"April 23. 1822.
"The blow was stunning and unexpected; for I thought the danger
over, by the long interval between her stated amelioration and the
arrival of the express. But I have borne up against it as I best
can, and so far successfully, that I can go about the usual
business of life with the same appearance of composure, and even
greater. There is nothing to prevent your coming to-morrow; but,
perhaps, to-day, and yester-evening, it was better not to have met.
I do not know that I have any thing to reproach in my conduct, and
certainly nothing in my feelings and intentions towards the dead.
But it is a moment when we are apt to think that, if this or that
had been done, such event might have been prevented,--though every
day and hour shows us that they are the most natural and
inevitable. I suppose that Time will do his usual work--Death has
done his.
"Yours ever, N.B."
* * * * *