[James Patton Preston at Washington City to "My Dear Friend" [one of Charles Clement Johnston's brothers] at [Virginia], June 18, 1832. Floyd-Johnston-Preston Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary, Series I: Mss. Acc. 2002.37, folder 21. These are my rough notes with some transcription, based on images made by Sue Davis, who graciously made them available. Long "s" in original text modernized for easier reading.]
A calamity has this day occurred in which our country has by a spontaneous feeling in Congress, acknowledged by an universal sentiment of regret, that this feels almost as much as we can feel, the loss, which by . . . providence it becomes my duty to communicate.
Your brother Charles is no more. His dear little children are indeed orphans. But who has he not left to deplore his loss, no human being . . . that ever knew him, but will hear his sad fate with . . . grief.
Yesterday in fine health in the enjoyment of every . . . endowment in the possession of every virtue which could elevate the most promising character, he left the place for Alexandria and this . . . by a . . . Note to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the Mayor of Alexandria, it is stated that his corpse was found floating in the muck.
He supped at the Inn in Alexandria and rising from the table when the Steam boat bell rang he attempted to return to the place; it is supposed he missed the wharf in the storm, and slipped over into water above 8 feet deep, having a considerable depth of soft mud at the bottom.
The excessive sharp thunder of the evening caused the body to rise. These painful details are written in haste to satisfy you and his friends, that he has lost his life, by a scrupulous endeavor to be at his post in the performance of his public duty.
I write under the pressure of limited time, that this letter may go by the mail, and in a state of mental anguish, which none but those who look around and see the universal consternation produced, will imagine.
Your fr'd
James P. Preston
[Charles Clement Johnston (April 30, 1795-June 17, 1832)
Your brother = the most likely recipient of this letter, in this order of probability, was either Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1876), Peter Carr Johnston (1793-1877), or Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891). The mention of "Col. Preston" in a sequel letter here suggests that Beverly was the recipient. See also this letter, which mentions "Govr Preston."
James Patton Preston (1774-1843), former Governor of Virginia who had also served in the Virginia House of Delegates with Charles' father, Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
Speaker of the House = Andrew Stevenson (1784-1857), who had, like Preston, served in the Virginia House of Delegates with Charles' father.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
A calamity has this day occurred in which our country has by a spontaneous feeling in Congress, acknowledged by an universal sentiment of regret, that this feels almost as much as we can feel, the loss, which by . . . providence it becomes my duty to communicate.
Your brother Charles is no more. His dear little children are indeed orphans. But who has he not left to deplore his loss, no human being . . . that ever knew him, but will hear his sad fate with . . . grief.
Yesterday in fine health in the enjoyment of every . . . endowment in the possession of every virtue which could elevate the most promising character, he left the place for Alexandria and this . . . by a . . . Note to the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the Mayor of Alexandria, it is stated that his corpse was found floating in the muck.
He supped at the Inn in Alexandria and rising from the table when the Steam boat bell rang he attempted to return to the place; it is supposed he missed the wharf in the storm, and slipped over into water above 8 feet deep, having a considerable depth of soft mud at the bottom.
The excessive sharp thunder of the evening caused the body to rise. These painful details are written in haste to satisfy you and his friends, that he has lost his life, by a scrupulous endeavor to be at his post in the performance of his public duty.
I write under the pressure of limited time, that this letter may go by the mail, and in a state of mental anguish, which none but those who look around and see the universal consternation produced, will imagine.
Your fr'd
James P. Preston
[Charles Clement Johnston (April 30, 1795-June 17, 1832)
Your brother = the most likely recipient of this letter, in this order of probability, was either Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1876), Peter Carr Johnston (1793-1877), or Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891). The mention of "Col. Preston" in a sequel letter here suggests that Beverly was the recipient. See also this letter, which mentions "Govr Preston."
James Patton Preston (1774-1843), former Governor of Virginia who had also served in the Virginia House of Delegates with Charles' father, Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
Speaker of the House = Andrew Stevenson (1784-1857), who had, like Preston, served in the Virginia House of Delegates with Charles' father.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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