Sherwood Forest
May 4. 1859
My Dear Sir:
I am happy to learn from your
last letter that I am quit of Mr. Lewis Osborne.
At the proper time I will redeem the draft
altho' it is somewhat larger in amount than
I had anticipated and falls due in the midst
of harvest and before I can make my wheat
crop available. Col. Hedges expresses a desire
to continue his funds where they are upon a
punctual payment of interest, as to which I 
have always been in advance until the 
late occasion. So soon as I can conveniently raise
the money I shall pay his debt also and thus
be free of East Hampton.
My trip to Raleigh was undertaken in
somewhat a fit of desperation. I was quite un
well on leaving home, and had been suffering
much for some days before but those around
me thought that the excitement of the trip would
be of service to me after so long an incarcera
tion at home. My friend Doctor Collins the
President of the rail road made me as comfor-
table as one could be made in a r. car, and
so, in some pain, I glided with some 200 others
on to Raleigh, all invited guests. The vivas were
loud and hastily given by a large Committee
of the finest looking men I almost ever saw as

we approachd the City, and upon alighting from
the car, I was introduced to Gov. Reed who would
take no excuse but carried me directly to the Gov[ernmen]t House
where I was treated with unbounded hospitality
by Mrs. Reed, who by the way is a beautiful woman.
I found the daughter of Judge Sattle with whom I
servd in Congress "long time ago". At 8 o'clock
a committee waited upon us in all form
to escort us to the banquetting hall. I was
suddenly called upon to respond to a toast and
I think left no slight mark on the minds of the
people at Raleigh. The city is altogether unique
every residence as in a grove of beautiful oaks
and the City is not inappropriately called the
City of Oaks. The next day we returnd to Ports
mouth and I sufferd vastly from the ride, but
ever and anon my attention was agreably arrested
by the snowy blossoms of the Dogwood
and the beautiful and often fantastic wreaths
of the golden-blossom'd Jessamine, so that in
the midst of pain I found myself often esclaim
ing "oh beautiful world how much fitter for the
habitation of sylphs and genii than for ruder man!"
Sick wearied and broken down I reachd Portsmouth
and no solicitations or entreaties could excuse me
from this suffer. I accordingly went and was
receivd with the most cordial good will. A speech
followed of course, after which I returnd to bed. That night
(The toasts to Julia were [?]
[?] receivd)

and the next day I was the guest of Norfolk, and
had of course, altho I had been confined to my room
all day to attend this great banquet, another speech
was the consequence, so that I traveled 370 miles and
made three speeches when, had you seen me you would
have prescribd, cold water & a warm bed. It was a
feat which should deservedly be classed with the labors
of Hercules. Since reaching home I have been
a sick person, quite sick, but am again rally
-ing under as I hope, a regular & successful prescription
from two experiencd physicians. How much
I regret these continued head aches of your mother.
Is it possible that there is no remedy for them? It seems
to me that she has exhausted the materia medica.
Julia wrote her, if I mistake not, a prescription
for my good brother Doctor T., let her follow it
and I think she will find more relief than from
all others. Change of scene and air would be of
service to her, but with bilious affections continued
by assailing her and Margaret they manifest a
constant dread of Sherwood Forest where nothing
is more rare than a bilious attack earlier than
September and but slightly then. My own opinion
is that nothing would conduce more to the health of
both than a sojourn here for some weeks. Tell
Margaret that our grounds are now looking quite
well. The roses are sitting in full bloom and
in another week we shall be inveloped in a
full garment of flowers. The strawberries are

are already swelling out and in another week
we shall have green peas upon the table. To you
I say that the wheat crop in all this region is
magnificent. Our own was never so promis-
ing, much is now as high as your waist and
none is otherwise than good, but the farmer is
dependent upon the seasons which often chill and
quite often disappoint our fondest hopes.
With love to all
Yrs Truly
John Tyler
The acceptances your brother so kindly grants me
run out the last of this month.
Do send me on two others of the same amount
$1150 each. Draw them payable at the Man
hattan Bank, at 4 months, have the date
in blank so that it may be filled by me at
the proper time.

J. Tyler
Col. David L. Gardiner
Castleton North Shore
Staten Island
New York