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Scope and Contents She is very lonely since her husband, Henry [Henry L. Jones] has left.

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Scope and Contents If Elizabeth's father and she are both well, she hopes she will come over with Robert.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Many have remarked on Mary's wedding and seem to agree with the "modern writer who says 'Perfect love and confidence can exist only before marriage... Different feelings and separate objects of interest inevitably spring up... The love may still remain but the confidence... is gone." Dr. John Galt Williamson, who she describes as "the blissful candidate for matrimony", goes to Richmond tomorrow, and will be married next Thursday. Elizabeth is not well enough to go to the...

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Scope and Contents Much of news is repetition of that in the letter of January 8. Left Sally and Mary at home when they came to Louisville. Mr. Southall has been visiting them.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents [Enclosed with above] Expects a detailed account of John Williamson's wedding. Sends a "box of trifles" including a belt she wore once, and paw-paw seeds for Alexander. Cousin Norborne took greater interest in George Southall than ever in anyone else. Has long had an attachment to Mr. Anderson, and he to her, but she had to promise her father not to marry Mr. Anderson without his consent, which will never be given. Feels a visit to Williamsburg would "awaken regret for the...

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Miss Tyler requests Miss Sally Galt's company Wednesday at 8 p.m. Autograph Letter [Note: Miss Tyler is probably Letitia Tyler (1821-1907), a daughter of John and Letitia Christian Tyler. She married before 1841. The letter is dated Monday, February 8th, the perpetual calendar shows the only possibly years as 1836 and 1841. Therefore, 1836 is the likely year.]

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Scope and Contents He has written Anthony Robinson of Richmond to purchase nineteen shares of Bank stock for A.D. Galt, if it can be had at a fair price ($114 or $115). Will forward stock when arrives. Shares will pay dividend of at least $152 yearly. They expect Polly in May. [Note: Thomas Williamson (1777-1846) was Mary D. Galt's brother-in-law, and the cashier of the Virginia Bank of Norfolk. Polly was a pet name for Mary D. Galt (Mrs. Alexander Dickie Galt).].

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Scope and Contents She wonders if Mary Tyler Jones ever forgets that she is married. She is reading McIntosh's history of England, which she finds inferior to Hume's. She is also reading Racine's plays. She has not been sleighing for have had no snow deep enough, but wonders if Elizabeth has been sleighing. [Most of the third page missing].

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents She has not heard from Hal in several weeks. She is envious of "Cousin George," who she identifies as Doctor George William Semple with his Baroche. She wonders if the Galts have visited George and his bride. [Note: George Semple was not a blood relative of Mary Tyler but could be considered "kin" under its broad Virginia definition. He was the son of Judge James Semple, Law Professor at William and Mary, and his second wife, Joanna McKenzie. Semple's first wife was Anne...

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Scope and Contents She remembers the many happy times at this, her childhood home. She arrived there after John Jones died. Henry sends "not his respects but his love, real old fashioned love to all of you, Alexander particularly."

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A.D. Galt promissory note for $124.36 due Henry Edloe on demand.

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Scope and Contents She accuses Elizabeth of duplicity, and of attempting to get Uncle Strobia to assist in a scheme against George. Both she and Aunt Sally hope to visit Williamsburg soon. She advised Robert to stick to his books when she saw him. She is glad Mary Tyler Jones is with Elizabeth. Wonders if cousin John finds Mrs. Southall as charming as ever.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents [In form of speeches from various Brownes to Dr. Williamson.] Are mourning the death of their pastor. John [M.G. Browne] and Laura Booth will probably be married soon. "Laura is a second edition of your wife." John is a Colonel on his way to Texas but will first be in Virginia to get recruits. Hopes George Southall will settle in Kentucky. Teases John that he should have married her. News of friends and relatives. [Note: John Browne (1816-1899), Mary Browne's only brother,...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents She has been suffering from a sore throat and influenza. Cousin George Semple has left with his wife, but before he left he gave Elizabeth a perpetual rose bush which "Cousin M.B." had given him. Mr. Empie is leaving in July to become Rector of the Episcopal School in Raleigh, North Carolina. News of friends and relatives. John received letters from Gabe Williamson and Charlie R., who are both sick at Pensacola. "That mess of Navy Commissioners having sent the Warren out...

