From Jane Washington Thornton
Culpepper. Va March 16. 1828
My dear cousin,
Enclosed I send you two orders— viz.— one upon Gen. Philip Stuart for $195 and one upon Hon. G. C. Washington for $110, which I beg you to receive in part payment of the claim you have preferred against me. I hope you will wait a little longer for the balance, I will send it as soon as it is convenient, the recent afflictions in my family, and my own infirmities have so deranged my affairs that I am compelled to ask this indulgence. I will use every exertion to pay the remainder soon, but in the mean time, would beg it of you as a favor, that you will not put the account out of your own hands, as I would rather be indebted to a friend and relative, than to strangers.
It is unnecessary to say how much delighted I should be to see you at my house, should circumstances ever call you to this part of the country. Bereaved as I have been by the dispensations of a wise Providence, of all the members of my own family few earthly things would give me greater joy than to see again those few remaining persons, who have from their early days been intimately connected with me by the ties of friendship, as well as of blood.
I had anticipated much pleasure in having the society of my Nephew Bushrod's two sons, and am somewhat disappointed in my feelings to learn that you have determined not to send them to school here.
Receive dear sir, the assurance of my high esteem, and permit me to subscribe myself Your affectionate friend and cousin
Jane Thornton.
ALS, ViMtvL: Historic Manuscript Collection.