[Recto]

1809
New Market February 1

My best of Brother's will think me unpardonable in having
so long neglected to answer his very affectionate letter, but knowing
him to be a person of such liberality and one that would make all allowances
for things not happening just at the time he might wish;
my silence I knew would not be attributed to a want of affection and
you above all people I would not with it to appear as coming -
under the head of a slight; the fond solicitude you express in a
letter to Brother and also one to myself for a renovation of my
health, has if possible raised you many degrees higher in my esteem
ever since I receive your letter I have been meditating how or in what
manner I should write that would be most agreeable, and with truth
you will say, to a very poor purpose for me to have had two months
for reflextion and at last to express myself in the commonest
terms, my phraseology you know and so must I [illegible] be very
inferior to yours, but let my Dear Brother be ever so confident of his superiority
he will never neglect me or read my letters with indiference ; you wish
for Louisa's and my society how do I join you in your good wishes for
I am persuaded if we could have visited Richmond this winter we
should have made great progress in the different branches of
Education which we have acquired as yet but a superficial
knowledge of; we live as usual very retired from having [illegible] of
[illegible] out and indeed pedaneous excursions will not [illegible]
[illegible] constitutions, we may hope by next winter for an
enfranchisement from [illegible] our confinement, but long before that time arrives
our dear Brother will surely pay us a visit to borrow your expression
I long with childish impatience to see you and have been
according to promise expecting you every snowy day to surprise
us M^r. Rootes left a fortnight ago on his way to Gloster he
intends coming throught Richmond, at which place he will
remain for a week perhaps, and send his horses home as he told
us, that will be a find opportunity for your coming up
and one two without incurring any expence, you will laugh
at this and say I continue to be of a saveing knowledge but these Embargo
times in particular money we all know is hard to be gotten
in the mean time while you remain where you are
write to me frequently for next to seeing you is the pleasure
of seeing your hand writing; and also remind us more

[Verso]

some frequently of your infantile expressions, in your letter to Brother
you mention seeing your [illegible] in the [illegible] yet is served us for one
evenings conversation, every thing you have ever saw or done
has been thought of so much consequence as to be remembered
by some one of the falimily, I must really compliment
on the progress you have made since you left home
I perceive by every letter you have written rappidly how you
[illegible] you improve and it is with the greatest pleasure
immaginable I tel you as I have another letter to write
I must bid my dear Broter adieu with a
sincear hope for his happiness in this and in
the World to come is the wish of his ever
loving sister LEJ Baylor sister [illegible]
LHB and Aunt Betsy will write by this
opportunity