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affairs and living prospects deprived the public, I mean the state, of his usefulness. Had his home affairs admitted and he been more ambitious, a distinguished character throughout the nation might have been beheld in him. But I sorrow. This is a serious time- one by one our best men are dropping off yielding to the summons of death! Hertford Co is nothing like such a place as it was 12 months ago.
Another death gives my mind a still more sombre hue- sorrow sinks deep in to my soul. This is the demise of a beautiful and finely accomplished young lady Miss Wynns. It is with sorrowful emotion to hear of the death of any acquaintances - but when it is a young lady, interesting and fair, and ummarried too, it is delicately heart rending. I can't express my feelings at present. This lovely angel and the above mentioned able gentleman left the world at [once?] unexpected [to me?] This bereavement of the pleasure of or hope of the pleasure of their society, impresses my mind with more regret than my counte- nance expresses. The times are calculated to [i?] with a sentiment- al and serious turn of mind. In the first place I am unwell, the weather is cloudy, I have just returned from Court where I realized no money - this with my deficient situation and these deaths, render me sorrowful.
Oaklawn, April 1, Ths 1837
Since I last wrote I have been very sick in great pain of fever and now in dread of another Lord keep it off I pray: but to my fate I submit - I must not murmur against Providence. My case might have been worse Lord protect me. Now I commit myself to the bed of repose - Take me to thy care. Uninterrupted and well may I rest. when I shall have risen in the morning (if it be thy will may I feel thankful unto thee) O, thou All Creator and Ruler of the Universe - who leest and and knowest all things [endure?] me with the mind to do thy will_ to obey thy commands to reverence with more interest thy holy book. Pardon I beseech thee my fauls of the past and protect me in future [?] my experience of the past so guide me in regard to [its?] future that my past offences be expirate. Be with me ever I beseech thee - When death receive me unto thy Kingdom where I may be helped forever through the Lord Jesus Christ world with out- end.
April Th. 13th Practice makes perfect. Every new piece of law business I transact or participate in transacting teaches me something I understood not before. Even yes - terday taking depositions gave me some useful infor mation. For many weeks I have done nothing in law reading having attended Courts &c. Last I was quite sick from cold I took at our Supr. Court. This cold had a singular effect on me- a hard real ague and fever quotidian and tertian, and severely sick I was so much so that I feel very thankful that it was no worse that it was not the prevailing epidemic which is deadly even where as almost- every day informs us- in short that I am again in tolerable health I am truly thankful for every spring (a fine April day) inspires me with poetry, with sighing, with sorrow and sympathy. The green foliage and varied] blooms and songs of birds are poetic that these remind me of by gonedays I sigh _ that as they bring to my reflection those who are gone forever, and those grown up and embarked in life business being thus alone and abstracted. I feel sorry I cant-tell [which?] that as my situation is between misfortune and high hope seeing no immediate chance of relief, I sympathise for myself.
Oaklawn April 14th [?] 1837 Having just read the first vol. of Norman Leslie, I take up my pen. I have just left a great city Couty (used?-well) house crowded with an immense multitude attracted there to witness the trial in an extraordinary case- a murder alledged to have been committed under most extrodinary circumstances, by a younf gentleman of the finest accomplishments, and of the first of families in a great city on a most beautiful and queen-like young lady of first standing and like wise of one of the first families. Having read this volume, I say it seems that I too have just witnessed this thrilling trial. I heard some thought the verdict of "not-guil ty" witnessed the effect the annunciation of it had on the vast assemblage joy, confusion, and surprise. In this state I left there - in the court-room. And now sitting by my writing table I can note or comment as choose. What was peculiarly interesting to me was the the testimony ans counsel- whether it was alike any thing I had been familiar with Whether the manage- ment of extracting testimony was in strict accordance of law and rules of court- as I had learned from study of books and practice and attendance in the courts. All I discovered was strictly to the letter. The latitude, reluctance and credulity of witnesses, the acuteness, shrewd- ness, keen and sarcastic sparring of counsel relative to the [?] and relevancey of evidence and the dutiful and stern interference of the court all were as I had understood ought to be. This portion of the book though a lightsome novel, was in the [line?] of my profession and dutiful dayley study. It was putting on paper what I have so often seen illustrated in the courts. One word respecting the reporter of this case :- his partiality for one side was apparent throughout and as he wished, and I must say as I wished, his side triump- hed. His partiality though may it be the privilage of the novelist who selects his own in [e?] his own characters to please his readers.
