Digital Commons @ Wofford

Charlottesville Aug. 6. 38

Albemarle Co. Va.

My dear Mary

I write to you from the mountains of Virginia. You will have learned from a letter to mamma dated some two weeks ago, that I arrived at my friend Rivers; a day or two before that Date on my way to the Springs. I remember that I wrote the weather was cool_ + so it continued from first to last about 72 or 80 hours when it relapsed into its former state of intolerable heat + for a week together the thermometer stood in Rivers corridor at 92 to 97 at 3 P.M. The nights were horrible I was bathed in perspiration whenever I happened to doze a few moments. The loss of sleep wore me out. This heat has been accompanied in this part of the country with as awful[?] a drought. The corn was perishing_ but a few [p2] days ago there was a change + a [?] full of rain. It has since been very delightful until today, when I find it very hot again. Take it all together I never in my life have suffered as I did for three weeks in Washington then in Baltimore + another [?] x. The weather in Charleston last July was as hot, but at home, I know not why, it overcame me less_ The truth is from my recent experience, I think the whole American continent excessively hot in the summer excepting some spots in the mountains + on the shore. The cities are untenable_ + were it not that our summer is so dismally long, I should pronounce Charleston more comfort[able?] to people situated as we are, than any other town on the Atlantic.

We set out tomorrow for the White Sulphur Springs which we hear over flowing with company, to such a degree that accommodations are scarcely to be had. Should that be the case I shall decamp very soon, for you know I love my ease dearly + hate too much control with the world. There are some people people there, or I hope

x[from above] The writer a Charlestonian, he missed the breeze of the “City by the Sea”

[p3]so, that I desire very much to see. Should I be fortunate in finding lodging to my taste, I shall probably remain there for a week or fortnight.

This country is very beautiful. I should[?] like it mainly as a summer residence. Mr. Jefferson’s [?] Monticello is about within sight of us.

There is a great gathering here today to a[?] courts. They gaped at me a good deal as I stood in the piazza a few moments, but I hate to be stared at, + so affected my retreat as soon as possible.

I will write to you from the White Sulphur Where I expect to get letters from Charleston which will determine my future movemnets. I do not wish to return before late in Sep[?] if I can be absent so long with the consent of my friends.

I forgot to mention that the President + his two sons passed a couple of days at River[?] when I was there. He is a civil man enough, but hes no[?] very[?] banked[?] social qualities + very little of the sort of information or the turn of mind[?] that pits one for shing in conversation__ He [p4] is cold and cautious. In company you know as Afne[?] Cheek in the play has it, a man might as well be “a Br[???] as a politician.”

I am very curious to hear from Caroline - which I have not done these two weeks past. I want to know Calhoun’s gang stood x my letter or how they cared[?] + roared on receiving it. It is [illegible]. It was high time somebody should hold that language.

My love to mama + Eliza

I travel in an Extra stage with the River[?]

God bless you

H.S. Legare

xLetter to Gov. Butler on “Instructions”

Digital Commons @ Wofford

Broadus R. Littlejohn, Jr. Manuscript and Ephemera Collection

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