Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

I cannot let the express return
without acknowledging your letter of the 30^th of Sept^r
wherein you give an account of M^rs Graves's illness -
it was very fortunate Miss Hunt was at Bath
at the time, as her attention must have been very
useful ^{& pleasant} to her. I cannot but hope the ^medical advice
she has had will be of material service to her.
She has frequently recovered such severe attacks, that
one has reason to rely greatly on the strength of her
constitution.

We have had a charming winter, such I call a
great deal of clear cold weather, it has agreed
extremely with the Governor, & restored his health
amazingly, but the medical people, as well as himself,
have great fears of the return of hot weather, so that
I should not be surprized if our return ^{to England} is hastened
by the Governors state of health — but as it is not
yet certain, I cannot tell you decidedly
anything — Indeed I do not like to indulge myself in writing on the subject of the
pleasure of seeing you & the children. 'tis a [subject]
too interesting to write on with uncertainty.

We ^frequently drive on the ice about four miles to Frances
house which is called Castle Frank, it is on an
immensely steep hill, built on the plan of a Grecian
Temple, & is a most charming place, & affords us
much amusement; the ^land road to it is not yet very good
but when the ice is gone, the communication will be
equally easy in boats. We have very often
Carriding parties, & dinners in the woods which we
find very pleasant ^{sometimes a dance when we get home in the evening} The ladies were frightened at the
idea but when they experienced how pleasant it was,
& found that no body caught cold, they are become quite
converts to my plan & are much pleased with it — the
winter is the only time to amuse oneself in this country
the summer is too hot to drive about, or take ^any exercise
unless it be in boats. the harbor had been well frozen
& the Gov^r . has found great benefit by being out in the
air, and driving about.

Frances says his Catechism vastly well & the 13
chapter of Corinthians — he learns by heart with
surprizing facility.

I wrote to you the 29^th of Dec^r . & to you & Miss Hunt the
5^th of Feb^y — & then ^also to the children.

I am to thank Miss Hunt for her letter in September.
She mentions my sending a message from Miss [illegible]ler to
Bishop Seabury if it was in my power — which it by no means
is. I might perhaps with less trouble get one conveyed to
the Pope at home.

As for the silk worms, (about which she enquires for M^r
Martin), I have never heard of, or seen any, I should
presume in this Northern climate ^{the winters must destroy them & I believe} were there are no
Mulberry trees ^{so that probably} they cannot exist — but in the present
state of the Country, it is very difficult to get any informa-
tion respecting objects of curiosity, what inhabitants the[re]
are, are so fully employed with their farms, that nothing
else is thought of by them.

As we begin to look homewards, our conversation turns
more that way, & the Governor is frequently & daily
speaking of the pleasure of having so many companions
of his walks, & so many chearful little people to divert
him — some to be in attendance for morning, some for
evening walks; not all on duty at once but by divisions,
except when he makes a general requisition.
It will be great satisfaction ^{when I am able} to say, this is the
last letter I shall write you.

I believe I wrote you word of an Earthquake having been felt here
the shock was more violent at Niagara, & I am told no white
fish have been caught in that River since, tho numbers were
caught daily until that time.
I write now to Miss B[illegible]s

M^rs Simcoe
March 4^th 1796
to
M^rs Hunt
Wolford Lodge
Near Haniton
Devonshire
England

Received
June 2^d
1796

[Rec^d] New York 25 May 1796 &
forwarded by
Your hble serv^t
Theophylass B[illegible]
Ship Hope

York March 4^th
1795[?]