptial Benediction, they looked as if some inhabitants of Celestial regions had descended to gladden the children of Earth he was the most ardent lover the most enraptured husband--he loved his wife to Excess, & thought there was no heaven but in her arms--They resided at Mt. Vernon, the difference with England soon began--he was ready to fly to arms, & wish'd to follow Washington to Battle--but the Prayers of his Mother, the entreaties & caresses of his Wife, had power to alter his determination--he sacrificed the wish his ardent love had burnt to gratify, & was satisfied to exchange glory for happiness eighteen months had elapsed since their union when my Parent  blessed with a daughter who was the first pledge of Love such as few can feel--but while her fond Parents gased upon her each day with new delight, she was attacked by a violent illness, & Died--to releave my Mothers distress, was her husband unremitting care--& he carried her with his Mother to visit Genl Wn then encamped near Boston they passed a pleasant time, 'tho often alarmed with fears of the British, whose bombs burst frequently over the place of their residence--My Mothers situation required her return to her fathers house--where twelve months after the Birth of their first child your friend came to supply her loss--better had it been for her to have died, as did her Sister--but fate decreed otherwise, & my fond Parents ween'd their child with the partiality that Parents feel--I had the small pox I was attack'd by the Hooping cough which almost killed me--but I was not destined to die, till sufferings more terrible should make existence a Burthen--six teen months after my birth my Sister Peter succeeded and at the same distance of time Mrs. Lewis came to gladden the hearts of her friends--my Mother had twins, two Girls who died in three weeks, & soon after my Brother was born--e'er this my father had purchased the place where you once went with me, Abingdon & the other which my Brother now holds named Arlington, from the old family seat of the Custis's on the Eastern shore of Virginia--he established his household in a hand some stile & his House became the seat of hospitality--his love for his family if possible encreased each year--he was adored by his servants admired by all who saw him, & those who knew him, deem'd themselves honor'd in calling him their friend--my noble father, thou wert encased of all that was good in Man, & the honest pride spent in recounting thy merits makes me exult in the reflection that I am worthy to be thy Child--My fathers house was the resort of the Alexandrians, & all genteel strangers found a welcome at his board, among the number was an English Physician--whose name was Rumney [?]--he play'd well on the flute, & took delight in making me sing--I soon attain'd excellence in this science, & was always lifted on the Dinner table to sing for my fathers guests--I had a good memory, & learnt many songs--my father & Dr R taught me many very improper ones, & I can now rememr standing on the table when not more than 3 or 4 years old, singing songs which I did not understand--while my father & other gentlemen were often rolling in their chairs with laughter-- & I was animated to exert myself to give him delight--the servants in the passage would join their mirth, & I holding my head erect, would strut about the table, to receive the praises of the company, my mother remonstrated in vain--& her husband always said his little Bet could not be injured by what she did not understand that he had no Boy & she must make fun for him, until he had--he would then kiss her to make his Peace, & giving me a Nod my voice which was uncommonly powerful for my age resounded through the rooms, & my Mother who could not help laughing, had to retire & leave me to the gentlemen, where my fathers caresses made me think well of myself--think me not vain--all who saw me then know I had an uncommonly fine voice for so young a child-- I was the darling of my grandmother Washington--she had all that tendersness of manner which my father had, & when with her I was always in her arms--my heart was almost broke, when she was obliged to go to the Gen.rl, & I was always talking of her & wishing her return--many things occur'd at that early Period of my life which made a indeluble impression. I will mention one event which I have never for gotten, going with the other children into a House where the Negroes picked cotton, I took a cotton seed & put it up my nose--that night I suffered great pain but my father reproving me for complaining I stifled my groans, & lay in much misery till morning-he call'd me to him, & after many efforts got out the seed--then saying with sternness--you have kept me awake all night & distress'd both your Parents by doing this now I will punish you, to prevent your thus acting again--he then laid me across his knee & whipped