Lewis, Eleanor Parke Custis, 1779-1852

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Nelly thanks Elizabeth for the letter that arrived the day before her 69th birthday. Describes her ailments. Thankful her eyes and hands are still good. Angela's sons, Charles and Lewis Conrad, are at school in Alexandria. Boys here [Audley] under care of oldest brother [George Washington Lewis]. Esther manages estate well. Describes needlework she is doing for grandchildren. Death of Elizabeth Mifflin's mother.

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Nelly sends Elizabeth a bookmark worked in silk given her by Martha Washington 57 years ago. Lorenzo's boys learn under a tutor. Washy [George Washington Lewis] very fond of farming. Charley and Lewis Conrad visit her but go to New Orleans in winter. Mary Custis Lee and husband Col. Robert E. Lee visited. Robert goes to Boston to meet board of Engineers.

Scope and Contents This letter presented by her future son[-in-law, Charles M. Conrad]. Lauds his virtues and Angela's choice. "From that 'far South,' so dreaded, so stigmatized, against which my own prejudices were so strong that I could have almost taken an oath that none belonging to that region could deserve or obtaine my child's affection or my approbation, I have obtained a beloved son who would be my choice had I the whole world to select from." They will be married next summer. Parke expecting any day....

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Nelly writes that her orphan boys [Charles Angelo and Lawrence Lewis Conrad] were taken from her by their father, for health reasons, but will be returned to her in summer. Parke and children are well. Elizabeth's nephew, Mr. Bordley, his wife and daughter visited.

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Nelly is sure that Angela has told her details of her wedding while she and her new husband Charles Conrad were in Philadelphia. Angela and Charles have arrived safely back at Audley. Expresses her gratitude to Mrs. Gibson for her kindness to the young couple in Philadelphia.

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They have been at Bath for [Lorenzo's] ankle and E[ster]s health. Go to Sulpher Spring near Winchester soon. Encountered mutual friends there. "[The Nullifiers] are mad to all intents and purposes, and ought to be supplied with straight waistcoats." Waters at Bath helped Lolen's [Lorenzo's] ankle.

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Disappointed Mr. and Mrs. Gibson didn't stop at Woodlawn on their way home from the Springs. Sorry she and Angela couldn't go to Springs with them. They went instead to Bath, Sulpher Spring and Winchester. News from New Orleans [Parke and Butler and family]. She and Angela will be delighted to stay a week with Elizabeth Gibson when in Philadelphia this fall.

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Fears Lorenzo will go to Philadelphia too late for her and Angela to accompany him. Afraid Mr. Lewis won't pay promised visit to Parke in Louisiana. Mrs. Gibson's nephew arrived and copied picture of Washy [George Washington Lewis]; also does likenesses of Mr. Lewis and herself. News of various friends.

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Nelly writes of their arrival in Louisiana after 3 weeks trip. Her 2 grandchildren [Edward George Washington Butler and Eleanor Angela Isabella]. Parke buried in domestic chores, her fine mind thrown away here. Description of Mississippi River. Wishes Parke could move east. Angela takes lessons on harp and in French.

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Nelly is ashamed for not writing since getting to Louisiana. She just arrived at Parke's from New Orleans. She [Nelly] has been very ill and had bad accident. Angela very ill; had premature baby, Angela Lewis Conrad, now 4 months old. Grandson Edward George Washington Butler is 30 miles away at school. she regrets that Ed Butler left the army. Hopes to see Woodlawn and Audley next summer, if they live. Mr. Lewis's gout better in Louisiana.

Scope and Contents Nelly writes beginning with her excuses for not writing sooner. She describes her happiness in marriage. Mentions her approaching confinement. Describes the change in her personality with her marriage and approaching motherhood. Separation from her grandmother was hard at the beginning of a long round of visits. Describes their visits in Culpeper and at Shirley, near Richmond. Lawrence Lewis's illness with eye inflammation, and her own influenza. Their house in Frederick not ready for them....

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Nelly was forced to leave Parke's house because of Butler's insults: his vile treatment of Parke and her unhappiness. Parke "has suffered almost ten years of sorrow and privations of every kind, and for the last six years the most brutal treatment." Butler is mean and selfish. Since Mr. Lewis's death, and he knows he'll get nothing from her, his opinion of her has come out in open. Nelly hopes to take Angela's orphan boys to Audley in Spring.

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Nelly writes of the death of Angela's child [Angela Lewis Conrad] from whooping cough. She died March 25, had been a year old on the 17th. Nelly will be unable to visit Woodlawn this summer because she cannot leave Angela and Angela cannot leave Charles. Wishes they lived in Virginia or Philadelphia, as the climate here sickly. Planters lose much by fall of sugar and cotton prices. Parke has another child [Lawrence Lewis Butler]. Lorenzo has another boy [Edward Parke Custis Lewis].

