folder 10: 1844

making great preparations for the reception of Mr Clay and I would be very glad if I could be there. They are building a large brick Episcopalian Church here and is all finished but the inside and I hope that will be done soon. It seems that father is going to settle here for life He has a large new house building and an office and I hope that you will have the pleasure of seeing that finished by commencement You may expect to see half of the College students in Raleigh on the twelfth April as I understand they have chartered nearly all the waggons and horses about here for the purpose of being carried down. You would scarcely know brother if you were to see him, he has grown so much. He is very regular in his College duties and is getting on very well I believe. Button is studying Latin grammar and likes it better than he does the English; he is also reading Latin. I believe I have told you all that will interest you and I will conclude. Mother sends her love to your Mother and says she would be very glad to see her. It is after nine o'clock and I am sleepy so goodnight.

Your sincere friend Kemp Battle

Master Rufus L. Patterson

Raleigh

Nº C

Chapel Hill February 16th 1844

My Dear Husband,

Just one week has passed since you left us, & although it has seemed to me to be as long as two ought to be, I have nevertheless got along pretty well. Monday morning, I hoped & believed that you were safe in Union County, out of the cold & mud.& I felt a change in my spirits & since which time the weather has been so pleasant that I have actually been out visiting. The children have been uncommonly lively, the workmen seem so busy, that I cannot be lonesome in the day & at night the little boys sit up until I compel them to go to bed, & although I anticipated that I should suffer from fear, I am thankful I can say that I have not felt the first symptom of it. I have employed myself part of the time in writing letters. I wrote a long letter to S. Cabanne on Saturday also one to Carey - and another on Monday to Laura. I am still indebted, for yesterday I got two from Warrenton, one from Bro. W. the other from Bro. Kemp. I expect you are a little surprized, I assure you, I was very much so myself--- I was the more pleased too, as his letter very unlike Bros. W's was quite a long one, & tho he did not touch upon the subject that I have been so concerned about, yet it contained assurances of a very great improvement with regard to his health. The Doctor has discontinued the use of Medicine & has substituted Porter, which is not only more agreeable to the palate, but is so to his system- for as Bro W- says he seemed to improve after the first dose. Bro K wrote very much as he talks - in a joking -lively way throughout [?] that he could be made to think as he ought! I shall answer his letter

in a few days & am determined to make another attempt, tho I have very little hope that he will be aroused by any thing I can say. - He has promised if his health continues to improve to go to Raleigh when Clay does - & from there he will come here - Bro W says they are all better - but he suffers more with Dyspnia [Dyspnea] now than he did some time back, which disinclined him for any thing like exertion, he forthwith bobbed off his letter, almost as short as Bob Shorts of the Spectator. - Bro K has lately received a letter from Mr Cabanne in which he says he is making - money as fast or faster by manufacturing as he lost it by merchandising - & speaks of coming out to Carolina perhaps this year. - So much for Warrenton - no that's not all either - I see in the last Register that Danl Turner has offered all his possessions in that neighborhood for sale & he intends to remove to the West. I also see the deaths of two of my friends whom I knew there - Mr George Anderson & Minerva Little (alias Graham)- are no more - tho' this may not be news to you, as you may have seen the paper. ---- I waited with some curiosity (not a great deal) for the papers yesterday morning, expecting to see who was appointed Judge, but was disappointed for it seems there were not a sufficient number of the Council to form a quorum & an express was dispatched for the one who lived nearest & we probably shall not know certainly until next Monday - I am pretty certain however that Judge Nash will be the man - as Mr Green told me that Paul Cameron who was just from Raleigh, says it is said so there. - he also told me that it was expected that Pearson would oppose him before the Legislative, as it is known he is exceedingly anxious to get the appointment & expects it. I cannot say that I was distressed in the least at Mr Green's statement, for under present

circumstances, it might not be best for you. [missing text] I went through mud & mire to hear Dr Mitchell's [sermon] [missing text] discourse on whatever you may call it. His text was [missing text] appropriate It was " For in Jesus Christ, neither circu [missing text] any thing nor uncircumsion, but faith which [missing text] - It was a very good sermon- but I must confess [missing text] what disappointed. It must have been a difficult [missing text] for a Presbyterian,- he was I am glad to say [however] [missing text] [?]itable ---- There was a party at his house last night [missing text] Joel & I were invited, but neither attended - I [missing text] very soon & make my apology --- you never saw any [missing text] than Joel appeared to be, for fear I should make [missing text] idea of it, for I know he was merely asked, that he [missing text] me, as you were absent. -- I can assure you the [missing text] [?]ing rapidly with our buildings - I believe they are now [prepaing to raise?] [missing text] [illegible] house as Mary calls it. Mr Jenkins told me yesterday it was [illegible] raised in a day or two if he could have good weather - your house is at status quo --- I have disagreed with Mr J about the place for the doors to our room, & nursery - he thinks it will not look so well the way I wish them put, but unless they are done so there will be no place for a bed but against a window or a door - he has concluded to follow my plan & one will be in the far corner next to the front door & the other next to the back one - he had marked them off. (I saw on the [?]) to be in the middle of each room - don't you think my plan is best? -- he brought his wife up on Monday.

I have not heard from Raleigh since you left - [Davy?] Moore is now there, & I hope to receive a letter by him - I sent him 50 cts & requested him to get me some garden seed - I have commenced gardening, but it looks like a poor prospect for the turkies & chickens