me severely, when he put me down, my proud heart swelled with anger I did not mind the pain he inflicted, but he had disgraced me before the other children for a circumstance which only injured me--had he spoken one kind word, I should have been subdued--but I thought he was unjust I felt he had degraded me? I resolved not to incur humiliation again, & do not recollect his correcting me after this time-- Another event would to a reflecting mind have marked the colour of my future life--a Doctor Wm. Reid of South Carolina spent some time at my grandfather Calvert's where a relation of his resided--my Sister Peter was the pet of that family & Dr R was fond of her but on my arrival he became much more partial to me, I was four years old--& he said I was the most interesting child he had seen, I took an equal fancy to him, he walked out with me, read & talked with me, & I would set on his knee, sing for him, & often when my nurse came to take me to Bed, was found asleep with my little arms twined round his neck--he could not leave me a moment--when he was obliged to return to Carolina, he delay'd his departure as long as possible, for fearing he would go  never left him for a moment, & clinging round his neck would beg so earnestly that he would not go, that he was often affected by my distress--he wished I was sixteen, as he fear'd some cold hearted wretch would one day make his darling miserable, & would then vent execrations, by anticipation against him who should not know how to value my heart-- he went away, & avoided taking leave of me--I was frantic, rushing out of the House, to follow him & was so much afflicted as to be seriously sick--the family tried to console me, but in vain, & they could only re strain my tears by assurances that my friend would return, my little sisters stood round, & offered to comfort me, dont cry Betsey he will come back again, was repeated by all--but it was a long time before I regained tranquillity-- My father contemplated this scene with concern. God grant my child that I may live to protect you--with feelings ardent, & uncontroulable as mine I too plainly foresee you will suffer greatly, the Proud spirit which breaks forth whenever excited tells me my child will never do a mean, or dishonorable action--but too surely I fear she will be miserable--the words of my father were prophetic--he was soon to be snatched from his wife, & infant children--had he lived, I had perhaps been happy. My father was an enthusiast in the Cause of his oppress'd Country, & but for the reasons before assign'd, would have been fore most among her defenders--I sung all the revolutionary songs & used to talk of 'tar & feathers for the torries'--whenever my father could, he always went to the Army, & when the seige of York was nearly concluded he hasten'd to see the surrender of Cornwallis--I recollect well how averse he seem'd to set off returning several times, to bid his family farewell--I was sick in bed, for he came to the side of it, kissed & blessed me many times & tore himself away--Alas it was decreed he never should return, & I was the only one of his children who saw him after that day--he arrived at the Camp of Wn. & saw the, British humbled before him, but the Camp fever assail'd him, & his Mother & Wife were summon'd to attend him-- I was their companion--& was grieved to see the late blooming face of my beloved father so changed that I should not have known him, but for his voice--all was done that medical skill & fond affection could perform to save him--my Mother never left him, seated on his Bed, his eyes were fastened on her--his Love had known no change. It was hard to die so young--he was not more than 27 years old when the cruel Spoiler came, & tore him from a World which he adorned--when told my father was no more, I insisted on seeing him, my nurse was going with me to the room--but we were stopt--I was full of indignation &  said they had no right to prevent my seeing him--I call'd upon him to return to me, & said I supposed my Mother would marry some one else, but no other man should ever be my father--I well recollect the grief of my Mother, & Grandmother--& travelling up the Country again all clad in Black--my fathers generous soul had made him too little attentive to pecuniary concerns-- he never had been brought up with any knowledge of business he made bad bargains, & had greatly injured his Estate--he sold some fine Lands in the lower Country, & received paper money in payment--my Mother was 25, of a Gay turn high Spirits, which had been nurtured by a life of unchanging prosperity-- eer a very long time she acquired resignation to her loss, & began to mingle with a world which always admired her--still the full bloom of Beauty, with an ample fortune she was sought by all who wished to secure happiness or fortune--She attracted Admiration whenever she appear'd, mounted