Expecting you & Nancy daily for some time past up among us has been the cause of my not writing to you both— last night Mr John Grayham informed me that me dear Nancy was at her fathers, & that you did not come up— we are in great hopes here that Nancy will visit us soon— indeed unless she dos, I am afraid that I shall miss seeing her altogether, as probably I may return home in a short time— your Sister of the farm will lay in about September, before which time I expect to be sent for on the occasion— the coming winter with Gods leave I intend to gratify my most ardent desire in visiting my dear Children of Belvedere, I have often been uneasy lest you & Nancy should think it was owing to a superior degree of affection that I spend more of my time here than with you, this is only what I fear, & I own to those who are unacquainted with the situation of things, appearances are against me—but you both I trust attribute the difference to its true & right cause—which is that your extensive business obliges you to be from home—when perhaps it would best suit me to visit you. Nancys relations living at a distance—also obliges her to chuse a suitable time to visit them, this my dearest Bushrod being a true state of the case, I flatter myself will have its proper effect with you both.

     as I intend to write you a long letter I shall give you an account of our manner of going on here— we are actually growing quite disapated, at least these Parkgate children of mine, will I really beleive make me as much so as my Richmond children did fall, 93, soon after we got here, Mr Lee & Mildred gave Hannah Bushrod an elegant entertainment—since which, they have given her a supper & more dancing— some time ago I was saying that by way of novelty I intend to walk to slaty run & angle for fish, as I understood they might be caught there—on which some of our good neighbours made out a very genteel party & had any quantity of nice angles fix'd, & all things prepare'd at cedar run & gave me a day of exceeding greet amusement, we had a very pretty company— the ladies had each a esquire who bated thier hooks took of the fish &c., I caught 11, & 2 shell fish, I dont assert that they were even related to our crabs— however we had great luck & caught more fish than we could eat—which was cook'd on the bank where we dined under the trees which are very thick & cool— there also was a long plank table covered with every thing good to eat & drink, wines of the very first quality— we were invited by Mr John Fitzhugh & his Lady to repair to thier house where the young people danced till night, & then we return'd home but was much press'd to stay— the company were so much delighted that they determined to take it in turn & every saturday to give a fish feast either at cedar or slaty run, I forgot to tell you that we had a seine haul'd too—the length of which is 20 feet—standing on the shady little bank, drawing up the fish—seeing the wee seine haul'd &c.—appeared to me as a dream after it was over— we are so anxious to see our dear Nancy that we shall write down to beg the pleasure of her company directly & hope she will be at the coming saturdays fishing— I was never better pleas'd with strangers than Mr & Mrs Fitzhugh— they visited me as soon as I got up, & gave me the most friendly & general invitation to visit them, if the face is an [i]ndex to the mind & in the common way I do believe it is, Mr Fitzhugh I am sure, must be one of the best men in the world—& I am told that he really is such, he is your client his lady informed me— how delighted I should be could I see you before I leave this— at all events my dear children cant you take Westmoreland in your way down this fall, pray do if you possibly can— you well know what a vast gratification it will be to a Mother who dearly—very dearly indeed loves you, the messenger waits to take this down to the office, so must conclude before I intended, not but my letter is of a comfortable length— Mr Lee, your Sister, & niece join me in a deal of love to you— God Almighty ever bless you my ever dear child & be assured that I am most sincer'ly your ever Affe & loving mother—