10 Feb.
Lewis went to the City & bought for me an old fashioned wed. ring for $3, a very satisfactory arrangement.—Lewis saw all the boys in Town, John alternates with Peter in harbor duty, and has a boy Bacot with him which gives him 4 hours sleep, he always has some man from the City Companies with him. Berkly, who is in the Sumpter Guards, said when he went out there were only 4 men in the detatchment fit for duty, Berkly, Wilkins, himself & 2 others. The rest were horribly sea sick, or very drunk. Oh! my country men!
Lewis is now proposing to himself to apply for a commission in the Army of the State. Poor Notty’s boy, I wish some thing might suit him.—
He had a very nice photograph of himself taken, and gave it to me. He is quite a good looking follow.—Charles has resigned, and is in the service of the State of Georgia, Lewis met him going to Town on Public business when he came up.—Mrs Butler still at Butler’s Island. Went to see Juliet Elliott yesterday, she is up for the Spring, she says, unless there is a war.—She looks wonderfully, and is as usual, a gossiping, frivolous woman—but I do not think her gifts are many, and perhaps she does as well as she can. She told me Mrs Lucia Lowndes was in a miserable fix with her two eldest daughters, Lucia & Emily, they had not spoken to her for several years, and lived while they remained at Litchfield entirely apart, and when she came back which she did last fall, refused to accompany her. Lucia says she intends to be a Governess, & Emily says she intends to be a Childs nurse. What a terrible situation, these unprotected girls will be in there. I told Juliet in a case like this there must be faults on both sides. She seemed to take the part of the Mother.—
Charlotte prefers our meetings to take place in the afternoons as the morning is altogether taken up with her childrens lessons. Went last Saturday although it was an afternoon cloudy and the day had been rainy. We talked a little, and had tea, and came home refreshed. Mr John Elliott has been engaged to take charge of the Church up here and as Mrs LaRoche is not able to come this winter, Elizabeth has taken upon herself to play on the organ and lead the singing.—Ella is to go with her, & Miss Butler, Charlotte’s Governess. Mrs. Wayne had a Lunch yesterday, to which we went. She expected Mrs. Barnwell, & her daughter, but they did not come, Mr. B[?] had unexpectedly returned. She expected Charlotte but she did not come on account of the girls & their lessons.—
Mrs. Brown and her step daughter came, she is the wife of the Methodist Missionary, quite a good looking & educated woman. E. stopped at the Church to practise on the organ, & came to the lunch. Mrs. Wayne had adorned her person in her peculiar style, a bunch of black lace in front of her head, a pink rose on each side like two horns, and pink strings hanging down. Her own perfect satisfaction with herself was pleasant to see; we had sausages, lamb chops, rice, & sweet meats, and she is very hospitable.—
Mr. Lewis has taken rooms at the Miles house, and Mrs. John Vanderhorst is introducing his daughter, Julia, they have receptions.—He seems very fond of his children, & to be trying to make Julia have a nice time.—
Charlotte, her girls & Governess came to tea, an unsettled looking afternoon. The music on Sunday was not as good as it will be for Elizabeth did not understand about the stops.—