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Accepts the Gibson's invitation to visit Philadelphia. She is enjoying her New York visit, "the fact is, New York is enchanting." Douglas family and friends of grandparents rally around them. Visiting friends in New York and New Jersey area. Mentions Mrs. Vanbrugh Livingston, Mrs. Varick of Paulus Hook, Thomas Morris, and others. Parke loves New York, but Agnes retires from crowds. Inform America Peter, who was then in Philadelphia of their health.

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Nelly sends her thanks for lemons. Dr. Chapman gave Agnes a dose of Laudanum. Describes her symptoms, treatments and medicines. Requests a watch that keeps time because she must administer the powders every half hour.

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Nelly asks her friend to send another bottle of her good old wine, as the doctors say Agnes should drink more and stronger.

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The doctor is due at one o'clock. Agnes wants wine and water if doctors will allow it. Nelly fears she "will not survive many hours."

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Small single sheet. Agnes is just as she was. Nelly sends thanks for the wine. Returning empty bottle. Desires beef essence next time.

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Agnes says she is better, but she looks badly. Nelly describes her symptoms and medical treatments. Asks Elizabeth to send more wine and unseasoned beef broth for the child.

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Nelly writes to tell Parke that Agnes "your angel sister" died peacefully. She is perfectly composed. America Peter, though, is much afflicted. Begs her to cease grieve for sister. She herself will be able to continue as necessary if not overburdened by Parke's excessive grief.

Scope and Contents Nelly is glad that her daughter Parke is more composed. Asks Elizabeth to tell her that "her angel sister looks as calm and composed as a saint." She has cut off much of Agnes's hair. Parke should not come again to see her sister. Prays that God would comfort Parke now and ever. Gives list to Miss Smith to add names of callers. Mrs. Claypoole mentioned. Dr. White [the Bishop] will admit Agnes to his family vault. [A list of names is penciled on margin, probably local people to be notified or...

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She intends to attend Agnes's funeral tomorrow if Parke is well enough to get along without her. Neither Parke nor America [Peter] should attend. Will Mr. Gibson procure for her the necessary scarfs and hat bands and a veil. Asks "how is my child now, has she taken her pills".

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Must go to the church, but Parke is not to know it. Sends her bonnet to be made decent for funeral. Cannot have her child [Agnes] put into coffin without positive proof she is dead.

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Writing in September or October of 1824 while in Philadelphia nursing Lorenzo, Nelly expresses her regrets that Elizabeth, too, is sick. She saw Caroline Calvert for a half hour and hurried back to Lorenzo--he has had a fever. She will come to see Elizabeth in the morning and read Parke's letters to her, unless Elizabeth is well enough to call on Nelly and Lorenzo. She wishes to have a sick coat, or gown, made for Lorenzo.

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Describes the doctor's treatments for Agnes's illness, a dose of magnesia for the child's "sick stomach," and her own ministrations of "half a glass of wine and six drops of laudanum." Agnes wants cornbread for breakfast, and turkey or duck for dinner. Doctor says she may have cauliflower.

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Nelly is having difficulty convincing the postmaster to turn over her letters. Will Gibson lend his aid in this? She is anxious for news from home and Lorenzo has a slight fever now.

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Parke's shoes fit, but hers do not--she sends them back for alteration. "Washington is now full of the great men of the Nation." Parke's health restored. "A certain Judge Johnson, Senator from Louisiana" admires Parke. He will never do for Parke as he is uncultured. "It appears to be the general opinion that Parke is too difficult to be pleased ..." She has been from home 8 weeks. Lorenzo is studying hard at college. She mentions Major Vandeventer and Col. Gadsden.

Scope and Contents Writing from Dutchess County, New York, Nelly explains that she couldn't write because she didn't know where to direct letters. Now Edmund Coxe has written Nelly to tell her Elizabeth is at Schooleys Mountain (in Morris County, New Jersey). Lorenzo is much improved by air here. He went to Saratoga. Ped [Angela] has toothache continually. Nelly fears they cannot go to Boston; "Mr. L. finds a difficulty in furnishing the funds." Considers going to Schooleys Mountain or sea shore, asks about...

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In a fragment of a letter, Nelly writes that she has heard nothing from General Lafayette or his son Georges W. Lafayette, although she's written 5 times. Is piqued and very anxious.

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Nelly is anxious to receive Elizabeth's drawing of Bishop White. She herself has had difficulty with her current work, "Spanish Boy on a Donkey." Hopes to go to district to see "our truly great and good" Presient Zachary Taylor. Recommends "Morehead's magnetic machine" for deafness and other evils.