Ten days ago we ventured to carry my dearest Mildred to Bushfield, where she recovered so fast that Mr Lee & herself being anxious to return to Parkgate came here on their way last nigh though contrary to my opinion, her cough which is very troublesome yet is a most serious affair, Col Washington was (I hoped) recovering very quickly when I wrote you by Mr Butler— has since relapsed & was expected to die, which determined me to come up with Mr Lee & your sister to stay a few days with him & assist the girls in nursing their father, our Parkgate friends set off up this morning— if you recollect Mildred has had a small red spot near the left side of her nose for some time, I think it is five years or thereabouts. for the last eighteen months it has been at times painful by darting with a kind of smarting–­­ since she left you, there appears five smaller spots around the other— Mr Lees anxiety leads him to apprehend great danger of a cancer, indeed my unhappiness is extremely great on her present state of health, they intend to Alexandria immediately to get Doctor Craik's opinion, and if he supposes it to be a cancer they set off in 3 weeks to Philadelphia to Doctor Boyd— in which case I have given my promise to go with them— your Brother Corbin is exceedingly miserable about his sister, so much so, that his wife told me he has shed many tears— he entreated me go with her to Phila— indeed as greatly as I dread the trip I will certainly go with Gods leave, I was rather undetermined when Mr Lee & herself first pressed to go with them— but momentary recollection convinced me that my situation would be a miserable one was I to suffer her to go with a female friend who would act by my dear Child as her mother would— my mind is at this time greatly harassed.

     I find my extreme attachment of such an nature to Bushfield that I cannot sell it & enjoy even common piece of mind, I am very certain was it to be done I never could know happiness afterwards & if it is to go even after my death, I would not be acquainted with it on any consideration— let me now my dearest Bushrod tell you that after I had agreed to have it sold when at Belvidere, that I was most wretched, & as much relieved when Mr Mannds letter came to you. The dangerous state of my dear daughters health prevented me fully writing to you on the subject before as I knew you would not do any thing in it without first acquainting me— believe me my dear-dear Child that no creature on earth who dos not possess an equal degree of sensability can know my feelings when I got home & looked around me. oh Heavens thought I, is it possible that I can ever sell the bones of my dear husband & children & other dear connexions—those too of my ancestors by whom I got so valuable & sweet an home oh no it is impossible. I communicated my mind to Corbin & mention'd renting the land from year to yar. keeping the houses gardens & a small piece of ground for a pasture. as I intend'd spending the best part of every summer there—he advised me to keep the whole & continue Mr Butler as overseer. who could send me my meat Butter & any other necessary I <mutilated>ted—where as was the place to be let, the houses &c would be greatly injured. this plan I am sure must be the best. I shall just have the Dumfries house stoped from leaking. otherwise it must ruin my furniture & hurt my health, & when I can afford it should I live, will mend the plastering & painting as I have rather more furniture than will be necessary to carry up. I will leave it at Bushfiled for my use when there. I have never yet fix'd on any plan since moving has been in agitation so much to my satisfaction as the present. I can spare som cattle & sheep which I intent to have drove up to Dumfires or Alexandria in the fall & sell to the butchers which with what wheat & brandy I may make will I hope pay Mr Bowerbank. Mr Lees can be paid afterwards, and, I intend yearly to pay the interest & by frugality I shall hope to be clear of debt in time. so desirous was I to hear from yourself & my dear Nancy, that I send Jerry up to this place for your letters being suire you had writtn to me. also for the oranges. Col Washingotn at that time was dangerously ill, the girls sent the oranges, but not the letters, yesterday they sent those for me down which went over the lower ferry, we cross'd the upper ferry so <mutilated>ave not yet had the happiness of recovering them.

     Nancy's to Mildred was detained here, which she prused with high delight. I need not tell my dear children of Belvidere how very happy it will ever make me to receive thei<r> welcome letters. if I can do any business for either of you in Norf<olk> where we shall first go in order to get a proper vessel of Philadelphia it will give me great pleasure. give my most Affe love to my dear Nancy, & that you may both enjoy Heavens choicest blessing fervently prays my ever dearest Bushrod. Your sincerely Afft. & lovg parent