17 [September]
Martin came up and paid a short visit to his Mother looks as usual. Berkley writes to me the company has been so much reduced by detatchments that they have quite hard duty. A few evenings before he wrote, 3 negroes Henry Lowndes servant Lucas’s servant and one of the teamsters had gone off to the Yankees which made them feel a little uneasy about their exposed situation. A night attack from the Gun Boats might annoy them very much.
Mr Grimball returned from the City having purchased some candles $1.25 per lb. horrid looking yellow bad smelling things.—Brought me some Yeast from the Bakers and I have commenced baking Rolls for breakfast.—
Papa got so very much bothered about the corn fearing he might be made to pay more than his share that I concluded it best to pay up at once for all that I was to use $1.37 per bushel although he bought some at $1.10 and the rest at $1.25 and paid $4 for the carting. I paid for two bushels already settled for and now we are free from accounts together and he seems better satisfied. Some weeks ago I changed 4 lbs. brown sugar for him for 4 lbs. best white, and he could not rest until it was weighed before his eyes which was done. My Papa has a very mean mind and is an extremely close man, he wonders at my buying peaches for the children and thinks it a great expense, he cannot eat them. He really lives here in the most comfortable way at the smallest expense. He talks now of going down to the low Country as soon as possible to see after his business and yesterday offered me the use of 3 rooms in his house. I would rather Charlotte should take charge of him in winter and hope I may not be obliged to live in his house. Now I have no home for our Plantation is broken up, our house in Town is only a hired one & upon the whole I may consider myself at home any where my family & trunks &c are.—
Mr Irwin paid us a visit yesterday & told us Mrs Kenedy’s family were very anxious about Clem Legg. It seems there is a case of derangement in her family, a daughter who lives with them and is quite out of her right senses, it came about unexpectedly, and there is a risk of this young ladys being equally afflicted, she takes her trouble in such a silent, stunned way.—
Mr Grimball transacted his business very successfully he saw William & Lewis, this last moved from Church flatts to Sulivans Island. Dr Lining met Mr G in the street and spoke very well of Lewis’ practise which I think was very kind as Drs do not like to praise one another. He said Lewis has lost very few cases.—
William was not very well. There had been a duel from the Fort, Alfred Rhett killed Ransom Calhoun a man he particularly hated, and as the thing was not represented to the Military Authorities there had as yet been no notice of it taken.