I have but yesterday received yours of October 21. Your letters of the
following dates I have received: 8 and 10, 16, 29 September; 1, 9, 21,
and 22 October.[112] These letters, and indeed every line from you, give
me inexpressible pleasure, notwithstanding the melancholy scenes
described in most of them of late. I am happy to learn that the family
is in health once more, and hope it will continue. My duty to my mother.
I wish she would not be concerned about me. She ought to consider that a
dysentery can kill as surely as a cannon. This town is as secure from
the cannon and men-of-war as the moon is. I wish she had a little of
your fortitude. I had rather be killed by a ball than live in such
continual fears as she does.
I can't write as often as I wish. I am engaged from seven in the morning
till eleven at night.
Two pair of colors, belonging to the Seventh Regiment, were brought here
last night from Chambly, and hung up in Mrs. Hancock's chamber with
great splendor and elegance. That lady sends her compliments and good
wishes. Among a hundred men, almost, at this house, she lives and
behaves with modesty, decency, dignity, and discretion, I assure you.
Her behavior is easy and genteel. She avoids talking upon politics. In
large and mixed companies she is totally silent, as a lady ought to be.
But whether her eyes are so penetrating, and her attention so quick to
the words, looks, gestures, sentiments, etc., of the company, as yours
would be, saucy as you are this way, I won't say.
But to resume a more serious subject. You ask me to write to your father
and sister, and my heart wishes and longs to do it, but you can have no
conception what there is to prevent me. I really fear I shall ruin
myself for want of exercise.