on an elegant horse, which she rode well, she was certainly a most captivating object-- I mourn'd for my father, & wonder'd she could forget him, & well convinced am I, that had I been so beloved by so charming a husband, I should have follow'd him to the grave--but tis most fortunate for her that she is different from me, & I wish no one so ill & to feel so deeply, so durably as I do-- Two years after my fathers departure, my Mother gave her hand to Dr Stuart8--she chose the man who she believed would make the best Guardian for her children--Dr S was not then the gloomy Mortal he has been since--he had just returned from Europe--where he received every advantage of Education & was one of the most learned men of his day--he was a Man of respectable family, & a Character free from reproach, he had studied the profession of Medicine & I believe was qualified to make a conspicuous figure in it--he had little fortune, & my Mothers friends disapproved of the choice she made but she was independent of them, & finding herself incapable of managing her own, or her childrens property, determined to marry Dr S--he became her husband, & the guardian of her childrens fortune-- My youngest Sister, & Br went to reside at Mt Vernon & now my heart sustained another pang--the old Woman who had nursed my father, nursed all his children--she was sent to take care of the youngest ones, who needed her but I was her darling & felt sincere affection for her--she wept over me at parting, & soon after the wagon which carried her away, till I was brought back by force--the greatest pleasure I knew, was to go to Mt Vernon, & when I left it, would look at the House till I could see it no longer, then covering my face with my hands, would cry till I fell asleep--my Mother was pain'd that I loved her less than my Grand Mother--Patty was of a different turn she was the favorite of my Mothers family--of whom I was less fond, An old Lady the Aunt of Doctor Reid idolised me, & when in that House I was generally at her side--being like other old maids very positive, she could not hear the others should prefer Patty--& declaring her Pet was worth a dozen of her--so sensible a child was never seen--& she would carry me off, to her own room, where every word I uttered was noted as an indication of extraordinary talents--my Heart possessed the feelings of my father--altho fond of those who were kind to me the baneful passion of envy, found to enhance in my bosom--& I thought my Sister had as just a claim to affection as I had--We were constantly together, yet never were alike, she was fortunately for herself, created like other people & has passed a happy life, while her Sister has been often miserable--we were taught our letters to spell & read by my Mother, & a Miss Allen a Cousin of Dr Reid who lived at Mt Airy--my Grandfather Calvert's seat, I made a more rapid progress than common, the family said, & the prises bestow'd upon my capacity, stimulated me to acquire what was given me to learn soon after my Mothers second marriage my sister now Mrs. Robinson was added to our family, I was then eight years old--the servants of the House encited some jealousy by making me observe my Mothers fondness for her infant--but when these un pleasant thoughts would rise, I thought of my Grandmanna Wn, & Mammy Molly, my old Nurse, who always overwhelm'd me with caresses, when I visited Mt Vernon, & from whom I was ever afflicted to part-- My father in law [step father] willed to give us every advantage, & procured an Instructor to teach us Music, & other branches of Educa tion--the first day he gave me the dedication of the Spectator to read & I heard Dr S tell him "that was an extraordinary child & would if a Boy, make a Brilliant figure--I told them to teach me what they pleased, & observed to them I thought it hard they would not teach me Greek & Latin because I was a girl--they laughed & said women ought not to know those things, & mending, writing, Arithmetic, & Music was all I could be permitted to acquire, I thought of this often--with deep regreet & began to despise those acquirements which were considered inferior to the others--I had a good genius for Music? Old Tracy my Master then held singing in contempt, & the talent which had afforded such pleasure to my father, was laid aside--I never sang--but I disliked Tracy, & vented my indignation against him, for saying those who liked singing, knew nothing of Music I could have trampled on the reptile, who thus as I thought did injustice to the taste of my lamented father? I had no respect for my master, & treated him often with contempt, my Sister joined me to torment him, he knew not how to make us respect him. he was really much attached to both--would indulge us frequently by telling long stories of Carolina where he had lived with Arthur Middleton, at other times he tried to make us obey him, & he punished