Fauquier County November 21 1813
I received my dear Aunt your last letter as long ago as the 9th of October and should have sooner acknowledged the pleasure I felt at hearing from you had not my mind been wholly occupied with reflecting on the long trip my dear Mr Carter has taken since my last letter to you. Least you should not have heard of his absence I must perform the painfull [sic] task and tell you that he has gone to England on business of importance and that I shall not see him until the Spring. I cannot express, my dear Aunt what I have felt on this subject indeed I can never feel happy again until he returns. When you consider the distance and the time that must elapse ere we can meet you will not be surprised at my constant anxiety respecting him. Unite with me my dear Aunt in praying for his welfare and safe return to his family and my feeble Prayers will be offered for your temporal and eternal happiness. From your enquiries about my dear Brother I find you are ignorant that he has been in Canada for some time past. I informed you some time ago of his being a Major in the regular Army of the United States. When General Wilkinson was appointed Commander in chief of the Northern Army he was made one of his Aids and has been and is still in that capacity. I parted with him the 18th of August and the evening before I wrote you informing you of my regret at parting with him As he expected to pass thro Philadelphia he intended to deliver the letter in person but from that place he wrote me and mentioned his regret at not being able to see you his stay was only a few hours and was much fatigued which circumstances prevented him from searching you out. I am in hopes you will see him on his return should it Please Heaven that event should ever happen Oh my dear Aunt I have a great deal to afflict me at this time all my dearest friends so far distant and all I fear in dangerous situations, for I consider crossing the Atlantic Ocean with more apprehension than even going to Canada. You talk of our meeting. I wish most sincerely I was near you at this time as I stand in need of society more than I ever did at any former period of my life. I am tho in a remote country place with only my dear children, I must try – to derive consolation from the performance of my various duties which is I believe the best source from whence we poor Mortals can receive happiness. After all the society would be very agreeable to me and I cannot help sometimes repining at my solitary situation, but I have many comforts and indeed some luxuries so perhaps I am wrong in not being wholly satisfied with my lot, it is much better I am sure than I deserve and if the Almighty will only restore my dear and absent friends safely to me I shall be perfectly contented I am pleased to hear that your Grandson is so studious, but hope he will sometimes spare an hour to devote to your service. I must request you tho my dear Aunt not to shew him my Scrawls, my always writing in a hurry and with a dreadfull [sic] Pen is the only apology I can make for sending you such badly written Epistles. I believe I have formerly told you I could not make a Pen which accounts for my always having a bad one. My 2 eldest children remember you still with affection they are all well Thank Heaven. I hope you my dear Aunt are as much so as usual and that I shall soon hear from you. Let it not be long as to hear of your health and felicity will greatly contribute to the happiness of your affectionate Niece.
Lucy Carter
Sunday P.M.
I wish I was now in your Town going to Church. L. C.
Source: Carbon copy of transcription of original, Lloyd P. Shippen private collection. Transcription available in vertical files, Jessie Ball DuPont Memorial Library, Stratford Hall
Transcribed by Colin Woodward, 2017 March 9
