I received yours My dear Sir of the 12th of Decr and am happy to hear from you & your family. It is but a poor consolation to tell you, that I sympathize with you for your late distresses, and that I have a deep sense of your friend & relations Calamity. It is nevertheless all that human weakness can do; and to do any thing more we must have recourse to a superior tribunal, to one, that I feel unworthy to approach. It is to that source I am now convinced we ought to address ourselves; to the comforter of the afflicted, and the protector of the weak.

     It is believed that the sovereign remedy against the great evils of our nature, is shop afflictions; it is in the midst of sorrows that we accomplish the great mystery of moral goodness & of christianity. It is [w]hen the virtuous impulses of the mind unfolds itself, & operates most intimately, which is to track us not to have a dependance on ourselves. We must have come out of ourselves to be able to resign ourselves to our maker.

     Thus our heart, wounded in the most tender part, troubled in its sweetest, most just, and innocent attachment perceive it can no longer keep possession of itself, and is drawn from itself, that it may advance towards a happier world. The wisest and the best of all ages have agreed that our present life is a state of trial not of enjoyment, and that we now suffer sorrow, that we may hereafter be partakers of happiness. If this be true, and it has seldom been long, or at least ultimately doubted by those who have turned their attention to so serious an investigation, other and worthier motives of action and endurance must necessarily occur to the mind than Philosophy can teach, or human pride supply.

     This is the great remedy against the evils we are oppressed with, this is the best corrective to alleviate unhappy feelings—and this is the only balm of human miseries: the remedy is severe, but the evil also is very deep.

     The wise ruler of the universe, strikes one of a family, who is very dear & lovely, which proves an unspeakable good to each: he takes her to Heaven, and under this afflictive stroke salutory to others, who remain on Earth.

     Were man attentive to contemplate himself here below, in the view of what he is to be at his death; he would wish to hear frequent mentions made of that happy moment when he shall be stripped of this miserable life which retards his glory & felicity.

     Death, from which we have so great aversion, is notwithstanding the brightest & most glorious moment to man, if, while on this earth, he hath faithfully fulfilled his task according to laws prescribed by Religion. I form to myself the good person, in their dying moments, like the Sun, which, after being covered by a thick cloud, at last pierces through the shades & mists, and shines forth with double lustre. The wants & passions of this life are so many clouds which darken us, & hide even from our own eyes our dignity & our faculties.

     It is said, that to the Christian Philosophers, death was a continual subject of meditation. When rightly viewed it offers to mankind nothing but what is great, nothing but what is cheering. But we judge of it only by the Sepulchral horrors; that is, by what has a relation solely to our body, and then it appears to us the most frightful spectacle.

     This occasioned the saying of a great man, that if death was the body's enemy, it was the soul's good friend.

     May we all enjoy the inestimable blessings of the holy spirit, and may all who ardently desire to be more & more awakened unto faith, be penetrated with Celestial truths. This shall be my wish & this my prayer: and as I have great confidence in the prayers of the Righteous & those in affliction. I beg to be remembered.

     Excuse my Dr friend the protracted view I have given this subject, and do me the justice in believing that there are few occasions which could have calld forth these sentiments & have exerted so much sympathy in my breast.

     Since I wrote to you from Mr Nelsons, I have been passing my time with my relations in this part of the state: and have been attending to the practice of my profession in the neighbourhood of Mr Hill Carters (my fathers Nephews) where I have been staying & at Westover Mr William Carter— It would be agreable to remain amongst my own relations, but this is not the County for my profession out of Town. & another thing the whole County is involved owing to want of a price for produce.

     It is only amongst the Crowd, disease & wealth I can expect to succeed.

     I have it in contemplation to return to S: Carolina sometime in the spring if I can conveniently. but in the mean time it will give me pleasure to hear from you & yours & Majr Lewis's family & of your Nephews family.

     But I must say to you my Dr friend could I find some object in this my native state to interest my feelings & affections I should be delighted to remain here. but nothing save that could—I suppose.

     I assure you it was not my intention when I sat down to have sent you so protracted an epistle as this appea[r]s to be—but it gives pleasure to express my feelings to one who I regard as I do you, & I trust, this will be my apology, & should there be any reciprocal emotions excited in your mind, it will be commensurate to the object in view—Philadela—which I should feel is honour bound to do & with Interest if required.

