Cerro, November 19th, 1837

My dear Elizabeth,

It is just a week to day since the news of our last heavy bereavement reached us. I can not tell you my poor, dear Sister how I have felt since I heard it. I have thought over every change from infancy to manhood in our dear Lewis's life. From the day of his birth, which I remember well, up to our last parting in Washington, a little more than a year ago; my memory has spared me nothing. And I have thought of you, my heart has ached for your grief, my dear Elizabeth, still more than for my own, and I feel the greatest anxiety to hear from you. I fell how desolate your heart is, and that no earthly lips can speak comfort for it. Oh! may our Heavenly Father pour balm into its wounds. Throw yourself on His love for support, and he will not forsake you. The knowledge of your religious turn of mind is a source of great comfort to me now; but I am most anxious to hear from you. I wish to know how you are, and how your precious boy is, also to know where you are. In that darling child you have much to live for; how dependent on your care he is to form him to be a good and happy man. To make him a blessing to yourself, an honour to the memory of the beloved Father of whom God has seen fit to deprive him so early. When time has tranquillized your spirits, (and I hope it has done much towards it already) you will I hope feel comfort in the affections of your dear Lewis's sisters and brothers. They have all taken to their hearts as their own, the sister given tem by that beloved brother, and consider his wife and child as precious bequests from him. When I try to commune with his spirits in its blessed abode, in my heart I promise him to be ever mindful of you both. So short a time has passed since we received the fatal news that I can not yet realize it fully. That he, the pride of our hearts, is gone! that my eyes never more in this world, will be blessed with the sight of his dear face. I can see him in my mind's eye resting on the bosom of our beloved mother, but with the same countenance I have known and loved so long in life. We have not heard a single circumstance relating to his illness except that it was bilious fever, was very short and terminated his life on the 24th of September. Also, that Mr. John Nicholas had sat out for Arkansas immediately on receiving the news; and that our nephew Tom Bankhead was with you. A letter from Lieutnt Wilson at Pensacola, and the newspapers have been our only source of information. How much there is that we wish to know-the most trifling circumstances relating to him will be of deep interest to us. Nevertheless, when you write you much consult your own feelings; if speaking of him is too painful, and agitating to your spirits, write about yourself and your dear baby, telling us every particular concerning you both as he used to do; but if on the contrary, pouring out the feelings of your overbuthened heart is a relief, speak freely, my dear sister,--where can you find feelings so responsive to your own as in the bosoms of his fondly attached sisters and brothers. Cornelia & Septimia are with us and intend writing to you very soon, so does Nicholas, who loved our dear Lewis as his own brother. I say nothing for them as they are going to write. I recommend you to the care of your Heavenly Father, trusting in his goodness to support and direct you.

Ever your affectionate sister,

Virginia J[efferson]. Trist



I was about to write you, my dear Elizabeth, but finding Virginia has already written I thought I would defer my letter until another time for her letter is the expression of the feelings of all of us; and I hope my dear sister you will write regularly to us; that darling child is an object of common interest to us & the least trifle concerning him acceptable to his aunts for the present adieu & may heaven spare you other sorrows. Your affectionate sister,

C[ornelia] S. Randolph



I add a line [word torn out] dearest Elizabeth to tell you that as soon as I can I will write to you at present my heart is too full to attempt it, you know how devotedly I idolized my beloved brother and of course how wretchedly I now feel. Bless my darling baby for me and for yourself my sister accept the tender love of one who has ever loved you and now more than before.

Septemia