us by obliging us to practise Music--this had the effect of making it hateful to both--particularly to me--I acquired great proficiency in Arithmetic & as tracy excell'd in this, & wrote an elegant hand, I resolved to equal him in both--often after doing without any assistance, the most difficult sums, & questions he could set--& writing what he acknowledged to be better than his own, I have asked with all the dignity I could assume, what right he had to command me who could play half my time, & learn all he could teach me--I used to go to another room to get my lesson--& soon understanding it, would lean on a window seat with my eyes fixed on the River, & Maryland, & look back to the time when my father lived & I used to play on the green before him--I was not happy--my Mother had another set of Children, Patty & I were kept very strictly, when released from Tracy we were obliged to do a certain portion of needle work, & often compelled to practice Lessons of Music--Dr Stuart was kind to us but he was not our father--we had one pleasure going two days every week to the dancing school--I was sick when the master first came to instruct us, & my sister made some progress I heard every one praise her, & felt impatient to be well, that I might dance too--I recovered & after a few observations was satisfied it was easy to dance well--I became the best dancer in the School, & was always placed at the Head of the sett--I kept the first place at the dancing school--I not only danced well but conducted myself properly, never interfered with others, & treated my Master with respect he was a genteel Man--& always gave me credit for my exertions to attain excellence, in the accomplishment he was employed to teach me--it was at the Dancing school I formed an acquaintance with Maria Moxer & her Sisters--she was the same age--& was placed next me in the dance--she yeilded the Post of honor with out contention, or regret, & the affection I felt for her rewarded hers for me--my Sister Nelly went to this school too, liked many other Girls--my attachment was confined to Maria, on entering the room we met with joy, & taking hands & after kissing each other, we seated ourselves & took no notice of any thing else, till called to Dance, after which we resumed our station, & as she always stood next me, when the sett was call'd our conversation was not interrupted, the school Girls call'd me proud, but they said nothing else of me for I never injured them, or said any word to wound their feelings--four days in every week were devoted to tracy, the others we went to the Dancing school I found his instruction irksome, I learnt with such ease all he taught that I soon despised my tutor-- The Election of Genrl Washington to the Presidency was a cause of regret to himself, & of much affliction to his family, it would take him our Grandmother sister, & Brother, & our old nurse too from us--our hearts were filled with sorrow--we had gone often to Mt Vernon where Mr Lear was employ'd as tutor for the children & after school hours used to sport about the grounds, & return where I always was most happy to the arms of our Grand mama--my Mother carried us to stay till she departed, & the last days of their stay I never left her but to roam with my old nurse that I was to lose them--I remember well what I felt when the Negroes came to take leave of their Mistress, to bid her farewell, & bless her for all her goodness to them--I see them now, many bent down with years, & infirmities, their heads silver'd by time uncover'd as they bow'd, & their voices resound in my ears, "God bless you all" as the Carriage drove off--how pleasant had been this ride, but it was to carry me home & next day my Grand mother was to leave me, I did not sleep all night, & next morning I saw my friends depart, with agonies which to recount at this distant period, makes my heart ache-- This event was of serious injury to my health & marred my happiness--I had been ill with a nervous fever some months before--for 21 days my fever did not abate, & no one believed I should live for several months, I could not walk Mammy Molly came to nurse me, my Grand mother often visited me, & I almost regretted getting well which was to take them from me--the distress I suffered at parting with my beloved friends succeeding this, threw me in a bad state of health--I was melancholy, lamented the loss of my friends of the greatest pleasure I enjoy'd, was to receive their letters & answer them--Genrl was so ill that his life was despair'd of, & we felt much distressed till assured of his safety--the Guardian Angel of America was near & preserved her God-like hero--the Period approach'd where we were again to see those most dear to us--at length Austin my Grandmothers footman, came on a day before to tell us they were near--my Mother was then confined with her third child--& Patty & I were