Your last letter was received on sunday, and as it was the first one in two weeks, I read it with much pleasure. I was very glad to learn that all our friends were recovering again, and I hope that there will be no new cases among them for some time to come. I think that our family have had at least their proportion of sickness for the last year or two. Since I last wrote my own health has been much better, and I hope will soon be entirely recovered.

On saturday last, for the first time since I came here, we had a grand Pic-Nic party. The Ladies had been preparing for it, for some two or three weeks, and had everything arranged. It was intended to be in honour of Miss Betty Bryan, daughter Hon. John H. Bryan , who has been staying with Miss Annie Swain for several weeks; but on the friday night before, tha Miss Dortch, asi a sister of one of our students, accompanied by her brother , arrived in the stage, & as she is very pretty, accomplished, &c and was more of a stranger than Miss Bryan, most of the honour of the Pic-Nic fell to her. But if it will not tire you, I will endeavour to give you some idea, how a Pic-Nic party is conducted on C. Hill. The day was a very beautiful one, and about 9 o'clock all the vehicles of which the village could boast were paraded in front of Miss Nancy 's, and after being well almost filled with provisions, fishing rods, &c the whole party including myself, mounted to our respective seats, and preceeded by our fine College Band marched out of town. We found the roads to be in excellent spirits order, and as had been as was appointed, we drove out to Mill, some five miles off, belonging to a Mrs. Patterson.2 When we reached there, all commenced fishing, but finding but little sport in practising the "angling art", we adjourned to the Mill-House, where a dance was got up, and continued until [[unrecovered]] we received the order from Miss Nancy to come to dinner. The table was spread under some large trees under by the bank of the creek, and spread with "eatables," as only Miss Nancy knows how to do so. The exercise we had taken gave us fine appetites, and we did full justice to the good things set before us. After the meal was over, the dance was resumed, and continued until the sun warned us to wend our way homeward. The ride back was delightful, and on reaching the confines of the village, a procession was again formed, and after driving to upper end of town, came back to Miss Nancy 's, where an excellent supper was prepared for the party. After giving the Ladies time to rest from the fatigues of the day, the dance was again taken up, and only ended when it was announced that the sabbath was drawing near. The day, upon the whole, was a very pleasant one, and as such things are rather unusual here, will no doubt be long remembered by both old and young.

The weather for the last few days has been exceedingly unpleasant, and on monday morning we had a very heavy frost, which has destroyed most of the fruit around here, and also, most of the leaves on the trees. Our Campus, which a few days ago bore quite a cheerful and spring-like aspect, now looks gloomy and sad from this premature blight. I fear very much that you also have been visited with a like misfortune, and that your expectations of having a large quantity of fruit, will be disappointed.

I wrote to Mother some two weeks since, requesting her to tell ask you to send me $100, but I suppose the letter has been missent. If it is convenent, I wish you to send me the amount $100.00 as soon very soon, as I am needing money at present.

I have not yet learned from you, whether you intend going westward this summer or not. If you have given out that trip, I should like to know whether you will come to Commencement or not, &c.; Give my best love to Mother, and tell her I intend writing to her next week. Believe me to be, as ever,

1. Jones-Patterson Papers, SHC. The letter contains no address but has been folded into the customary packet.

2. Patterson's mill was located at the crossing of New Hope Creek and the road to present-day Durham.