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Concerning continued experiences of "spirtual manifestations" Mary's skepticism; nearby mooring of the Merrimack; concerning Matthew Fontaine Maury being put on retired list; large fire at Conway Whittle's home; discussion of books currently being read; changes in private schools in Norfolk; description of life at the springs; new clergymen in Norfolk; general church news; social gatherings during the Christmas season; invitation to journey to California; the sailing of the Wabash and the Merrimack; death of Imogen (Thompson?); her opinion of Littleton Waller Tazewell; travels of friends, northward and to Europe; Mary Thompson's desire to go to England and France; transfer of Tazewell's properties; Major Pemberton's transfer from Florida to Kansas; visits from family; general news. Clipping enclosed.

Concerning the controversy over Archbishop Hughes' letters; summer plans; Tazewell's journey to Minnesota; epidemic of yellow fever and quaranting of Old Point Comfort; death of several relations and friends due to the fever; fears that the town of Norfolk will never recover; death of Mary Thompson's sister Martha in Portland, Maine; "spirtual manifestations" at the Whittles' (Captain William) household; "communications" with the spirits; general news of pregnancies, illnesses and society activities.

Concerning travel accounts of several friends; Tazewell's graduation with honors from St. James; Tazewell's merchandising job in Norfolk; new Episcopal church; description of duties of Naval surgeons; lectures at medical colleges by several acqaintances' payment of outstanding debts; military friendships; birth of a daughter to Mary Sinclair; the blindness of General Deverere; experiences in New York at the dentist; description of Saratoga and the springs society life; possibility of the President visiting Capon, Virginia. Springs; death of (grandson?) Henry in Baltimore; Terry's Sinclair involvement in the prosecution of a ship's captain accused of dealing in slaves; inclusion of a letter from relatives (brother Frederick and wife) in California; general Norfolk news and family concerns.

(Last letter from Martha (Thompson) Pemberton.) Contents concern "All Saints" services; upcoming Agricultural Fair; Captain Pennock and the "Southern Star" sail for Paraguay; Tazewell takes a wife, Sue; increasing demand for sewing machines in Norfolk; church renovations; the Brooks family journeying through the Holy Land; description of church services at St. Paul's; crowds in Richmond; general family and social accounts. Includes two undated, signed fragments.

Concerning the funeral of Judge Taylor; the Norfolk infant school; journey to North Carolina; Roman Catholics' fair; speculation about the grace of Wellington and Lady Harvey; use of rain barrels to promote healthier conditions in Norfolk; news of neighbors journeying to various sulphur springs; birth of a second son to Mary Thompson; awarding of railroad and road construction contracts; debate over boarding school for the children; high doctor bills; request to have a Jeweler set an aquamarine sent from Brazil; Mr. Masi's concert; church news; health and relations and friends in Norfolk; travel plans; visits to relations in Alexandria; general news and reflections.

Concerning the receipt of Imogen's winter boots; yellow fever scare; friends' journey to Canada; Tazewell Thompson's college experiences' different types of gas fixtures; news of weddings and engagements; allusions to the death of Mr. Daniel Webster; dress patterns; new styles; splendid Inaugural ceremonies (1853); bid to restore Mr. George Loyall to public office; news of Bishop Ives' travels and activities; expectation of appointment to Cardinal; incident of unrest at Fort Washington; health and welfare of friends and relatives; Milly Maury's visit and account of the Crystal Palace; Madame Bonaparte's visit to Old Point Comfort; Mr. Thompson's severe illness; general social and family news.

Concerning quinine treatments; Macauley's history and reflections on his personal character; letter from the Pope to the Archbishop of Baltimore sent from "Frederick" in Madrid through Norfolk; more correspondence with Frederick in Spain; gas lines in Norfolk; visit to relatives in North Carolina; thoughts on recent readings, reduction of mail service; habor regatta; suggestion of taking council of clergymen for "a burdened conscience" Frederick's return from Paris and Washington D.C.; mention of daguerrotype of Martha and her child; death of Zachary Taylor; description of journey from Norfolk to White Sulphur Springs, Virginia; pickpocketings during vacations; reoccurence of scarlet fever and death of several infants; general family and social news.

Concerning Mary Thompson's illness; wedding plans of her daughter Martha; recommendations of recent readings; visit from "little Mary Sinclair" (1847); trip to Baltimore and Mt. Calvary Church; description of a boarding house in Reading, Pennsylvania; piano lessons; reflections on the 1848 Revolution in France and the fate of Louis-Philipe; Mr. F. Whittle's reading prayers at St. Paul's; newsclipping announcing Fred Sawyer's appointment to Madrid consulate; Episcopal convention; confirmation of Sally; suffering from both the heat and the mosquitos; elections and the triumph of the "Mobocracy" trips to the Sulphur Springs; illnesses and deaths of friends; rejoicing of the Whigs over General Taylor's election; capture of slave ships; mention of an episcopal boarding school in Raleigh for Immie's education; vaccinations for the pleurisy and small-pox; family news of general interest.

Concerning Mary Thompson's confinement; appreciation for (Christmas?) gifts; Norfolk Christmas activities; visitor from Glasgow; the purchase of new china; details of dinner party and vigorous discussion of Jacksonian politics; expensive wedding of Miss Chevallie; serious accidents on the William Penn and in a local warehouse; banking procedures; death of George Byrd blamed on intemperance; problems with the honoring of various bank notes; description of Tazewell Taylor as "the greatest patriot that ever breathed" church news; local elections; family and social news.

Concerning attempts to "economize" amusement of the family at Mary Thompson's budgetings; receipt of books from Philadelphia; Captain Whittle's appearance in Washington for a court case; another new clergyman for Norfolk; steamer accident in the bay; sewing of nightshirts and chemises; friends' visit to "Bremo," home of John Hartwell Cocke; Major John C. Pemberton's status at Fort Leavenworth; discussion of merits of "new sewing machines" lecture on Geroge Washington, description of Tazewell Thompson's farm; death of Conway Whittle's wife; death of Captain Whittle's daughter Mary; reading the "Virginians" in Harper's magazine; general family news.