[in another hand:] Mrs Hellen Buchart
Dear Mother
I received your
letter dated march in month of May & wrote you at same time since
which I have not heard from you it is something unfortunate that have
never been able to find Mathewson or Leslie indeed there is strong presumption
When they that wrote forgets to write that silence & inaction are
all the powerw they are in possession of it would have given me great
satisfaction had I been able to write you better news and depend upon
it. Will still make all the enquirey in my power even tho there
is little hopes of success
We have had a very sickly fall and many strangers fell a victim to the
feavers raging furie
Some Ships from Europe lost 9/10 of their whole Ships crew it was certain
death for any person in the country to come to Charleston though few
of the inhabitants of Charleston suffered yet they who came from the
interior parts of the State last winter died almost all to a man which
frightened them so much that I question if many will dare to come to
Town next summer
I have lived these 4 months past with Mr. Lewis Cameron and should be
sorrey to Change my situation but he has nomore use for me having a
brother lately from Scotland I shall write as soon as I am fixed
in any other place
I have great reason to Thank god I can get more Employers than I can
attend. our Crop of cotton is very good it sold here at 3/ when
it first came to market 1/8 to 2/ is the highst now and even then some
planters will make from 12 to 18 Thousand pounds Sterling on Cotton
this year------------- Rice sold all Last summer from 7/ to 9/ now sells
at 16/ & 18/ per Hundred pound
Tobacco last year sold from 7 to 0 dollars per Cent & Now sells
from 4 to 5 dollars per Cent
Our great and good Washington died on the 14th December 99 never
was their greater Show of grief than on this occasion he may be
called the Father Saviour and Servant of This new World as far as Mortal
Man has a right to Such a Title and of the honest the disinterested
and the great joind to the sincere cristian may with propriety be be
Called the noblest work of god it is doubtfull whether any Man
now living possesed them in higher degree than Worthy Washington as
i Expect to write you soon i remain yours &tc Thos Lindsay please
write me a few of the comon transactions with you
[On back:]
Give my Compliments to John McKay & family John Chrighton &
family A. Grieve &tc and all others
Notes:
[Penciled in at the top above the greeting, almost certainly by his
niece, Ann Glenday Durfee:]
Lindsay
The first letter my Uncle wrote his Mother after going to Charleston
S. C.
This letter is undated, but it was probably written about 1800.
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