Letter to Thomas T. Sloan from Bridget Sloan, August 17, 1846

Lexington Aug. 17th 1846 My dear son It is four days since I received your packet of June, (no date) To describe my great anxiety all the time previos to me geting yours I will not describe. It is all over now, I am all gratitude to Him who holds your destiny in his hands, and has vouchsafe to spare your life through sickness and the dangers of that deep ocean. I pray her bosom may heave gently, the winds on the cost you sail be hushed and the atmosphere pure and healthy. Almighty God has been kind to you Theodore--all He askes in return is your heart. Mary has this moment handed me a letter from my friend Reynolds-Well I have read it. It was writen on the eight of Aug. He speaks of geting a letter from you dated June 26th From Porto Praya. I presume it was sent in the packet that mine was. He gives me no news only remarks that all are much as when I left there. He is a true friend of yours almost every line breathed the purest disinterested friendship for you My admiration of and gratitude to him is beyond expression--my happiness cannot be compleet in this life if it should never be in my power to bestow some favour equal to his many to you. He speaks the highest terms of the professional qulification, of your sergent, as well as his high sence of honor and gentlemanly deportment. This is very agreeable to me to hear that you are in skillful hands if you should be sick. I shall write to Reynolds, be the same mail I send this. 18th Elizabeth started to Harrodsburg this morning to spend a week with Mrs Brinnan, she has taken Mary, Paulina, and Liz, with her. She travels in her own carriage and Bugy. Mr Ingram and two of the children rode in the latter, and Elizabeth Mary and Hester the servent and driver in the former. Robert will go over on Friday for them . Mrs Ingram has been with us all summer and her two children. She has given birth to a very fine boy since she has been with us and has named him Robert, for your brother. When Mr Ingram return he is going on to the East for good. He will settle in Versails or Louisville-Doct. Stocdon and wife has paid us a visit and returned home, Ann is not in good health. She fever and ague. Horable--

I wish you could of taken a peepe at us when your letter came, your brother handed it to one of the children to give it to me, it was Theodora. She came running to my room holding it up her eyes sparkling with delight, saying grand mama a letter from uncle Dore. Dear child--she knew what pleasure it would give me. Well, I was so much so I could not read the letter. Bob, Elizabeth and all the children came to my room. Bob seated himself in one of my arm chair, and read the letter out, the four children stood around their father to ketch every word. E. in front of him and I on his right hand with my hands clasped in thanksgiving. Your letters from Boston gave me thy deepest consern for your health, your brother was quite unhappy about you. How is it that you have such dangerous pills of fear you abuse you constitution, is it not so? if so, do, do, my beloved son cange your habbits, do, for the sake of your reputation amongst your fellow officers, for the sake of those that dearly love you, and for the peace and happiness of your own soul here and here after-you will not let me plead invain, no I hope you will not. I know you are not happy, why will you be so? you have much in your power to be otherwise. Live a life that your own heart tells you is right and by the grace of God you will do well. I wish circumstances was such that you could be home a while to see how calmly we get along Elizabeth is now a full member of the Cathlic Church she received her first Communion on last sunday. Her children is well instructed in their religion. I wish you could see these dear ones prostrated every morning and night in prayer, they conclude by offering up one "Our Father" and one "Hail Mary" for your safe return home. They will look at the moon and say, uncle Dore can see that as well as us. They have grown very much particular Liz. Theododra is small of her age. She is beautiful and smart, no joke. She thretend her mother the other day that she would make her papa sell her--Magret asked her what she would do then for a mama, O, I have got a grand mama, well your grand mama is old and will not live long. When she dies says Dora I will get papa to get mama back. Little Anna is a very fine child, excediently sprightly and handsom with one exception. Her mouth has improved much I expect it will be operated on before you see it. We have an abundance of fruit this summer. Our garden and grounds are some neglected as the gardener Bob has this year is no great thing. Next Christmas

we will do better. I can give you but little news as our City is very dull at this time. The fashionable are at the different wattering places and the weather extreamly hot, all is quiet since the election of{ Lerley Comes?} is a legislator this year. He has not forgiven his daughter yet. Warner and her has gon to Missouri to live. La Fayette Shelby has had his tryal but the jury could not agree, therefore the case was posponed. He was bailed untill next Court. His father is his security. All the circumstance has caused much excitement here and in all the ajoining counties. The judge (Buckner) and jury are sensured very much. Robert sayes a jury cannot be got to sit on the case. some think Buckner will resign. The judge and eight of the jury which was in favour of clearing Shelby was hung in efige in the Court house yard one the morning if any person had attempted to take them down there would have been blood shed. The next monday they were hung up in Nicolasville but no excitement. Mary Hannah and Gilson Harrison her brother has been to see us racently. Harrison ---- know lives in New Orleans he came up to see his relations. He is very little ----he had his son ten years old with him. Mary and Gilson both inquired after you affectionately and sent their love to you. Magaretta and her children is spending several weekes at the old mans in Clark county. Christy spent the day with us on sunday. He will go for Mag. on next saturday.

I think is strang if you did not get all my letters and your brothers are before you left Boston. I would gratify me to hear you did. Old Bany is still living. He is just like a spoilt child nothing on the place dare hunt him. Elizabeth wrote a post cript in one of my letters. God bless you-- BS.

Lieut. Thomas Theodore Sloan U. S. Marine Corps Porto Praya Cape de Verde Islands