half crazy for joy--when the Carriage stop'd, I could scarcely stand, I wept for joy, My Grand mother & the children embraced me first, then my Dear old Nurse--all wonder'd at my growth & improvement, & I was proud to be admired by them--Mrs. Wn came some hours before the Presdt at length he rode up with two Gentlemen  his Secretary's, my heart bid me fly to meet him but how could I walk across, a long passage in presence of the strangers, I hesitated blushed & troubled, but my Grand mother saying go my darling, or the Genrl will think you do not love him--this remark gave me strength, to reach his chair, & his arms supported his timid child--I was in great trouble at being obliged to set at the head of the table--extreme sensibility, & a retired life, had given me diffidence which was remarked by all who saw me--& was painful to myself--the strangers gazed at me, & I could not eat at dinner--the general said that altho he thought a young Girl look'd best when blushing yet he was concern'd to see me suffer so much-- My Grand mother asked my Mother to let her carry me home with her-- & I went with pleasure, yet the tear bedew'd my cheek when I went to bid my Mother farewell--we were to meet again in a few weeks, I was to go to Mount Vernon, yet when I saw her pale, & feeble, my heart was filled with sorrow she urged me to go--but the pleasure I felt in being with my grand mother, was damp'd by the thought that my Parent was absent, & not well, & I did not feel happy till she join'd us at Mt Vernon--we were all happy together for several Months, but our friends were soon to leave us, & another circumstance occur'd to give us pain--in a former part of this narrative I remarked that my fathers generous soul had made him regardless of money, while his ignorance of business exposed him to injury from bad men--it was found that the Bargain he had made for Abingdon would be ruinous to his children he had sold valuable Estates for paper money & the sort he was paid in was of no value--Dr S had been zealously engaged to extricate the estates from Embarrassments & was advised to give up that place, rather than hold it & be subject to a Suit, which might take all the personal property--my father died without a Will, the Laws of that time gave all Lands to the Male heir, when no Will existed, & all the Girls could have, was a portion of the personal Estate--my mother wished to save a fortune for her daughters, & resolved to relinquish a residence to which she was much attached, & bury herself in solitude--she made a great sacrifice for us--the Place she was to remove to was one Dr S had purchased with the wish which all people have to acquire property, Dr S was unqualified to deal with one of the most deceitful men I ever beard of--the place had nothing to recommend it was twenty Miles [from Alexandria]."

Kathryn Gehred 

Okay, and that is the end of the letter. So it cuts off sort of abruptly there. Thank you very much for listening. That's all for this week's episode, but we will pick this right up again in two weeks when I post the exciting conclusion where we discuss it. Thank you very much for listening. I am as ever, your most obedient and humble servant. Thank you very much.

Kathryn Gehred 

Hi, everybody, it's Kathryn. Again, I just wanted to pop in and say thank you so much to everyone who's been listening. We recently hit 10,000 downloads of the podcast, actually, I think we're up to like 11,000 downloads, which is better than I ever imagined for this little History podcast that I made. So, thank you so much. Again, if you want to share and spread the love, feel free to talk about it to your friends or on social media. You can follow us on Facebook or on Twitter, or on Tumblr, I don't post there very much, but we do have a Tumblr, you can find us anywhere at Humservt, wanted to give a shout out to Carol from Houston, who recommended the podcast to a newsletter the Marketplaces Make Me Smart group and they featured the podcast in that group. So anybody listening from that newsletter, hello, I'm complimented, that you think I'm gonna make you smarter. And thank you so much to Carol for passing that along. That was so sweet, and I think it did give us some listeners. If you have any letters that you would like to recommend that the podcast cover, if you have suggestions, feel free to contact us over at contact me at the website. It's Humservt.com. You can see all of our old episodes and old show notes, and there's a pretty easy contact form where you can send anything you'd like. So thank you. If you'd like to support the podcast in that way, or if you want to spend a couple bucks on buying me a coffee, you can do all of that from our website. Once again, thank you so much for listening. I am so grateful to everybody who's tuned in to the podcast, and I look forward to giving you more content. Thank you very much. Bye