Norfolk January 7h. 1854

Dear Col:
We arriv'd here this morning
in due season, notwithstanding our having
encounterd a heavy snow storm on the Bay.
The fall of snow was very heavy covering
the whole earth some six inches deep. Julia
and myself have been both indispos'd during
the day, but will recruit during the night
ans I hope, and prosecute our journey home
to morrow. Please say to your mother that
we deeply regretted not having bid her our
final adieus, but I was so impressed with the
importance of taking advantage of the mild
weather as to resolve not to lose a day. To
morrow I hope we shall reach home all well
and thus bring our thoughts once more within
the limits of our own homestead. Upon reaching
Philadelphia I receivd intelligence of the death
of my sister Mrs. Waggaman. She left this life on
the 3rd last. Thus I am left to mourn the loss of
my last surviving sister. She too who had the charge
of my infancy in loco pareretis and to whose care
and attention I have ever felt myself under the
greatest obligation. You know I had design'd to

Norfolk January 7h. 1854

Dear Col:
We arriv'd here this morning
in due season, notwithstanding our having
encounterd a heavy snow storm on the Bay.
The fall of snow was very heavy covering
the whole earth some six inches deep. Julia
and myself have been both indispos'd during
the day, but will recruit during the night
ans I hope, and prosecute our journey home
to morrow. Please say to your mother that
we deeply regretted not having bid her our
final adieus, but I was so impressed with the
importance of taking advantage of the mild
weather as to resolve not to lose a day. To
morrow I hope we shall reach home all well
and thus bring our thoughts once more within
the limits of our own homestead. Upon reaching
Philadelphia I receivd intelligence of the death
of my sister Mrs. Waggaman. She left this life on
the 3rd last. Thus I am left to mourn the loss of
my last surviving sister. She too who had the charge
of my infancy in loco pareretis and to whose care
and attention I have ever felt myself under the
greatest obligation. You know I had design'd to

visit her during this month, but this has
now vanished away and the grave hides her for
ever from my sight. I had sketched to myself
much enjoyment at Washington, but now the pace
has fallen on the bier, and I dare not so soon en
ter into gay scenes. How deeply I regret this I need
not say. My hope however is that you and Marga-
ret will be able to get along quite as cheerily with
out me as with me.
You will receive from this place during
the week a draft on New York made payable
to yourself, and one from Sherwood Forest, to
take up the acceptances which fall due on the
17th or 18th. My book is at home and I cannot
exactly specify which day. Please ascertain at
the Bank. I have curtaild the amount of those
now to be negociated, and shall continue to
do so until they are extinguished. If suits my
purposes better to do so, than to pay them off at
once, while they give no trouble of moment except
at the time of this renewal and then chiefly
to myself. Will you say to Margaret that Julia
wishes her to pay to Miss Ames for her Five Dollars.
Say to M. that I will settle it with her. I also feel
anxious that the Castleton apothecary should be paid
his account without delay. Please let me know what

it amounts to and I will send a check. At the same
time I wish to send a check for five dollars for the
servants, and if either leaves before, do give him or
her for Julia one Dollar. By the way I will enclose
five Dollars for the servants intending a
Dollar each for the coachman and four wo-
men.

With best love to all
Yrs. Truly
John Tyler

Col. D. L. Gardiner

My dear Sister-
I might have written you
a long letter today from Norfolk if I had felt able
but I presume I did not escape in my journeying
taking some cold. Last night I had much fever
and it [...][...] today to [...] from the consequences.
This evening I am better and I expect when I reach
home I shall faster improve. I shall try tonight
tell Mama, McClintock. You know I left pretty much
every thing undone in N. Y. and I want you to get me and

send on with the things I did select at Becks 54 yds of 
Turkey red. And 24 yds of red gimp border about 15 cts. 
per yd. That is the price I have given heretofore. If the 
things I got at Becks have already departed with Hopes 
wait to hear from me again before you send the curtain 
material, as my list had them as well, all come together. 
Can't you find out for me the price of iron or wooden 
vases such as would be nice looking on our back [...] 
at an early moment. The first time you [] it [] if []
The [Par's] seems very sorry [...] your amount
that the [] [] []- is knocked on the head for [him]
[] of course I cannot say it would be possible.
I have felt restless without you all already so do
soon come on. I expect Mama's trip for L. []
& back again ended in a headache at least, I saw
a slight whim of the tale in the Herald next day.
With love to all you []
Julia