Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-25
PATRTCK HENRY.
Advice 20 a Daughter Just Married
HIS Fears as 60 the Success OF the
Constellation.

l &01SbNtuNAO1s
From the Lynchburg (va) Republican.
The following is copy of a let
ter written by Patrick Henry t,
one of his daughters, soon after he
| marriage. 1t is only valuable
| perhaps, as an ancient relic anC
some wise counsel, and shows hi
fears about the success of our ex
pertinent. The original is now il
the possession of a descendant o.
Mr.. Henry, who resides in Texas
and is a minister of the gospel:
| WILLIAMSBURG, May 10, 1789.-
ly Dear Daughter II regret very
much that 1 could not get home to
your wedding. l hurried from
Philadelphia to this city, with the
hope that l could get all my impor-
tant causes disposed of in time to
have been present on an occasion
so interesting to you as well as to
myself. But the trial of Lumsford
did not end until the 7th, and the
importance of the case, as well as
the overestimate his friends seemed
to place upon my poor services,
would have alone decided my stay +;
and l have several heavy cases in
court, ready for the present term,
so | fear shall not reach home be-
fore you leave for the upper coun-
try. l greatly regret that such is
the case, but certainly shall visit
you in the summer or fall.
1 congratulate myself that you
have married so intelligent and wor-
thy a gentleman. His wealth is his
smallest commentator If you do
your duty and deport yourself dis
creetly to your husband, your future
life promises great happiness. In
the first place, convince him that
you are what you profess yourself,
and believe you to be-a Chris
tian. Take his counsel in all things,
and never intrude yours upon him
unsolicited. Be diligent in attend
ing to your domestic duties, never
trusting your servants too far. The
eye of the mistress is worth a great
deal more than her hands. Let him
see and know that you prize his
friends-and On no account should
you ever indicate any friendship for
those he dislikes. Be neat in your
person-be amiable to all, most es-
pecially to your husband. On no
account should you ever give him
the remotest reason to suspect that
you have any concealments from
him, or that you hold communica-
tions with any, especially of the OPP
posite sex-no matter what the re-
lation may be-from which you
may wish to exclude him. Some
serious family disturbances have
happened by ladies innocently hold
ing secret interviews with min
listers and physicians, from which
the husband has been excluded.
You remember the case of
Mrs, and DIR. NJ. L always
thought they acted very foolishly
to use no stronger language
and she certainly did plant a thorn
in Gen. IS pillow. 1t placed her
too in an awkward position, for
when the arrangement became pub
lie, she made the very defence that
a guilty person would have done,
and that an innocent one was
obliged to make. But if she had
consulted M, about her malady
in the presence of Gen. -, no
harm could have grown out Of any
thing she had said to him. But
this secrecy of communication
would have awakened the wrath of
any man, and M was lucky in
making his escape. Avoid every
thing of this kind. Do not allow
yourself to become excited, if your
husband in a moment of irritation
should speak a little sharply to
you-the management Of his large
estate will cause him many per-
plexities you will know nothing of
and hasty words may sometimes
be expected from any man, for all
are imperfect, Do not regard your
husband as perfect, but be prepared
to overlook the foibles that are in
cident to human life. Never allow
yourself to deceive him. [ drop
these suggestions because you are
very young, and that you may keep
them always in mind.
Ispent two days with Gen. Wash
ington, at Mount Vernon. He had
Just arrived from the seat of gov
eminent. He and Mrs. W. are in
fine health and spirits. He spoke
of your approaching marriage and
of your husband in high terms,
and sent you his fluctuations. In
fifty years, if our new constitution
succeeds as well as he believes it
will, and l hope it may, to have re-
ceived such message from Gen.
Washington will be something
greatly to boast of. His fame is
now Overshadowing--far surpass-
ing all of Revolutionary memory
and the entire success Of our re
publican experiment, fit shall con
tinue republican, will exalt him
in the eyes of posterity to a pima
Gle of renown, greater perhaps than
mortal man has ever reached. Mr..
Madison was, also, with the Gen.
eral. He is, you know, man Of
the greatest ability, and seems tc
be adding rapidly to his store OF
information. He, too, will fill {
high destiny in our country, but IL
this l always intend to be under
stood as saying, if the constitution
proves itself equal to the expecta
lions of its friends and'the hopes o
all.
| James leaves early tomorrow
and have made the best selections
| | could Of the robes. My love t
all, and especially to your husband
Write to me upon your arrival a
your new home.