Sherwood Forest June 15. 1850 My Dear Sir: Death follows death in endless succession. We were bending over the grave of my beloved Daughter when we are startled by the annunciation of Mr Beeckman's death. Strange coincidence that he and Mrs Walls should have perished at the same age--each in the 27th year. My sympathies are inexpressibly great for Margaret. So sudden a blow, so unexpected, in the morning of life and in the spring-tide of success. I esteemd him most highly. All that is left us however is to treasure the recollection of his many virtues. His devotion to his family was most strongly manifested in his absence in California. I trust that the object so near to his heart has been realized in securing them, or at least laying the sure foundation for an indepen -dent competency. From all I hear I should con clude it was certainly so. Margaret should remember that his death is the result of an accident which was quite as apt to occur at home as abroad. The percussion hammer should never be worn upon the cap. All the accidents which I have heard of have arisen from that source. I shall make arrangements to despatch Julia to join the family while at Saratoga as soon as possible after our harvest. I have no great confidence that [Pain's] invention can supersede coal. It seems to be so contradictory to all the regulations of Nature and her liberal provisions for the good of man- kind. She has scattered her forests and planted her coal beds for the purposes of fuel upon so extensive a field, that I cannot believe that she designs these for no practical use. It may however be that she unveils her mysteries after a long succession of ages, so as to enable man to develop new agents and new resources to supersede others which she designed for his use in an earlier and more unenlightened stage of his existence. Be that as it may I concur in the proposed efforts to sell and in your plan of ad vertizing. I think the better way is to [receive] offers without [doubting] any price, and to decide upon the offers as made. If Pain's [matter] is to supersede the use of coal, we shall have to submit to a loss, altho' I doubt whether he can sell his fire more cheaply for manufacturing purposes than we can the coal at the mine. Geo. [Waggaman] asked me to give him the referral when I had made up my mind to sell. I think it would be well to write him and inquire the extent to which his company is inclined to go. Will you do so? I think it well to say that my first drafts negociated at Norfolk fall due the 11. July and that it would be well to for- ward me others to take their places at an early day. Divide them into two, of $1125 each to [] the one of $1500 and the other of $750. I mention this sooner in consequence of my proposed visit to Charlottesville on the 29, which will carry me to Richmond where I may negociate them. The Students are all [full] of my visit and expected address. The last may disappoint them as I have been constantly involvd in gloom and have wanted ordinary spirits. It will be a brief and unpretending exhibit of facts in the Virginian history going to show her uniform and early determination to resist the taxing power by England. I fear much that we are to have a con tinuance of agitation by the defeat of the Com- promise Plan. Tazewell's letter to Foote wd seem to regard the Union as gone. I am not yet in despair, but the proceedings of Massachusetts are inauspicious. With love to all Affectly Yrs J. Tyler A. Gardiner Esqr