Letter to Thomas T. Sloan from Bridget Sloan, October 17, 1835

Lexington Oct. 17th 1835

My dear son Your letters to me of Sep. 17th & 20 came to hand in diw time, but not untill I had spent many days of anxiety, and a great wish to hear from you. I know you were sick by your silence. I am happy to hear you are geting well, I hope by this time you are in good health. I find a paragraph in one of your last letters that I do not understand. You speak of a sup posed correspondence of yours, and you ask me if I know or have any agency relative to it. I do say most candidly and seriously I have not, if their is truth in woman I never knew you had such a correspondence, unless you have alusions to the pac -ket you left sealed up with me. I remember when you presented them to me and asked me to keep them untill you returned, you remarked at the same time, not to let my curiosity induce me to brake the packet, as I could not understand them if I read them. I have them yet safe in me posesion and I will give you my word of honour that I know no more of them at this moment then I did when you gave them to me. and this is not all, I never will unless you say so, no my child i will never betray confidence placed in me, I looke upon it as sacred as the mandate of Heaven. I am conciencious of making a breach of honour. And do believe I am as much bound to be honest to my children as any others indi vidual. This is not all. I have a spirit in me called pride, that would not let me stupe to meanness to obtain any thing. Your secrets are sacred to me, if you have any. I will never tuch them untill I am worthy of it, and that will be when you think

proper to confide in me. You say there is something rotten in Denmark. I have no idea what you have alusion to. I let Bob read your letter to see if he could lead me into the light of this subject, he read it over and over, and then handed it to me, and sayd, it is all french to me for I cannot understand it. This day week Robert was seased with a vilent attack of the cramp colick, he lay five hours up stares at the court house in one of the young mens rooms before he could be touched to bring home, he was the[n] put in a carriage and brought home. Doc. Whitny was sent for shortly after he was taken, and every assis tance was given him. He is now much better, but is compeled to be under the influence of medison as yet. he will have good health. I never was happier. You say true when you say I am pleased now. I wish you could see how pleasantly I am situating I have my room to myself. So I can be retired when I please or I go in company if I wish. Roberts famely this winter consistes of the Rev. Mr. McMason, the Rev. Mr W Gill Elizabeths two sisters and myself. The Misses Mortons are going to school. They are taking music lessons therefore we have plenty of music. We often speak of the happy day when you will visit us. Elizabeth frequently speaks of what she will do, and what she will have when brother Theodore comes. Ah, with what exact pleasure I look forward to that day of recompence, then I shall be payed for years of anxiety and privation. I shall feel that I am particularly favoured by my God, to see my children once more at the same table. Your sister has but a few moments left [in] my room, when she came in she asked me who I was to, i told her, she then observed, "Oh I must write to him indeed," it is too bad in me to neglect it. But tel him, mama, I will write soon, and that he must not judge of my good will by my writing, or of my apprectio -n, for I think I love him. She is a very good wife and a kind daughter. She makes no parade with her feelings but go -es on smoothe and easy. I wrote the above since at night I found myself sick next morning, and have not felt well enough untill to night to resume my pin[?] I am better, I may say

allmost will. My health has improved in the last month Your grand mama was in yesterday, and she told to send you her love. Mary Janea and Mr. Metcalf are very well, and expect to be better in about a year if nothing happens. M. J. says you slighted her you not notice her great post sripy. I went to see Mr Levy the next morning after his return. I asked him all the questions I could think of about you. He says you are very much change in your appearance. He is very dignified madam, and manly in his department. I inquired in particular if you looked in good health, he sayed you did. How is it I hear you complain to others? I hear you are imprudent in your diet, perhaps you do not take exercise enough. are you affected now with the rhumatism? Your Uncle and Mary Jane are goin to Nicholasville next Thursday to wedding. Miss Hanly is to be married to a Doc. Bonner of Cincin natta. She is a daughter of Mayor Hanly. Lieut. Hanly his son is hear from West Point. He says he saw you in Philadelphia last summer gallanting Miss Susan Shelby of this place, and you made such a splash in the streets, that he asked who you both ware, and he lernt that it was Lieut. Sloan and Miss Shelby of Kentucky. He sayd if he had of known you were a Lexintonian he would of got an introduction to you. Mag. asked me to have a page of this letter for her to fill. but I have intended on her page, however I will leave her rooms to say a little, your mother, B. Sloan

You must write soon, very soon.

P. S. Magaretta has not come up today as I expected So I have concluded to seal my letter as it is now five O'clock and wish it to go in tonights mail. This is the last day of the races, and the streets are crowded with people carriages &c. and plenty of dust in the bargin. Give my love to your landlady, and tell her I have a heart that knows how to appreciate her kindness to you in in your sickness. I am greatfull to every body that has been so good as to attend to your wants. Tell me the name of the lady that you call your landlady. God be with you B Sloan

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Lieut Thomas T. Sloan U. S. Marine Corps New York