Fort Hill 10th April
1849
MY DEAR DAUGHTER, I
had a safe and pleasant journey home. The weather was pleasant and Spring was
rapidly advancing. The Jessamine and Dogwood were in bloom, and the forest had
just commenced clo[th]ing itself with green. The contrast was great between
being pent up in a boarding house in Washington and breathing the pure fresh
air of the country, made fragrant by the blossoms of Spring.
Patrick accompanied me to your Uncle James, where we met your Mother and Sister. They, with your Uncle, were well. I remained there four days, when we took our departure for Fort Hill, leaving Patrick with his Uncle. We found all well on our arrival, and the place in good order and business forward, considering that the measles had passed through the negro quarter during the winter, and that none, but a few had escaped, but with the loss of only one, an infant of a constitution too feeble to survive the attack. I shall finish planting cotton today, and the whole of my crop this week. The small grain looks well, and the place bears the appearance of good order.
We have no local news, in which you would take interest.
John returned from Milledge Ville by the last Stage but one. He looks well and I think his health is much improved by the Water cure. His cough is much better. He is quite a convert to the system. I advise him to visit the establishment at Brattleborough in Vermont, both to complete his cure and perfect himself in the practise. He says, that Gen' McDuffie has improved wonderfully under the process. He is entirely relieved from the Dyspepsia and his nervous affections, and has recovered the free use of his arms, is cheerful, sleeps well, and eats heartily. With the exception of his paralized leg [he] may be said to be well.
I have for some time
believed, that the process, carried to a certain extent, would be of service to
me; and have determined, under John's superintendence, to make a trial. I began
this morning with what is called the wet sheet, or rather the damp sheet, which
in effect is no more nor less, than a safe and efficient form of the vapour
bath. I remained wrapt round with the sheet, and covered with 8 or 9 blankets
for 11⁄2 hours, and ended in a warm bath, and an effectual rubbing dry. The
process was soothing and pleasant. It has cleansed the skin effectually, and I
doubt not, done much to open the pores-the one thing, in my opinion, needful to
me. I shall persist in it until I give it a fair trial; and if I find it as
beneficial as I expect, I shall fix up a complete bathing establishment. I am
pleased with the first essay; and I hope it will prove a substitute for brandy
tody and hot punch. They have, I doubt not done me good; but, I think, the
water cure will do me still more.
All join their love
to you, Mr Clemson and the Children. Kiss them for their Grandfather and tell
them how much I miss them.
[P. S] You see I
substitute a C for an M in your name. I hope you will adopt the change.1
1 The letter is addressed "Mrs. A. C.
Clemson" instead of, as in previous letters, "Mrs. A. M.
Clemson."
SOURCE: J. Franklin
Jameson, Editor, Annual Report of the American Historical Association
for the Year 1899, Volume II, Calhoun’s Correspondence: Fourth Annual Report of
the Historical Manuscripts Commission, Correspondence of John C. Calhoun,
p. 763-4
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