     It would be impossible for me to succeed in either of the places, without being able to appear & to live genteely— & if I could pass over the first year of difficulties, I should be in hopes of doing very well & lay up money.

     By assisting one at this time it may have a very decided & beneficial effect in my favour: It would be another cause & an additional incentive to my best exertions to be well thought of by you in my course through life, & to realize a continuance of your goodness in time of need, never could be effaced from my memory or from my heart: and should my circumstances allow it, I would with pleasure make you occasional visits in your declining years, & you should never regret having aided one, who, I trust, will never be considered undeserving.

     I have had it in contemplation for some time to remove to Charleston, since knowing that yellow fever has prevailed there of late years: and I have lately been advised to go there, by a gentleman from the south, & his opinion is predicated upon the successful mode of treating that fever which was first adopted by myself at Beaufort S:C: during the prevalence of yellow fever there is 1819. I beg leave to make a few observations on my mode of cure in yellow fever & Bilious fever of S: Carolina.

     In 1817 I accidently discovered a remedy for yellow fever, which if used in the first stage of the disease will I hope, generally prove effectual. The experiments I have made have given me confidence in this remedy, & in 1819 octr I submited my ideas to the Charleston & Baltimore medical societies & obtained I understand their approbation.

     I do not know that the treatment will be tryed. Nor do I believe that any physician could manage the remedy as well as one who has (relied on it for years in all dangerous cases) been recording cases to prove its efficacy & reduce it to a regular system in the case of this disease.

     I will give you some idea of the effects & potency of this remedy—by stating to you that my mode is to give Mercury under some restrictions in such a manner as to produce Salivation in fifteen to 24 hours, & at the same time it will evacuate the bowels frequently & that the effects of the Mercury on the glands of the mouth can be relieved in from one to three days.

     It is not for me to condemn the usual practice of Physicians of the present day, it speaks for itself yearly in our Cities.

     Mercury, is acknowledge by the most experienc'd and learned Physicians of every country to be a valuable medicine in the cure of yellow fever, even used in the ordinary way, altho it requires such a length of time to develope its triumpant power over disease.

     But if it can be proved by demonstration in a sufficient number of Cases of malignant or yellow fever, that a Salivation can be effected in 15 hours in fivecases out of Six, and at the same time evacuate the offending cause in a measure, and arrest the disease in the onset by the salivation,¹ without any consequent evil resulting: It cannot but acknowledged that this must be considered a desideratum in Medical science & of inestimable value to us.

     As I have asserted the effects of Mercury is so dicidedly different, from that which takes place usually; I will give you my idea as to the "Modus operandi" of mercury, & my method of administering it, for your satisfaction & to obviate any prejudice that may answer your mind.

     I give Calomel in such doses as will operate on the bowels on one hour, & on the next I give a mixture & continue on alternating the Calomel & the mixture until the patient is well evacuated; & as the mercury passes threw the bowels in a short time, therefore only a small quantity is taken up by the absorbents into the salivary glands; and this small quantity would not have been absorbed or would not have acted on the glands but for the cold mixture, which I rely on to effect the Salivation in the short time mentioned, & this is all powerful enough to overcome the fever in the first stage & to effect a cure without blisters tonics or Stimulus: consequently & as there was only a small portion of mercury absorbed by the glands, it having passed off so rapidly, of course the Mercurial fever is sooner expelled from the glands by the ordinary means.

     I wish to be understood distinctly what I say relative to my proposing to curing yellow fever.

     I take it for granted it would be said to me in answer that if I can cure this disease, I will make my fortune—& get an extensive practice—& would render a lasting obligation to the City of Charleston & to the world; I should be ambitious of such honours, could I merit them, but this portion I do not expect.

     All I assert is, that from my little experience in this disease, the remedy I have mentioned effected most extraordinary cures, in a most extraordinary time, & that the remedy appears a most reasonable one, which is not mentioned by any of the Books, nor used by any of the Phys.; & that I discovered it whilst contending with this formidable disease: and judging from analogy, I suppose what would cure Yellow fever of Beaufort S:C: would in all human probability I con[c]eive it a duty I owe to you, & due to myself to explain any part of my conduct, that may have appeared in any degree equivocal to you or others during the time I had the honour of your acquaintance & friendship.

