Charleston Tuesday evening
My Dearest Frances,
A Telegraphic note from Mr Wilson yesterday
informed me that you were not very well. I have been trying to convince
myself that your illness was only the result of the Dentists operation
and that it was not very severe. But this seems to be not a
fatality in all that relates to your enjoyment of a journey which
I hoping would yield you so much that I shrink from any intelligence
that casts a doubt upon your health.
The Court here is still engaged in the causes which
it had under argument when I came. and I am now definitely
informed that I shall not get a hearing before Thursday morning.
I hope to finish my cause on Friday but it may detain me
until Saturday. In either case I shall direct my steps as
rapidly as possible to join you.
The day has thus far brought forth mostly to
add to the information I gave you last night. I have been
in Court or in my studies all morning. And now I
am going out at half past four to dine with what I un-
derstand to be a large party at the Chancellor’s.
I glance occasionally over the newspapers here
and am grieved to find that Mr Calhoun’s nullification
seed is maturing into a movement for dissolution of the Union
or recipe for it. There is no mistaking this tendency.

But I am sure it will be an abortion, and thus it may bring
seditious desperation into reproach and contempt for the future.
I think it will be a lesson to all politicians upon the crime of
disloyalty.
My imagination returns to you every hour in the day seeking
to find out what you are doing, and what unhappiness you
are suffering in this separation. Does it not seem as if it were
destined that we should not be together both at home or abroad?
How stupid it was in me not to inquire at Philadelphia
how long I could be here. I ought have remained in Phila-
delphia until even yesterday. Hoping that I may hear from you
before I go home. I am affectionately
Your own Henry