Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

D.^r Johnson's arrival relieved me from
the most painful anxiety about our dear little
boy. He considers him now as entire [torn] and
assures me that he never thought him [torn]. This
unfortunate accident will prevent you from coming
down for some time; and however painful it may be
to me to be absent from you, particularly at this time,
I must conjure you not to attempt the journey
until our son is perfectly restored. Henrico Court
is now in session and I cannot leave it without
abandoning ever the pretence of practicing law.
This consideration would not restrain me how-
ever from going immediately to Amelia, if D.^r
Johnson did not assure me that there is no ne-
cessity for it. It distresses me very much to hear that
you have made yourself unwell by your excessive
anxiety and [fatigue]. For Heaven's sake, my dear
est wife, correct that morbid sensibility, which
preys upon your constitution, poisons all domestic
enjoyment, and renders you unfit to act in the
various relations of life. This irritable state of your nerves counteracts the very objects which you have
so much at heart; and makes you less capable of
affording maternal aid ^to the little treasure on which
your affections are placed. It is time that you
should exert a little fortitude, and bear up against
those [torn][toward] events which every day may bring
[illegible][torn] will perhaps call these the lessons of
insensibility; but the time will certainly come
when you will have reason to regret that they
have not been regarded. You must begin at once
to put them in practice; and, I confess, I am the
less disposed to visit Amelia at this time, in order
to enable you to call forth the resources of your ow
mind. If this great work were once accomplished,
I should be the happiest of men. Adieu, my dearest
wife. Write me by every opportunity the state of your
health and that of our son; and let not my advice be
given in vain.

P.S.
I am in perfect health.

M^rs.
Hermitage
Near
Genito

Fav.^d By
D.^r Johnson