After that brief excursion into a letter to a woman - here is a more typical letter. From Benjamin Harrison of Brandon on the Lower James River, VA to Alexander Donald in Richmond, where I am now sat. Benjamin was the son of Nathaniel and Mary; member of the State Council 1776 and of the House of Delegates from 1777. He married, 1st, Anne, daughter of William Randolph of Wilton, by whom he had no children; 2ndly, Evelyn Taylor, daughter of Col William Byrd of Westover.
The namesake BH he mentions is probably the ex-governor of Virginia and signer of the declaration of Independence – and father of William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the US.
Brandon, Oct 7th 1789
My Dear Friend,
It is now so long since I have heard from you that I know not whether you are in the land of the living or have taken possession of a seat in the Elisian Country in whose happy Fields may we one day be both placed.
I got safe home yesterday, and have found every thing in as bad as state as they well could be – bad crops on hand and no exertions made for mending them and this year – I have long thought my self a Stoick; but I now begin to fancy I am in an error, for upon enquiry in the state of the Wine Pipe my passions fairly subdued reason tho’ for a moment only – so long as this Friend had continued to afford its supply I could have stood the shock of common misfortunes, but from either theft or leakage, I am reduced from near half a Pipe to none at all, unless ?????? deserves to be ranked among the generous liquors.
My namesake B:H promised to send to Phila for a Pipe between us – ask him whither it is arrived. When may I expect to see you now – on Tuesday I go to Westover for Evelyn and Lucy – will you meet me there & come down with us on Monday? –
I sincerely congratulate you upon your success in the mercantile line – Mr Burton will surely give you some wine?? for the Flour and Wheat shipment.
Pray order my 6 hogs head tobacco at Falmouth to be sent to Norfolk and put on board one of your ships – do you direction its destination.
Adieu, remember me to my Friend Mr Brown – I am always yours B:Harrison
It is now dark
I am not sure what a Pipe of Wine is.
This and the letter in the previous post are fascinating, amazing that the daily-liveliness and intimacy of these letters has been held in amber for hundreds of years. And who else will have "awoken" their vitality by reading them since they were written? Not many, if any?
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