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you can help me without distressing the dear invalid. Some time when you & she are conversing without reserve, I think you might very tenderly direct your conversation to this point without causing any distressed feeling so that she would give you her authority. As far as she is concerned the matter will there end as I will then question that person ^ ie her informant & so on until I find some one who shall be either unwilling or unable to remove the burden from their own shoulders, in which case the matter will pass out of my hands.
Some one must have begun this slander, & I certainly do not intend to rest until I find who it may be, but I never for one moment supposed your daughter did else than tell as it was told to her, but you know it is this passing from lip to lip – often innocent & pure lips – that mars the happiness of thousands.
One word of defense for the lady who told me, & who did so only because she felt it a duty; she is my friend, & because of that could no more keep silent than if she saw my house on fire and myself in ignorance of it.
These things are very distressing especially amongst members of the same Church but I have not sought it, & I believe it one of those cases where forbearance ceases to be a virtue.
But through all I wish your dear child spared in every way & therefore leave it in your hands. I can do no more.
yours respectfully Louisa Medway
Norfolk Sept 24 1859
P. C. Cameron Esq Hillsboro N Ca
Dr Sir – Your Grain (20 [lbs?]) & also the ½ ton for Mr Piper have all been placed in the depot we have the promise to expedite it soon as possible with the boxe in some chance by perseverance in getting it along at once our Rail Road here we must say show [?] than ordinary accommodation & a spirit to push matters ahead for they for some time have worked all night & day & have succeeded in sending on an immense quantity of freight – we will forward the bill soon as [gone?]
We have made farther inquiries for Lime & can deliver at once – he offers to deliver it at the depot – @ 9 ½ [illegible] we have to furnish the empty [illegible] & all labor filling [cooperage?] working &c [illegible] will hold [illegible] 16 to 20 [Bins?] the [illegible] labor & cooperage will be about $1.50 [illegible] & hardly less as we will have to collect them together which is attended with some expense & labor
the piece 7 ½ [?] is at the kilns up the River & it is boated some distance the main demand for this lime goes by water conveyance & the kilns are not allowed in town – we are thus particular in giving you a full account of cost &c
Flour remains very quiet but with rather [illegible] the at some concession sale for shipment have been made at $5 ¼ super $6.00 extra we have had heavy rains here for some days past
Yours truly Rowland & Bros
Some time since Mr Piper sent us as case shoes we forwarded it as marked to [Rives?] Battle & Co mobile to be sent to your plantation there we [illegible] you have given R Boles the proper directions for its care
Wilmington Sept 26th 1859.
My Dear Friend,
Your last has reached me and since its reception, the letter to Mrs Medway which accompanied it has been placed in her hands. I have heard nothing from her since its delivery but if I should hereafter learn any thing about the matter which constituted the subject of her communication to your daughter, you shall certainly hear from me, I am glad that you concluded to address her and think it was due to her to notice her letter in some way, your response was just such as it should have been — straightforward and explanatory — and I trust it will tend to soothe any exasperated feeling on her part.
It is certainly unnecessary for me to say that I shall always be happy to see you at my house in Wilmington, but I shall be absent this week at Duplin Court. Next week and the one following that, I shall be at home and if you can find it convenient to come during that time or any other when I am here, I shall be greatly gratified to meet you. I am not yet in the "new mansion" but every thing is under whip & spur thereabouts, just now, and finished or unfinished, I shall be in