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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.

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.

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.

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].

Small single sheet. Brief note accompanying mementos for her Philadelphia friends. "The silver tissues was Grandmamas wedding dress when united to the Gen'l. The satin she wore at the last Birthnight in Phia.".

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.

There could be parts of this letter missing, as it begins abruptly with the thought that Nelly's mother predicted she would be blind and deranged by such a life. Hasn't been able to write verses since Lafayette's visit. Quotes poetry written in 1794. [The letter might actually start near the top of what is here the second page, where there is a salutation right after the end of the poem; this would have the previous page of poetry become the end of the letter]. Andrew [Allen's] bad health and death; his great worth. She works keepsakes in chenille for Elizabeth and other friends. Hope she can complete them all before 72nd birthday. Description of Woodlawn now much changed, for the worse. Hopes to be able to cross mountain to see it again, "my ruined home".

Nelly sends Elizabeth her verses on Agnes Lewis which Esther Maria Coxe Lewis copied for her, also translation of some French verses. Sent Elizabeth's verses to Parke and her daughters. She and children inherit a love of the needle and its uses from "Grandmother who was, in all things, a model for her sex." Charles and Lawrence Conrad spent 3 weeks with her. Barton Stout's visit to Woodlawn and verses he wrote while there.

Received her letter by C. Conrad. Angela and she glad Elizabeth approves of Conrad. Conrad left for New Orleans on 14th. He will return in Spring to marry. Parke's new baby, Caroline [B. Butler]. Fears Charles and Angela will stay in New Orleans indefinitely after their marriage. Nelly intends to accompany them back to New Orleans.

Nelly sends Elizabeth some needle work done by her 2 granddaughters [Caroline and E. A. Isabella Butler]. They will probably stay in school there if Mr. Fay [the minister] and his wife [their teacher] stay there, instead of coming to Miss Mercer's school near Audley. Expresses her great desire to travel over the world at this late age. She has a disease of the heart, affection of the liver, rheumatism and deaf in one ear. Conrad will take away Charley and Lewis next winter.