Herculaneum November 29.th 1828—
I received a few days since Mr Dear Brothers, letter of Sepr 28,
which gave me the most sincear pleasure, as I have not had any letter
from eather of you since M.r J. Austin was up; I was very much
disapointed in not seeing him as I had a great many inquires to
make, respectting you and my Sister I have not words to express
to you the pleasure, that I felt when I heard that you were Married;
I have no doubt but what you will enjoy life much more than you
ever did; you now have some inducement to exert yourself to acquire
an independence, which I have no doubt you will do, If it only
pleases the Almighty to spare your lives;—
I am on a Visit to this place, and shall see all your numerous
Cousins; Adeline Lewis, is living with her Father; and the Sisters
of her deceas'd Husband are living with her, one of the Young
Laydes, is to be Married to Morrow night, which is the reason of my
being hear, I expect to see the most of our relations that live in this
County—their is very little alteration with them, since you left here
excepting in Deaths, the Town of Herculaneum is all going to
Naught; I do not know when I shall visit it again, for when I look
at our old habitation it brings to mind Friends and seans that have
long gone by, it casts such a gloom on my feelings, that it is with
difficulty that I can appear chearfull, in the Midst of our Friends,
Mary Honey has four Children one Daughter, Maria W. three,
Adeline one, Old Aggy call to see me today, she looks very like old times,
she inquired very particularly after you, and Master Stephen, and
express'd a great wish to see you boath, poor old Jack is number'd
with the Dead—&c.
Tell Stephen that M.r Woodson had his house burnt to the Ground,
when he was Clerk of the Court, and that all the Papers relating to
the Butler business where burnt, not one to be found, so he may give
himself no uneasiness on that business; Judge Carr intends writing
to him very fully respecting the business—
I shall look for you and Sister Next Spring, you must not wait
to make a fortune, for if you do, I shall think that you do not want
to see me; but wish only to make a show and parade, for James, I
know that you inherit all our Dear Fathers Pride, and ambition, I
once possess'd my share of it, but misfortune and trouble has
compleatly humbled me; I want you to come and see how happy I live
with my Dear good Man, and to see what a handsome Family of
Children, I have, it is very old fashion for one to write about ones
Husband and Children, I trust I may always be so far out of Fashion
as to praise merit where it is deserving, you could visit Missouri, and
return in 6 weeks, Sister would only have to stop at New Orleans-
procure a Fashionable Bonnet and two or three Fashionable Dresses,
and she would Eclips us all Fashionables at Potosi; but indeed My
Dear Brother you must visit us in the Spring; we shall know by that
time wheather there can be any thing recover'd in Jersey, the last
accounts were very flattering—
I send you by Mrs Lockhart a box of Roots and more gardin seed;
I hope long ere this the box of seed that I send in October has yet
arrived safe, I wrote to Sister and inclosed the letter, and a little bundle
in the Box; I must bid you Adieu for the house is full of Girls and
they keep such a fuss and chattering around me that I hardly know
what I am doing—tell Stephen that I have a most amiable and
beautifull Girl picked out for him the Daughter of an old Friend and
favourit of his—she very much resembles a Laydy that he once was
very partial too-—
Present my most affectionate love to Sister, and Brother, you must
all of you write to me often, and believe me always your truly
attached Sister
E, M, Perry
[Address:] James E. B, Austin Esqr. St Filippi de Austin—
Provence of Texas