Oaklawn. April 14th, 1837. My Dear [Mils?], will you have the patience to read a friendly [apostle?]. [Is?] friendship coming from [even?] a [mere?] [?] [gu?] to the rejected as [inpertined?] gratuly [?] please you, a frauk around of laudable of [however?] ble matures. Please dear [Mils?], [?] [yours?] surprise at this unexpected letter. [?] it from [our?] no far to you not yours- [from?] [?] with whom if you [remember?], you have had [?] slight [acquaintence?]. [of?] [three?] your little [k?]- eage of the character of the [writer?] may not [undeserve?] your notice, why it will be [anything?] [a?] to [?] [book?] author anf letters for what very [?] notices of the authors as [unexceptable?]- if per mis [forture?] the letter be ill [f?] or out of task. In the latter [event?] which I dare hope [ma?]- please let a favorable [courtheader?] [supply?] defeci ency. But I thee with [preliminary?]. The [h?] [?] however [fortfied?] by [hlalosaphy?] [(and in your?] case is yet [r?] to the [focus?] of [however?] nature [particular?] emergencies require fortitude [?] [?] [paths?] or [imagination?] never or [?]- suggest. Lan guage of [audience?] [?] from [unallayied?] friendship and sincerity, under [lude?] [?] [Fauces?] which may [?] [?] you have another [?] [?], had no ill effect- have [been?] not wholly [?] of [?]- fluence to the [?] or troubled mind. A small insight in human nature [authorises?] me to say that [sutable?] and [friendly?] litters of condolence and sympathy from a friend to those in [?] [trouble?] an account- now serve calamity of family, carry a healing [?] tend to brighten hope, dis[?] gloom, despite melancholy and leave more happy [?]: in fine [medispose?] the need to submit with that philosophy compatible with religion and [good?] [?] believed to [actuate?] your [dear?] lady, [which?] allow great and heavy calamities as in [?] to life and that it were [?] to [?] or grieve [Ruder?] a [?] dear [mils?] that sorrow [?] has [taken?] abode of late in your [bosom?] [?] from certain [earths?] lately in this [country?], these [thoughts?] are offered. - you cannot mistake my [?] to those [?] with you by the [?] of [?]. and whose [?] are not only
a [?] to you and their other kindred friends but a calamity to the County of Hertford long to be remembered. Another generation must supply their vaccum their void is as the stillness of death [?] to be hold! These remarks I indulge [because?] too sorrow and heg leave to share with you a sympathy so com- mon here. This participation of sympathy is natural and tender humane nature, you are not unkind enough to blame. But it is useless to indulge thus [emmotionally?]. Though it is true as said by Augustus that we grieve for the very reason that our grief will not bring the dead back. Yet the dead no matter how conspicuous, how distinguished, how celebrated while on earth, are soon forgotten. No one scarcely speaks of them. This the common lot of morals. A few only receive immortality- and that immortality lasts only to the end of time - when the [?] [?] at the sound of the judgement [trump.?] will be as great a personage as the greatest King or other [potential?] - What avail- est immortality to the dead is not the beggar as will [?] in eternity as the great lord, whose fame although is sung with pomp for an earth. Death then is an universal good- it levels all ranks without his scythe the earth could not be peopled with moderate bounds so as good government could be preserved. One generation cometh and another passeth away until this earth is replenished with succeeding [?] So, though we esteem the fall of our friends a severe misfortune to us, as indeed it may as seems to us, we should, I think you will agree with me, rest with the consoling reflection that this final [?] of our dear friends is no partial evil to us but univ- ersal good- That it is in conformity with the laws of nature without which our globe would instan- tly fall - That it is the will of our Creator our God: what god hath decreed let no man consider his exclu- sive misfortune. He creates and he destroys - let us give thanks that we are as well as we are, and look to him for blessings. He often metes out blessings where we hitherto saw nothing but misfortune. Will you please accept of this as a friendship offering. Ever yours,
Farewell, W.D.V.