I sit down to write you a few lines in haste—I write with a
pencil, because I can write faster with it—On monday morning (as you
know) I left home about 8 o,clock, I drove very pert. I got a little sprinkled
notwithstanding—
Miss Magarets Band box was not so little in my way—I
however protected it from the rain as well as I could, until it got so wet as
to begin to fall to pieces. I then took out the contents & threw the
bandbox overboard—Glad I assure
you to
have lightened the ship of such a
weighty &
troublesome load—Every body must not know this—I reached
Hillsborough about half after twelve—I had not proceded
very far along the streets when I met
Mr
Kittrell,
2 who asked me if I had heard the news—What news said I?
Why he replied that
Mr Neill
is dead—you cannot immagine my feelings & astonishment upon hearing
it—
I stoped I concluded to stop at
Hillsborough a while, got my dinner, had my horse fed, &
went to see
Major
Blount
3 &
Miss Ann
Lane—not so well pleased & entertained as I had
anticipated—I reached the
Hill about dark,
4 enquired
particulary concerning
Mr Neills
death, found that he had died monday morning near
sun up—He died with composure & said that he was
willing to go—
nearly His last words were
something like the following "
5
Lord I have
trusted in Thee in times past, forsake me not in my time of affliction &
trouble—Though he was in great distress both in body & mind during
the greater part of his sickness—yet we have the comfortable hope that he
has ceased from trouble & gone to the place
of rest—
Page 2
Yes in grieving for him, we lament
not as for one of whom we have no hopes—I trust I shall meet him in that
place where the weary are at rest, & where the wicked cease from
troubling—His father & mother can scarcely bear the
loss—nothing but religion supports them—Both societies wear
mourning
6—we shall
erect a monument over his grave
7—Tuesday at
10 o,clock
Dr
Caldwell
gave a most interesting & pathetic sermons—nothing
but solemnity & seriousness pervaded every mind—But I am fearful that
all the serious impressions that may have been made will soon die away—So
prom[pt], so easy are we to resume our former manner of living—I have
heard a little respecting the campmeeting—upward of fifty
converts—Among them
Miss Mary
Kittrell—
Harmont
was there & preached with universal admiration—He came to the
Hill
Wensday evening, but I did not get acquainted with him, in as much as he did
not remain here but a little while—I received a letter from
Addison
a
few days ago—All well—School not so large as
before,—Buildings are going on in a rapid
state rate—I have my hands full now—I have not read
thought or written any thing respecting my senior speec
h—I have come to the conclusion that I must study more
closely than I have ever done—If I do not, & none of the rest on the
Phi side do not spur up, every thing will be swept by the
Dis
8—Poor chance
if it depends on me!—I could mention other things which you might wish to
know of—but I have not time at present
Page 3
Give
my respects to
J C
Dobbin
& Let me hear all the news from the campmeeting—