.NDEw.NTY3

Williamsburg Dec. 23d – 1867 –

My Dear Lizzy A short time ago I wrote to you, & sent the letter under cover to Mrs Hoge – as I was not certain of your Post office. I directed 2 letters to you at Farmville. From the Post mark on your last letter I infer that Farmville is Mr Scott’s office & therefore till I hear to the contrary will direct to his care there. I was able to send your sidesaddle the day after I got your letter to Richmond in the care of Wm Tompkins – with the request that he would forward it by Express to Farmville as soon as a few trifling repairs could be finished such as girth &c. It did not seem to require much. I did not like the shape of the stirrup much, & you had better exchange it if it does not [page 2] suit. The saddle left here is in some respects a better one but it seems to me as if it was rather too small to be pleasant to ride on. I hope you will soon get that sent, & that you may find it a source of amusement & of health. The weather here was intensely cold for a few days & threatened to close rivers &c in – In fact for a day or so, the James River was not navigable -- There is nothing new here I have seen but few of the girls, & have had no conversation with any except a few words with Page, Saunders, so far as I know there is a considerable calm among all your immediate friends in consequence of the reaction so apt to follow an unusual excitement. It would have been rather [page 3] disagreeable to have been kept in Richmond several days by the weather, & rather a serious imposition on Dr Hoge. Mrs Hoge & Mary have both written to me very kindly. I have not heard from Wm Reynolds [ ? ] of them ^ (written above the line: him & Sophia) except to learn that they succeeded in starting from Richmond the day you did. Their journey must have been disagreeable enough – Pauline is getting on so so, is more attentive than usual, & no less talkative Dixie seems to be very well disposed, & quiet except a fondness for talking, and takes very good care of your canary bird. Old John has been sick but was efficiently doctored by Pauline, & is not a great deal better. I enclose some wick. You will double it till it fits your lamp not too tightly; experiment till you get the [page 4] best size. It ought ^ (written above the line: not) to be loose enough to admit its slipping in the lamp from the aperture, and no so tight as to prevent its being moved in the holder at pleasure. Give my respects to Mrs Scott & tell her I wish I could pay a visit [ ? ] to her but I cannot just now. Also to Mrs Scott Sen, & Remember me kindly to the “General” & tell him it will require time & patience to manage any one who has for so long had the management of herself -- & has had her own way as you have – Remember me to any of my old Prince Edward friends you may meet, Mr F. N. Watkins especially. Yours affectionately Benj S. Ewell – p.s. It will be dangerous in the extreme for you to be riding about without a sufficient escort. Mrs & S. E. Scott