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Gregory Page Letter to "Mama," Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary
Gregory Page to "Mama" [Margaret Lowther Page] Discusses his health, school routine, fear of smallpox in Richmond, Va., and mentions Judge [St. George] Tucker.
Transcription below:
Mama I received your truly affectionate letter for which [stained] by Judge Tucker last night. I have written to you regularly every week & have not received any letter from you except the one I got last night a fortnight. You cannot suppose the anxiety I continually suffer on your account In your letter you mention neither Lucy nor sister [stained] in your next inform me how they do. I never was in better health in my life. John enjoys excellent health. I should certainly have written to you by Judge Tucker but being [stained so much at school, being now obliged to go to school twice a day since the 21st of March & knowing nothing of the Session of the Court. I should also have sent your watch by him. I knew not of his intention of going out of town until I was informed that he went out of town that day week. [?] is now perfectly recovered & the people maintain themselves. We begin to [dance?] smartly. You express great fears about the small pox. I know [it has been in?] Richmond & several people have caught it but they have all been carried out of town & I believe there is no necessity for our being [stained] as there is no danger of our catching it & the experiment of cowpox has proved a sufficient antidote against it. Cousin William intended to have [Lucy?] carried to parson Buchanan & have her inoculated for the small pox. She intends it as an experiment of the efficaciousness of the cowpock as Lucy has been vaccinated. [hole] Wms intends to go with her, Mr & Mrs. Wms joined the [hole]
I am your dutiful affectionate son Gregory Page