The following letter was probably written by the same John P. Foster (1817-1890) of Lynchburg, Campbell county, Virginia, who married, in 1848, to Susan Ann Temperence (“Tempy”) Holt. He was originally from Charlotte, I believe. Later in life he was a farmer. I was unable to find anyone else by this name in the 1850 census. But I also could not establish a link with his uncle, S. B. Foster.

From what I can gather, John was an itinerant watch peddlar/repairman. His letter speaks of the growing agitation between the North & South over the slavery issue and specially refers to Millard Fillmore’s recent message to Congress urging Texasto give up her claims to parts of New Mexico in exchange for $10 million in federal compensation which led to the Compromise of 1850. (see Speech).

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Fork Union
Fluvanna county [Virginia]
August 11th 1850

My dear Uncle,

With pleasure I now seat myself to address a few lines to you to inform you of my whereabouts, &c.

I got your letter about two weeks ago & was very glad to hear from you & to learn of my friends in that part of the world & to know that you are yet in the enjoyment of good health & as you say—happy, which is far more than I can say. Although my health is as good as it has been for the last two years, I cannot say that I am happy for I am far from it yet. I think that I am as happy as almost anyone could be in my situation. I find my business very good yet. I am doing well as could be expected. I have taken since last November over three hundred dollars [and] have cleared over and above expenses a little over two hundred besides my horse & clothes. I have just one hundred in the bank which pays five percent [interest]. I have in my pocket about over a hundred & as I am a going on to Washington & Baltimore, I think I will lay it out in Lever Watches. I can get $25 for Harrisons which pays very well as it is no expense to sell them.

I want to see you and others of my friends but it is useless to talk about that as I do not expect to do so for a long time. I am now at Mr. Mann’s. He has given up the business & he has given me a recommendation to all of his former customers. I have been out on his route three days [and] got $9.50 and the promise of $5 more when I come around next time. I think my prospect is far better this year than it was last.

The weather is very warm. For several days the thermometer stood at 104 which you know is very warm riding. Yet I stand it far better than I expected. I am now in what is called a very sickly place at this season of the year but it is uncommonly healthy. I do not know of a sick person about excepting some that are always a grumbling year after year as ther are some in every place. We have had no cholera in this section yet. It is at Harpers Ferry, 30 miles west of Washington—a few cases.

As it regards Miss Martha playing [backgammon?], I think she tried to make it appear a little to smoothe on her part by saying that she had but little knowledge of the play. I think she must have played before to have beaten you six times in succession yet I think that she ought to be credited for the same. I would be very happy to take a game with her myself. I think by the time she had beaten three or four times, that the rest would come out mine, but as you know, it is useless to oppose a woman. We must let them have their own way & say you spoke of my pen making me write strangely as it regards Phebe kissing me. It is no more strange than true. yet I don’t think that it bestows much honor on me. But she did it as though she loved it which you know is natural for her.

Give my respects to Marth T. & all others of my old acquaintance except the man that keeps a preparation for pies (_urber). Peaches are very plenty & beginning to ripen & we have a most all kinds of fruit. The wheat crop is a little short. Corn looks very well. Tobacco is small but very high in market.

There is a great stir about the Abolitionist Question which I think is now a going to soon bring the North & South into a quarrel as I suppose you have seen Fillmore’s message in regard to Texas which if he sends a force there, the South will rise. But I hope it will prove otherwise.

I shall be in Washington on the 1st of October. Write me either at Fredericksburg, Virginia, or Washington City. I must now close. Goodbye at present. From your nephew, — John P. Foster

to his Uncle S. B. Foster