Knowing the satisfaction you have in reading my poor & now unentertaining letters, I write often to you whither you receive them or not I cant tell as the post seems to be an uncertain mode of conveyance— my poor dear Hannah is yet very weak & sick, though rather better than when you left this— poor Col. H<2m>n is again extremely ill with that cruel gout he is confined quite in his bed & in an agony of pain, I can hear him, though it has not been in my power to leave my room for the last Eleven days, having been ill myself— last sunday was a week I was taken with a high fever & exceeding great inflamation <&> sweeting down the glands on both sides my neck, head, ears & face with so violent a soreness & pain that I could scarcly bear to be touched— Doctor Lendrum who attended me, said it was the st anthonys fire, intir'ly occasioned from fatigue, want of rest, & taken cold— this indeed is very probable, as I have known little rest since you left me—having medicine to give my Child througout the night & the same, with other things to prepare for her in the day— After I was taken down, harry Washington was sent for & is most attentive to us— yesterday the last of the inflamation left me, & I dont beleive it will sore on any part of me—but I am directed to take great care of myself which I shall try to do— Tomorrow the Doctor is to come here to bleed Hannah & with his leave I shall muffle myself up have the out doors shut & just step down to see Col. Washington— do <not my> dear Ch<ild> <give your>self the smallest n<illegible>ings on my <illegible>stant for <illegible>hal<illegible>a my god w<illegible>ng a diet <down> & living by strict rules which Doctor Lendrum assures me will soon make me quite heart<y>—for many—many sad months past my dear Bushrod I have known little else beside being a mournful inhabitant of a sick chamber, however, if I can still be useful to those I love, or even to others it is I suppose answering the End for which I was sent into this world of woe.

     on considering the corn business over since you left this, I find that there will not be more than 35 barls to spare, which quantity Mr Butler has my orders to deliver to Mr Richardson, the other 15 barls he will get from Steel as he told your Brother when down that he would sell for 28 shils. it will also be very convenient to your plantation— the fodder Corbin bought of his tennent at the wood yard for you, which your overseer has got I hear— jerry came up here today to carry down a horse which your farmer had bought of Billy Rice— every service which I can render you my dear will be a heart felt satisfaction to myself, & shall desire him to call on me when ever occasion requires it— Jerry came here with Mr Richardson soon after he got to Walnut farm— being in want of some necessarys toward housekeeping till he got his own, I was then too ill to be seen but got Col. W<2m>n to write to Mr Butler to lend out of the house such thinks as were not locked up— likewise to send them what they might want from the garden—hill—&c. it is unlucky my <illegible>g as <illegible> however <illegible> forbid also the price of my <illegible>e Corn & the time of pay<ment> which you mentioned in your l<ett>er to me, I hope you'll not give yourself a second thought about it, as your convenience shall be consulted only— I am much obliged to you for your directions to your farmer in my favor— Tender my most sincere love to Nancy & tell her that I never longed to see her so much in my life— pray God bless you both & bestow on you his choicest gifts— belive me to be as I really am, my dear Child Your ever Affe & lovg parent