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Lexington Aug 10th 1832

My dear son
Your long looked for and anxiously
expected letter arrived last Saturday. I was half frantic
to hear from you, because, when I last heard from you,
you spoke of going to Philadelphia where that most
horrible disease are prevaleing. You state in your letter
that you have declined the idea of leaving Washington
for some time, yet this is far from inparting comfort
to me, under existing circumstances. You say the
Colera are expected in your City daily, and letters
has arrived in this place, dated two days later than yours,
that say the Colera is certainly in Washington. Notwith-
standing [notwithstanding] all this, I know not how to advise you, as
it respects leaving there. But my poor heart says,
I wish you was here. I have no inducement to
lay before you to quit your present residence,
as it relates to business. But if the Colera should
prove fatal in your place, do for God's sake and for
my sake fly, fly, from there. Yes I will embrace
you and poverty, and be happy, it is nothing in the
balance, when compared to loose you forever! You have
no idea how I suffer in mind, my pen cannot do
justice to my feelings. I know you think and
feel different on this subject, but Theodore, you
must be convinced this plague does exist; and that
caution should be used. Do every thing in your