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Letter Wm. B. Williamson to John M. Moody, Esq. 3 Mar 1838

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Date: 3 Mar 1838 [unknown]
Location: Clinton, Mississippimap
Surnames/tags: Moody Williamson Wright
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Clinton, Miss. March 3rd 1838.
My dear friend
I have not rec'd a letter from you in so long a time I presume you have taken it for granted that I have committed suicide and of course it would be unnessary to write. You will see however that I am yet numbered among the living where (by Devine permission) I hope to remain.
Yesterday I rec'd intelligence which might have impelled one less tenacious of than myself to the commission of that rash act.
You will recollect that sometime during the last summer I sent my miniature to Miss Julia; I understand she has refused to accept it this was indeed painful to me but her rejection however long and ardentmy attachment might have been for her her rejection has not created in me a suggiciently morbid appetite for death to make me resort to the poisonous Prussic Acid or the introduction of the smooth edge of a razor to my jugulars.
I cannot say that I have been much disappointed although she is the only lady that I ever loved I could never lay the flattering unction to my soul that she had any regard for me except as an Acquaintance.
I was always of the opinion yea I might say I was sure that whenever I should propose she would throw herself on her reserved-rights and repudiate the attack so soon as made. Some of the greatest victories have been achieved by perseverance and oft-repeated attacks for instance; Bruce, on the Plains of Blannockburn. I must confess however that I am unable to follow the example of that great man and am compelled to say in the language of the Tennessee Com "If that,s you Captain I,l give in".
Whoever shall be so fortunate as to obtain her hand will obtain a Jewell. But I am done. At Spes fracta. I can now say in the language of the Poet:
The last link is broken
That bound me to thee
The words thou hast spoken
Have rendered me free.
Shakespeard says-
Wise men never sit and wail their loss.
But hereby seek how to redress[?] their home.
I will not mourn the loss but will endeavor to forget all former attachment for her and never think of her again except as an Acquaintance wo whome prosperity and hapiness I shall be ever delighted to hear.
I ask no vengeance for the powers above
All I implore is, never more to love ---- Lyttleton
I now leave the subject from henceforth and forever. Present her my respects when you see her if she will deign to accept them.
We had quite a menlacholy affair to take place in our village this morning. A Mrs. Lindsay (the wife of Aaron Lindsay a young lawyer of this place. and the mother of an infant about three or four months old) put a _________ to her existance by shooting, a pistol ball through her head. the cause of this was jealousy "The green eyed monster which doth make the meat it feeds on."
I was called to see her, but on my arrival though the distance was not more than two hundred yards, I found her quite dead. She wrote a note to her husband who was out, sent a boy to cary it, called[torn, from Minnie] back the[torn, from Minnie] nurse to cary her child to the kitchen and so soon as left alone she committed the fatal deed.
I will now close by requesting you to present my compliments to your Lady; and all enquiring friends.
Very Respectfully,
Wm. B. Williamson
P. S. Do not fail to write soon and give me all the news. W.B. Williamson
Note by M. L. H.
The Julia referred to in this letter was Julia Patterson daughter of Squire John Hamilton Patterson and Alice Crump. There were two daughters of this marriage - Julia and Mary - neither of whom married. Squire Patterson married for second wife , Amelia Depuy. He died at Battesea Farm and his widow lived for a number of years with Mrs. H. G. Leigh in Petersburg, Virginia. Robert Crump's second wife was Mildred Williamson, he was brother to Squire Patterson' first wife - Alice Crump.
VLR (Virginia Leigh Refo)
A second letter from Dr. William B. Williamson to his friend, John Mason Moody (see also #23). This letter was also transcribed by my great-aunt, Mary Eulah (Leigh) Hays.
See letter # 35 for more Patterson details. Also see letters # 19, # 23, #30.
Mrs Hays did not transcribe the address:
Addressed to: John M. Moody Esq.,
Pleasant Hill
No.Ampton Cty.,
No. Carolina
Postmarked: MAR 3 [The city postmark is blurred past recognition.]
Single
Postage 25

Acknowledgement





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