     Still it is proper for me to observe at this time, that I have not the shadow of a reason for supposing that you feel any mistrust toward me; but on the contrary, I never can forget your kind & affectionate letter, and though uncertain when I shall see you & yours, or whether I shall soon be so favoured, a sense of your goodness & of theirs, will be one of the last sentiments of my heart.

     The part of my conduct which I allude to relates to my former attachment to a relation of yours, whose happiness may have been concerned & for whom you cannot but have been interested for—and the reason why I mention this subject to you, it has been agitated of late & may be to my discredit. Therefore I wish to place the subject before you in as concise a manner as possible, that you may judge of the propriety or impropriety of my acts as it shall appear from the facts.

     It was my wish at one time to have been united to Miss S. but upon mature reflection, I conceived it would be highly imprudent, & it was likewise the opinion of my f[rien]ds & relations, situated as we were—and to give you a better idea of transaction. I beg to be allowed to send a true Copy of the letter I wrote, indicating my intentions to the Lady in question— It is short.

Belvoir Albemarle Co[unt]y Sepr 29th

     The anxiously expected letter (from my relations) is arrived my Dr friend—and I write immediately upon its reception: I was well aware of the influence it must necessasarily have upon my fate, but I had fondly anticipated a decision of another sort, & that my plans would not have been entirely thwarted; and every proposition objected to: your Brother to whom I enclose it by this mail, will vouch for my being justified in what I say, & will, as a man of honour, & as our mutual friend, see & pronouce at once, that we have no alternative. For Heavens sake, for friendship sake, let me hear from you & let me have the consolation of thinking that I have forfeited no portion of your esteem. Can we with any sort of propriety encounter the difficulties we should be exposed to with the fortuitous profits of my profession, & the slender means <mutilated> you could bring in aid of our common stock? Can I consent to give you so miserable a proof of my regard? No, my Dr fr[ien]d, let us submit to what we cannot controul—but above all let me hear from you.

     I am yours. &c. &c.—

     If any are hurt, believe me, I sympathize in the pain I may have inflicted, and I cannot forbear to add on this occasion.

     That it is vain we harden ourselves to treat with indiffe[re]nce the charges of this uncertain world, or that which concerns our happiness— We strive ineffectually to be the self sufficing invulnerable being—the stoical exemption which philosophy affects to give us over the pains & vexations of human life, is as imaginary as a state of perfect happiness aimed at by some enthusiasts.

     And Heaven forbid that it should be otherwise. Heaven forbid that any process of impenitence were capible so to sear & indurate our feelings, that nothing should agitate them but what arose instantly & immediately out of our own selfish interests.

     I would as soon wish my hand to be as callous as horn, that it might escape an occasional wound, as I would be ambitious of the obduracy, which would rendermy heart like a piece of adamant.

     We are all seeking for peace & happiness; but seldom seek<mutilated> it is to be found. The world promises happiness, but canno<t mutilated> it. It offers transitory pleasures, but they are not worth the <mutilated> they cost. Where are <mutilated> look for peace & co<mutilated> if not here; it must be Heaven alone can give happiness; it must be there we can expect to have our passions cured, & our desires regulated.

     What is it that is the cause of our uneasiness? Is it poverty, contempt, bad success in our undertakings, inward & outward pains & disappointments— would to god I could regard all these as dispensations of providence sent from the highest benevolence & in reality blessings in disguise, which he distributes to his friends & of which he vouchsafes ultimately to make us happy— This would change the face of all nature, with regard to us—and nothing should be able to deprive us of peace & happiness.

     Farewell & please to accept my best wishes for your health & happiness & that your family & nephews & that of your afflicted friends & relations family & remember me to them— I am Dr Sir with gt respect & Esteem your mt obt & affectionate humbe Servant—

                                                    Alexr S. Moore²

Dr Judge should you think proper you can permit Mrs Lewis to see this letter & the part about Miss S. & it would give me pleasure to hear from her & family—but I am affraid have imposed upon you too long a letter & I doubt if you read it all, Do write to me soon as it will contribute to my happiness. Yours truly