[Beverly Randolph Johnston at Abingdon,
Virginia, to Lieutenant John Preston “Pres” Johnston at Carlisle Barracks
(Carlisle), Pennsylvania, June 5, 1844. Box 26, Folder 12, Robert
Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W.
and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA
23529. This is my rough transcription. Additional paragraph breaks added
for easier reading.]
My dear Pres
Your letter of the 27th ult. Reached me two days
since. It would have been answered more promptly, as it involved an annoyance
to you, but that I have been sick for several days, and was particularly so on
the evening of its arrival. A brief explanation will suffice.
You remember that I enjoined it on you to get your friends to
send me their bills promptly, or I would be on the circuit before they reached
this place. Just so it turned out none came before I left this for the Spring
Circuit; which, moreover owing to some of my friends engaging in politics and
devolving their business on me, lasted longer than usual.
On my return to this place I found letters from your three
agreeable N. York friends. I wrote to them that as they had not instructed me
to send money by mail at their risk, I was unwilling to send it at mine: that
there was no bank through which I could obtain facilities for remittance by
check, and that they must wait till my business led me to Wythe, whence I
promised to send them checks on one of the Richmond Banks, as soon as I got
there: stating at the same time that I should be in Wythe about this time.
Yesterday morning was the day on which I had made my
arrangements for going to Wythe. Indisposition as detained me till now, and
will till Saturday (the 8th). So soon as I get there, this
troublesome matter shall be closed. I suppose Mr. Jno. Smith Frazier had not
received my letter when he wrote to you. Indeed I do not remember the date of
mine so accurately as to be able to say whether it was written long enough
previous to his, to have had time to reach N.Y. by the 24th, the date
of his.
As to the other matter indicated in your letter: the choice, or
rather change of your profession, it is one as to which I can say but little
now. I am suffering some pain, and can not write a long letter. Much, almost
all, depends on your personal feelings and predilections. They will assuredly
control your decision: nor am I sufficiently informed as to the present, or
probably future condition and prospects of the army to give counsel which can
be of any value.
I must suppose that your preference for military life continues,
and that your uncertainty whether you will retain your commission is not
founded on any disgust for the service; but rather upon an apprehension, either
of such a reduction of the force of the army as would render your
condition precarious, or of its pay &c., as would make it suit only the
very rich, or the very mean.
I should say, that as it is the profession of your choice, and
as your education adapts you for it, unless there be some reason of which I am
unaware, it would be rash and inexpedient to desert it upon mere movement in
Congress, probably an Electioneering one. Wait a while, and see and measure the
evil before you fly from it.
The present administration can last but nine months longer. We
then have a new order of things: New men & measures: perhaps a new organization
or even an increase of the army. Or, it may be, that we shall find ourselves
all at once engaged in a Mexican War. If we are not, it will not be for want of
will on the part of Mr. Tyler.
Have a little patience, and do not act in haste, unless you have
resolutely made up you mind to adopt a new plan of life. If you have done so,
you cannot then be too prompt in dissolving your connexion [connection] with
the army. In that event be assured that there is nothing in life that can give
me more pleasure than to serve and aid you.
Should you choose your father’s profession, as I doubt not you
would, it would afford me an opportunity of repaying in some sort to you, the
countless debt of gratitude and affection which I contracted to him. [A]nd how
happy too, such a change would make Lizzie. With you here I should then claim
her, and we’d have an household and Establishment of our own: and, I doubt not,
in no great while, you would have both law and clients quite sufficient.
But this is rather a day dream, a pleasant one certainly, to me
& Liz: but for which neither of us would seek to induce you to leave a
course more congenial to your feelings and views.
At last, it resolves itself in this. It is for you to determine.
I ask not to influence your decision, and shall rejoice to aid you to the
utmost of my power, in any path which you may pursue.
I shall write you again ere long in relation to the matter: tho’
I do not see that anything more can be said than is already written above. I
cannot advise well unless I see the whole ground. This, you have not shewn me:
nor, indeed, does it seem altogether visible to you. Write more fully
& clearly.
Lizzie is well and shall write to you soon. Pardon this
rambling confused scrawl: but I really am much out of sorts, and could not
write, or think better, and am unwilling to read it over. Tis enough to have
written such a thing.
yours most affectionately,
B.R. Johnston
[B. R. Johnston = Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1876)
Lizzie = Eliza Mary Johnston (1825-1909)
Pres = John Preston Johnston (1824-1847)
Mr. Tyler = John Tyler (1790-1862), US President from April 4,
1841 to March 4, 1845.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally
Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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