On my return this fall, I found so many things pressing on me, that I defered [deferred] writing till I could adjust matters, unless something compeled [compelled] me to write & promised myself to make amends after Christmass [Christmas].

But I have suffered much with pain in my head & eyes since that time, & am now just recovering from an attack until I am almost as bad a correspondent as yourself & your mother, Indeed if it were not for the Capt [Captain] I should never write to either of you with any certain prospect of hearing from you.

But now the time has been so long since we heard, & every now & then I am interogated [interrogated] about when I heard from you & it is time I should respond — Very recently I wish I had something interesting to write you, but what could I have — This certainly has been the dullest winter for ma[added: n]y Presley has been absent , & Mr E & Henry has been a goodeal [good deal] from home — They are winding up the store at Adairville

Sophronia staid [stayed] with me two weeks of the time but she was somewhat gloomy — Her last child is married — Her baby, & [added: he] just going to house keeping & James started to Arkansas [added: this winter] with his family & on his way he lost three negroes with Cholera & he & Lue were just recovering from an attack of the same, James & Frank Snoden located them in the fall, but did not take all their servants until James & family went down, — Frank lost several also — Some thirty had died on the boat before J. [James] left it —

So your mother can see how she is blessed in having all, or nearly all of her children settled around her, & doing well — We are all moving on much as usual — Mr J. B. Bihh & wife talks of going to New Orleans shortly, If the Cholera does not deter them — Mrs. R. Bihh is in usual health this winter — O we have had a wedding this winter, but a very still one, Mrs. [added: J] Davidson to George Grey — I suppose you would like to hear something from Mrs [unclear: Mauy ] — She is living at Mr Skyles His last daughter was married this winter, & they were anxious to have Mrs M [Mauy] 's society in thier [their] loneliness — I think I have given you all the news that I am in possession of — Now let me entreat you to do the same — One thing however for the Capt — Our state as he will have seen

is in a perfect Commotion relative to this new constitution, Mr. E. was called out to address the people to day [added: against it] (being County Court day) & it is thought from the signs of the times that Logan will reject it by a large majority. How the state will go is yet doubtful, but the thing is very odious to many, & the whigs particularly — They laid down thier arms & made a truce with the democrats, & united in this perplexing Slavery question, by which they got a majority of democrats in Convention, & they have made a Constitution as they think for them selves but it suits no body well, for it is perfectly uninteligible that [added: is] many Clauses, & they differ among themselves as to the constitution But its a model for schools in its grammatical structure, or arrangement, to be handed down to our childrens children as a specimen of our literature — But enough, we are already sick of it, & God firbid [forbid] the people may not be sicker

My paper runs short but permit me to ask the favour [favor] of you to get the reciept [receipt] for the rough & ready cake, & enclose it — I lost the one I had — Also ask your mother about the Peas she gave me, what they are good for, How to grow them, & who the four papers were for?

Please remember me kindly to all, & particularly to Sally — Are you not coming over soon ? Will not Mary Bostic come with you?

Remember, you nor mother are to come without Sally — Make our ackowledgements to our friends generly [generally] for thier kind attentions to us, while there, & to Mr. Bostic's family particularly

Yours as Ever

J. P. Ewing

[added:

Mrs Mary House Nashville Tenn [Tennessee]

]