This is a letter to John Towles from his cousin. To: Master John J Towles Fairfax Institute District of Columbia Henderson May the 15th 1840 Dear Cousin, I received your letter on the 13 of May which has been nearly three weeks on the way, the mails being detained by high water. I was very glad to hear you had a pleasant trip. You wrote me that Walter lost something on the way and had a days ride to Fredricks town after it but you do not mention what it was, you must tell Walter to mention in his letter what it was. I am very glad you are pleased with Fairfax, you did not mention how you liked the college and Teachers but I supppose you must have liked them very well as you did not say anything about them, you asked me to mention the name of Aunt Mary Ann Baby it is Sophronia Bahannan Alves. Uncle Rob is now in Louisville he went to carry Miss E Gayle up we expect him home Sunday, the girls are all well and tell Walter Libby in particular. We are looking for Cady and her granma home every day. We have five colts and Areadna (?) has a filly colt for the first time which Pa says he would not take a $100.00 for. Colonel Long was up week before last and says Macedonian is dead he died in a fit. Poor Walter is dead he died the 20th of April after a great many fits, but fortunately he did not die in one of them, the death of Poor Walter was a great shock to us all as we did not expect it. You asked me to tell all of the Alves Families not to forget but I have not seen any of them. I did not waite in fact to see them as I expected you would be anxious to receive my letter. You asked how all of the families were but you did not say anything about us. Ma feels quite slighted as you seemed not to care any thing about us. My English heafer is springing bag and I think will soon have a calf. I forgot to tell you the name of Pa's fine colt he thougt so much of it that he named after Ma Maria Davis, he has also named Arabia's fine colt Arabella after Miss Arabella. Tom is not married yet nor will be shortly I do not think. We are all well very well, your Ma, Pa and Betty are all well. Pat Jones says you must be sure to write to him. I am nearly through the eclectic Arithmetic. Mr Mc Cullagh says at the end of this Quarter we will have to get speeches and Dialogues; there has been two shows here since you left there was a circus here 8th of April and an animal and circus show together the 13 of May. You did not say what bridge that was you saw, tell Walter he must write what bridge it was, you say it cost you $2.00 to come three miles from Alexandria. how was that you say there is but one kind of flower your ma has not got what is it. Your Pa received Walter's letter the same day I received yours. Tell Walter he must write as soon as you receive this letter and also tell him that the little sow I got from him will soon have Pigs, you Kit has had a colt but I do not know wheather it was a mare or horse but I believe it is now dead. I must now come to a close as I believe I have mentioned every thing I can think of show this to Walter and let him read it tell him to write soon. Yours respectfully James (part of the signature is missing)