.Mjgy.Mzg4
Friday night
Richmond 27 Feb 1863
I have not written, my beloved wife, since the dear
girls went up, because I awaited a letter from you or
from one of them after their arrival. Your welcome letter
arrived by Wednesday's mail at night. Yesterday morning I
could not leave the office during the morning and it so
happened that I did not get it until near night. Today
again I had not time to write until night, for which
I am sorry because it cannot leave here until
Monday. I begin to write however that I may have
a little talk with you before I go to bed, & will finish the
letter on Sunday. I am greatly comforted to know
that the girls reached you in safety and tolerably com-
-fortably; for Saturday night was a very bad one here
quite early; it began to snow by 9 oclock & snowed all
night. I suppose, as it was snowing next morning. From
your description you did not have so bad weather as
there was here; Sunday was one of the worst days that
I have known for several years; it snowed & hailed
'furiously all day & was moreover exceedingly cold; the
walking ever since has been so dreadful even on the
pavements that I have been to see nobody during the
week. It has now moderated much in temperature
and the walking is improving, but it is still murky &
cloudy & looks like rain. I thought much of you all
during the bad weather knowing the character of the
walking up there, I am greatly pleased that your time is
tendered agreeable by the presence of such kind and interesting
friends. Give my kind regards to those ladies and to Bessy;
also to the Gilmers etc. Tell Mr. Wilmer that I received his
letter along with yours, and that I got the package of papers
today. Present my sincere thanks to him along with my
kind regards and say that I will write to him soon.
I told him in my letter to him that I insisted upon his
agreeing to your purchasing provisions & as I had done &
he agreed to it; so I hope you will let me know when you
want money. Do not let Mr. Johnson forget the book
& to pay for it in Lynchburg, and thank him in my be-
-have for his trouble. Thank Mr. Wilmer also
kindness about little Jim & say to him that I shall have
for the present to trouble him a little farther and for the
present to depend entirely upon his judgment as to per-
-mitting Jim to stay with Jed Fortune or placing him
somewhere else. Mr. W. spoke of taking him home; I should
prefer, if it can be done, that the boy should be with someone
at work; tho' of course I desire that he should not suffer at all.
Tell Mr. W. also, in reply to a question which
some one asked as to whether I would sell Fanny, that I do
not at this time wish to do so; but I should like however
to know whether Mrs Hurley intends to keep her.
M.r Semple came to the office to see me this morning; he
is quite well. He kindly undertook to have the girls'
memorandum (which I gave to him) attended to.
You asked me who is the "old acquaintance" in the
office with me. He is M.r Gilliam from Prince George Co.
one of the numerous friends of that name from the neighbor-
-hood of Petersburg. He is an old gentleman, a member of the
Episcopal church & formerly was one of the congregation of
M.r Denison - also of Minnigerode, both of whom he speaks
of with warm regard. I have almost entirely gotten
free from the troublesome cold which troubles me when the
girls were here; the weather has been against me en-
tirely. I met M.r Marshall, who married Miss Kate
Edloe, in the street today. He desires to be remembered to
you & the girls. He is in the army & is looking very well.
They have a little girl.
I have heard nothing worth mentioning about Williams-
-burg altho' several persons have been here lately from
there & neighborhood. M.r Bowman & other; none of
them however have I seen except young W.m Peachy
who has come away, he says , to go into service. I
heard of his talking rather flippantly about some of
the people at Wmsbg. but he was quite subdued when
I saw him.
It is passed 12 oclock, Good night my
dearest wife.
Sunday 1. March 1.
I have been to church this morning and heard
Minnigerode preach a very good sermon, but I
think that his reading & delivery were rather worse
than usual. It has been raining ever since friday
night until about 10 oclock today : indeed at first
I thought I should not get out to church, but the sun is
at last giving evidence of his existence.
I have not heard form Bob at all since I
came here, altho' I have written twice to him; when
you write after you receive this do tell me if you
have heard from him & whether he says anything sp-
-ecial.
Give my affectionate love to dear
Lelia & page and to Annie and Mary. Tell L & P
that I hope they got on without much trouble on their
rail road travel & tell A & M that I want to see
them sadly. Tell dear Breck that I am rejoice to
hear that he is such a good boy and say to Georgy
that I am delighted to hear that he loves Grandpa
so much & that Grandpa love him just as much;
tell him that I have seen a few little boys sliding down
the street on sleds but they did not get along very
well; not half so well as I imagine Georgy goes went
down the hill at the Rectory. Kiss darling Lucy Page
many times for me & tell her not to forget Grandpa.
M.r Sempletalked of going up soon; if he shall
do so please send my thirty by him.
Now that I am employed I want merely to see you and
all with you. I shall do so as soon as I can.
Farewell my beloved wife. Ever yours RS.
Remember me to the servants.