Jones, John T., d. 1838
Chapel
Hill
11th Jan Feb. 1836
Cousin Ann
I am in hopes that this letter will reach you before you come to
the final conclusion to blott me out from your books, and that, before you are
done reading it, you will meet, with at least some sort of a half excuse, for
this breach of politeness, i.e. in not answering a letter that gave me so much
satisfaction in reading it.
I had thought that I would give you a pretty full account or
detail of my vacation expedition; but it would be almost like telling an old
tale, and in fact, I would not have space or time to do so, even if I thought
that it would be interesting to you. I will at least tell you, where I spent my
vacation. From
Chapel
Hill, I went to
Raleigh
and after staying with sister
Caroline three days, I left for
Washington, going by the way of
Norfolk,
and thence to
Baltimore, where I remained 3 or 4 days, and spent my time
quite agreeably, and visited such places as
would be
were new and interesting to me. I then went to
Washington
City, where I met with
Mr Williams
, and some others of the members that I am
acquainted with,—and soon become acquanited with
Mr
Rencher
and some other members from
N.C. by whoom I was
treated very kindly. Of course, I saw most of the distinguished men in
congress, and had the pleasure of hearing many of them speak. I went with
Mr Williams
, and called to see the
President
[Andrew Jackson], whoom I found to be quite agreeable, and
talkative—I was invited to his party which was to take place on
Christmas
eve, I accordingly went with
Mr Rencher
, and found several hundreds collected.
The
President
stood in the centre of
his a circular room, and received every person,
that as they came in, by the hand,
ladies and all, so you may know that he must have been tired of shaking hands
even if they
all had
been
ladies.
Page 2
To say that the supper and every thing else was splendid, would be
useless. But to remark on the characters, that were present, I must say that as
for the ladies, I never before saw so little
beauty in a collection of that kind, and I must add that it was one instance of
ladies making themselves appear worse by their manifest anxiety about their
gewgaws, and I thought that they made a great
display of their finery, without much delicacy of taste—Of how little
avail is useless ornament, in making any one appear intelligent—There
were present a great many officers of the army, and all of them had on their
military dress coats, with their caps,—and also their swords hanging at
their sides—they appeard to be the greatest gallants present, and I
suppose the ladies were very well pleased at it; as that class of men are
generally most pleasing to them. I, myself, as well as a majority present, amused myself by going
over through the room, in the midst of the crowd, and looking at the
movements of others—making
myself pretty-much at my ease. Many amused
themselves in waltzing—for they had a fine band of music. As
regar regards the waltzing, I don't
think that it will add any thing to the refinement
of our North Carolina ladies, when it may become quite costomary amongst
us—It is not like our good old fashion of dancing reels and gigs, which is
calculated to give good wholesome exercise to the frame,—but it is a
continual, whirling round and round, which must have a disagreeable effect upon the
head
Well I can spare no more time in running down the amusements of
the
Washington ladies—It is none of my business—let
every community have
their
itsown notions. My principal object, in my
remarks, was just to let you know that I don't like them as well as our
Carolina
lassies—After staying in
Washington 10 or 12 days, I left and went immediately on to
New York. I
spent 3 1/2 days there very pleasantly, and saw a great deel, that was new and
interesting, although the weather was very bad part of the time. I become
acquainted with several that had moved from
N.C. and met with 2 or 3 old
acquaintances. While there I was somewhat (if I may use the
expression)—
Page 3
somewhat independent of the bad
weather, as I
was more agreeably situated on
account, of boarding in a private family, (instead of a public house), and
where there were about 20 boarders and about 10 ladies of the number, who would
sometimes play on the piano, and engage in other amusements—which added
considerably to my enjoyment. There were some school girls, and taking them all
together I was tolerably well pleased with them—I was particularly
pleased with
Mrs Bryan (formerly a
Miss Haywood of
Raleigh)
whose husband moved from
N.C. to
New York
last fall, they were boarding until they could get a place to suit them).
Mrs B. of course appeard much more like
an old acquaintance than any of the other ladies, and I enjoyed her
conversation very much, she still has the
North Carolina characteristics
From
N. York I
returned to
Philadelphia where I stayed 4 1/2 days and saw
more than I did in
New York,
While in
Philda
also the weather was very bad, and
the snow fell untill it was more than
two feet deep—I did not on that account, get to see very many
Quaker
girls—
Philadel. is a much handsomer place than
N. Y. owing
to the regularity of the streets, and the cleanly manner in which they are
kept.
From
Phil.
I returned to
Balte
and
Washington, where I stayed one day—and
the then travelled down the
Potomac
River 60 miles passing by
Mount
Vernon &c. took stage fro
Fredericksburgh, and
Richmond,
where I stayed a day, saw the Legislature in session &c.—thence to
Petersburgh &c. to
Raleigh.
Stayed a day with sister
Caro. and left her rather unwell—I have not heard from her since.
Nor have I received a single line from home this session. They don't treat you
so badly as that, do they
cousin Ann
. If you will condescend to answer my long
delayed letter, remember how they have neglected
me at home, and write all the news of our valley—Since
cousin Julia
has left them, I recon it appears right lonsome,—To
2
cousin Laura
particularly, as you are absent also. If a few more of our young folks should
take a notion and get married, I don't know what the rest of us will do. Are
you agreeably situated this session, as regards your room mates. What Western
ladies, beside yourself have you in the school. How long do you expect to
remain, before you go home. Are you home sick, I suppose not for you submit
cheerfully to the privation of home for a certain period, in order to reap the
benefits of study—(I should have said more properly) in order to sow the
fruitful seeds of study. You must let me know how you spent your vacation. I
have have not
written wrote to your dear niece
Sally
since I received your letter—I suppose
she has answered your letter by this time without the sckolding
Page 4
Do when you write to
cousin Louisa again give her my very best love, and all
the assureance that I am the same
cousin
John
.—You were disappointed in seeing
uncle
Thomas
and
Walter
this winter; what are the plans, in regard to
sending him to school, at this time.
Waightstill
spent the vacation in
Raleigh,
and had all the satisfaction of being at all of the wedding parties, of
Miss Ann
Iredell and at the wedding too—
Moulton
spent a few days in
Raleigh—and the rest of his vacation he stayed here. If
they knew that I was writing to you they would probably send you some word.
Well I have not given my excuse for not answering your letter
no sooner before this time—but just let me inform you that it is 12
O.C. at night, and I think your generous disposition will forgive me, without
putting me to the trouble, at this late hour, of trying to
invent one. But seriously cousin Ann, I intended
writing to you immediately after I arrived, but, for more than a week, I was
unfit for writing letters, or engaging in any such mental exercise.
I hope to hear from you shortly, and that you are well,