[January] 30th
Lewis returned and had a very nice time was handsomely entertained and enjoyed the change, the negroes seemed to like it too. Mr John Townsand was very much interested in the Fort—
Things seem to progress, the Southern States are going out one after another and the border states undetermined.—
We dined with Papa last week, a very handsome affair, and the party consisted of Mrs Wayne, ourselves & Miss Butler, Charlotte’s new Governess, he gave us a nice dinner. Charlotte & her little girls & Governess took lunch with us on Saturday, we had music, & cake, & wines, and I enjoyed Charlotte’s society. She says Miss Butles[?] seems to be a very pleasant tempered person with rather more of the Irish accent than she expected. She hopes she will answer her purposes for 2 years, and seems very much concerned to have these children well educated.—
Things seem to progress in a slow but certain way. John is now in command of a Steamboat to watch the harbor, he alternates with Pilot and I hope will get paid for his services.—
Charles has resigned, and intends offering his services to the State of Georgia. I am sorry he will lose his pay, but the State will pay. Lewis made a visit to the Fort at Edisto to see if Bing Smith intended resigning his place of Captain, for then Lewis would try for it.—
He went down in the boat and had lunch here, at 11 o’clock, and the next day returned & dined here. 4 went with him, W. Simons, Megget, Weston, Walters,—but Bing Smith chooses to keep his post.—
We returned Mrs Barnwells visit the other day & found her at home; she expressed herself very much concerned by the ill health of her husband. Last summer Dr Ogiier[?] said he ought to go away & take care or himself he said he could not leave his business, & now he looks very badly has most painful symptoms, palpitation of the heart, & all that, and is afraid of a disease of that organ. I met with an annoying accident a few days since, in walking up the road. I took off my glove, a large dog skin one, and having lately worn on my little finger my wedding ring, because it had become too small, it slipped off and I have not been able to find it. I am going to purchase another & in the mean time wear the ring belonging to my eye-glasses, which had become loosened.—