The letter is a xerox for an article. Some of the edges are missing and the order of some parts is unclear.
Eleven Brothers, December 28, 1845
My Dear Joseph:
Having a clear house today and not knowing what to make of your not writing to the Doctor [presumably, Joseph's sister Sarah's husband], I fear my letter has miscarried. I can't tell what is the reason you never will write. There is not a worthier or more worthy man in our country than he is and I am sure I wrote very explicitely in my last letter, but in case of a miscarriage, I will tell you again that all communications respecting the last will and testament of your deceased father must be made to Doctor Dawson as the only surviving executor, as no one else will do. As for the money, I do assure you my dear Joseph, it is hard to come by. We have 100 dollars laid by for you and I have tried to borrow, but failed. We are all taxed to death in this part of the country. Some talk of Repudiation. But can't tell anything about it. But times [part of the letter appears to be missing]
Your uncle White [Benjamin White?] is in very ... health and looks badly and very low spirited. The decision of the election hurt him, I think, worse than any person I saw, but your uncle W. Chiswell and family were quite in ecstasies. They are among the hottest of the locals. So when you write, touch the subject lightly.
There have been immense sums of money won and lost on the election. Numbers were reduced from affluence to beggary. Your uncle Horatio lost 200 dollars, but Blair and Rives, the local editors, won nearly a hundred thousand dollars. But, I do disapprove of betting in any way.
Your uncle Young [husband of Margaret Chiswell] has been in bad health for a long time, but is getting somewhat better. Your aunt Polly has recovered from her spell.
I believe I told you that James was in this summer and was on board the steamboat "Lucy Walker" when it exploded or an instant before, and wonderful to relate were all miraculously saved -- himself, wife, child and servant. When he found the boat on fire he rushed into the ladies ... Not finding them there he ran to another door and finding it ... burst it open and found them all suffocated with smoke and rolled in the bedclothes. He got them in an instant, seized a piece of timber and placing his wife and son on it and with his infant in his ... jumped into a boat and the next moment the vessel blew up. No doubt you have heard the dreadful catastrophe that took place. Everything they had with them was lost with the exception of a gold watch which he sold for two hundred dollars which enabled him to purchase clothes and pay his passage home.
Thomas Chiswell is still in ... health, but is still going about ... cheerful, but I am afraid he is worse than he thinks he is, for he bloats. I very much fear he has dropsy ... he won't have a thing to do with doctor's medicine. He is such a thoroughgoing Tomsonian, it troubles me very much. They have had a great deal of sickness through the fall and are tolerably well at this time with the exception of himself.
I don't know whether I told you about poor Richard Pool's death or ... poor old Mrs. Jones. There have been a number of deaths through ... part of the country. I know and ... my own loss and deeply. He was a kind friend and companion. I ... with truth that he was my comforter in all my trials and troubles but God in His own wisdoms called him away, and I must submit and I trust he is better off, but I find it a hard task to submit.
I scarcely ever leave home a ... great deal of my time I spend a ... That is, the boys are out on the ... and I have a very lonesome ... Ann is a good deal from home ... young people are frolicking... these holidays and I am entirely along. Christmas Day they were all here as usual and noisy enough, since I ... had a very quiet house. Your ... and the neighbors are all ... well with the exception of those I have named. I hope ... find you all enjoying health and as much happiness as falls to the poor sinful man.
Poor Daniel Trundle was in a fall and was perfectly crazy, ... said it was from drink, and ... thought he drank because his ... was not right, but all his ... to be right back here again. He ... me he was determined to ... again. Poor fellow, I pity him. Fielder Donnald was out in part of the country this fall. He ... to see after Mrs. Williams.
... dead? I don't know, whether it or not, but he was ... he did not know where you ... He inquired about you and was ... had passed you many miles ... said he would certainly have ...