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 This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Staff. Please also consult images of the document.                                                                                            [Fort Roy?], Smarts' [Mill?]

            Matthews Co, Feb 5th, 1862

 

Mr Galt

    My Dear Sir

        [James?] having grown [?]

to a considerable extent since we last

met, being desirous to hear from your

family & yourself, & flattering myself

that a few lines acquainting you of

the changes that have overtaken me since

my departure from Norfolk, would not

be unacceptable, I have undertaken to

write you, tho' I have never received

your promise  [of?] letter. I can excuse you

perhaps on the [plea?] of the lack of

stirring events in Old Norfolk, & the

monotony of a pedagogue's life, which I

presume the condition of the times still

permits you to enjoy. Yet you should

consider that I can appreciate any little

interest that would [conduce?] to the

kindly interchange of our [wonted?] friendship

& especially that pertaining to the domesticity

of Mrs Galt 7 yourself. I was first ord-

 

ered to Gloucester Point, a place full of

the memories of a renowned past, & enh-

anced much in interest to myself by seeing

the numerous relics of old, which have been

excavated by running our new works through the

old fortifications, thrown up by the Brit-

ish. I remained at this Post about one

month, growing fat on the fine oysters

of the noble York, until I had reached

the dimensions to justify my weighing 165lbs,

and, thanks to yourself & Mrs Galt for

forcing me through [that?] Typhoid fever,

which among its visible blessings gave me

a more [impressing?] [physique?] through the

influence of an enormous appetite, which

however has fortunately subsided to suit the

[larder?] of my present quarters. I was ord-

ered to take charge of a work in the

Northern extremity of Matthews County

about two months ago by Gen Magruder, & I

have succeeded up to this time in making

a lengthy & imposing impression upon

Mother earth. The County of Matthews as you

will see from the map is a peninsula, &

the only fortification that could be thrown

up in this quarter, was to run a line across

the narrow dividing line, thus cutting

 

off Matthews from the aristocratic county

of Gloucester, an end most desirable to

the important ladies of the latter Co, who

want as much impediment as possible to

the intercourse. I am, however, so fortu-

nate as to be in the good graces of both

sections, & have in consequence enjoyed the

entertainments on both sides of [me?] Pasties

were numerous during the Christmas holidays,

given to compliment the Crescent Rifles from

[N?], [?], & myself; we had the pleasure of

meeting with some very pretty & intelligent

young ladies, accompanied with plenty of

egg-nogg, made of the old liquors from the

cellars of a preceding generation. Old fami-

lies there are here, Sir, whose genealogy can

be traced far back, to Duke somebody, & perhaps

to Jack Cade. I have seen in one house a veritable

commission from O. Cromwell in his own hand

writing, & these people were, I can assure you,

loth to give up the old Union. Tell Mrs Galt

I am often deeply sensible of her kindness, & would

like again to gossip (if the word don't [sic]offend her,

about the pretty Norfolk girls. My kind regards to

your family, & let me know how you are weathering the

times & give me the news generally. Yours truly,

                    Wm. H. Clarke

 

P.S. For the edification of Mrs. Galt, I will

mention the fact that I have just returned

from a marriage at Old Dr. Tabb's: his

daughter Lucia, a fine lady & lately returned

from Norfolk, having been a bridesmaid to

the late Miss Fisher, now, Mrs [Cau?], & a Dr.

[Williams? Wilkins?] being the parties. [It?] was a [dry?] wedding

[earning?] the tears shed, there being no cake or wine

& the couple leaving immediately for Richd .

I am boarding at Mr Smart's, North [End?],

which is the Post Office for this part of the

county. When I get through here, I shall try &

visit you all in Norfolk.

                W. H. C.....