Monmouth Historic Inn

Part II of Eliza's Letter to her son - June 9, 1849

October 22 2014 | News

This is the second half of Eliza's 6/9/1849 letter to her son.  In it we read of the deep religious ties and beliefs the family held back then, as so many people did.  We also continue reading how the Cholera epidemic continued to take the lives of so many, as Eliza writes:  "so they go to the great and low, the rich and poor."  Never a truer statement has been made and one we should all take heed of in light of recent weeks, and as we enter flu season.

The Convention of our Church was held in Natchez the week before last.  They succeeded in electing us a Bishop the Rev. Dr. Green of North Carolina being chosen.  He is also to be our Rector.  I do not know when I have spent a week more pleasantly than that of the Convention.  The clergy and lay delegates were so agreeable.  We had the gratification of having Mr. Page with us, also a gentleman, a Mr. Niles, a lay delegate from Yazoo City he is a connection of the Turnbulls and an exceedingly pleasant man.  The Bishop preached Mr. Giles funeral sermon.  A very beautiful and appropriate discource.  Mrs. Giles was present, she bore it with more fortitude than we had supposed she could.  The text was from Job, “If a man die shall he live again.”  On Sunday Mr. Page preached to the largest congregation ever assembled within the walls of any Church in Natchez.  It was filled to overflowing a perfect squeeze.  His text was from the Book of Numbers, where Moses is represented as addressing a beloved friend and relative when about to journey to the promised land.  And Moses said unto Hobab, “We are journeying into the place of which the Lord said I will give it you, come than with us and we will do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.”  It was one of the most beautiful and impressive sermons I ever listened to.  Your Father was charmed and deeply impressed.  He went to hear both Bishop Otey and Mr. Page.  Mr. Waldo said Mr. Page’s deeply impressive manner reminded him of one of the prophets of the Old Testament.  His reception was highly gratifying to him, he is doing well in Memphis and is pleased there.  I regret much my dear Henry that you could not have been here.  Mr. Page inquired very particularly about you.  He is a good and fine man if ever there was one.  On last Thursday [he] was married by Bishop Otey James Johnstone (who used to visit us so frequently)  to Miss Ruth Wood daughter of old Col. Wood of Jefferson and at the same time and place Cousin Thomas Baker brother of Everard to Miss Martha Payne your sister Louisa’s old schoolmate.  Aunt Turner was here the day before yesterday.  She looks younger and in better health than ever, Uncle the dear old man, is enjoying the same blessing he is one of the best of men, I wish you would write to him occasionally it would be gratifying to him.  Intelligence has just arrived of the death of Maj. Genle. Gaines. Who died in N. Orleans of Cholera, so they go to the great and low, the rich and poor.  You will think it strange perhaps that so many have died of Cholera when they might have been cured, but Dr. Duncan practiced Homepathy at first and then resorted to Dr C. and so all who lost so many tried other remedies first and then cam back to Dr Cart.  Capt. Minor used Dr Cats prescription from first to last and did not lose a single one, the old Dr says he lost but 2 cases out of many hundreds.  I forget how many.  My paper is spent so with the love of all united to you remember me always as your

                   Affectionate

                                      Mother EQuitman

All well, friends relatives and all