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Scope and Contents She is very unwell, but did go to a party at Mrs. Taylor's the day before. Henry is also unwell. Mother [Letitia Christian Tyler] is better. "If you don't come over here, folks will begin to think there is some truth in that report concerning yourself and Bob..."

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents She informs her of the birth yesterday of a new daughter, to be named Sally, to General and Mrs. Lambert. Describes her sister Eliza's visit to see Afong Moy, "The Chinese Lady," who was the first known female Chinese immigrant to the U.S. and was part of a touring exhibition, and comments on the practice of foot-binding. Discusses her reading. They are going to see a balloon ascension on Thursday. [Note: A note to Mary D. Galt requests her to spare Elizabeth to them a few...

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Scope and Contents Henry must leave tomorrow for "he cannot remain longer from his farm." Postscript notes that bad weather has held up Henry's departure and sending of this letter for a week.

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Scope and Contents Have had enough rain "to make an Englishman cut his throat." Uncle Strobia said he would take Cary to Williamsburg any time, but Papa is in Washington and her uncle, Robert McMurdo, has just returned from New Orleans and is very sick with consumption. Tells Elizabeth to tell Mary "that she would scarcely know Aunt Virginia, she is so much altered, a complete wreck of what she was." Hears that May Tyler Jones is very pale and thin.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Very glad Uncle [Dr. A.D. Galt]'s health is better. There were fifteen or sixteen ministers at the Convention, but not all were from Kentucky. Mr. Bower may settle in Louisville since "Aunt Mary is tired of living away from her relations." Mary Ann Randolph lives in Philadelphia with the Bowers and goes to school with their only daughter, Virginia. Sends love to many friends and relatives. John Browne enjoys living in the country, makes bad bargains for horses, and falls...

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Scope and Contents She feels "as if there was something wanting to complete my happiness." She regrets that Miss Lambert did not appreciate Bob as she does. Henry is busy cutting wheat.

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Scope and Contents Gabriel Williamson's family left Sunday. He asks Uncle John H. Strobia to use $6.00 of the money from Henderson for Alexander's subscription to the Albion. Mrs. Galt wants a dozen napkins and four pairs of black cotton stockings, but no cotton for the servants. Sally says her lessons. He gets John up early to ride. Is reading Quentin Durward and intends resuming the study of medicine next week. Plans to start reading Riccardo on Political Economy.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents She went to Richmond with Dr. John Williamson and his wife. Robert has left for home after visiting Richmond, and sent five fashionable songs by Samuel Lover on the superstitions of Ireland. "Brother has for his present hobby a Cold..." Have been several cases of cholera in Richmond but no alarm. Robert was charmed by his cousin Edmonia. Postscript by Mrs. Mary D. Galt. She let Elizabeth go to Richmond because Dr. Galt thought it would be good for Elizabeth's health....

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents John thinks she learns more from his teaching than from Elizabeth's. Is reading The Vicar of Wakefield, and John is reading Rollin's history. Sends messages to various relatives. [Note: This and the preceeding are on the same sheet of paper. There is also a postscript from Mary D. Galt, mentioning that Col. Bassett "has made up a subscription on more than $1000 towards getting a minister." Another handwriting (John M. Galt's?) says that Elizabeth's last letter showed the...

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Scope and Contents Answers her sister's letter "to show how highly I value your slightest efforts to improve, and to encourage you to persevere." It is Elizabeth's first attempt at writing without lines.

Scope and Contents From the Collection: Professional and personal papers; 1745-1892; of the Galt family of Williamsburg, Virginia. Papers primarily concern the Galt family's work at the Eastern State Hospital, including apothecary shop daybooks, account books, medical daybooks, clinical notebooks, weather diaries, commonplace books, reports, medical notes, lecture notes, correspondence, and other. The personal papers consist of diaries, letters, scrapbooks, school notes, financial papers, memoirs, and other material....