Eleanor Parke Custis to Elizabeth Bordley, 1796

My Dearest Elizabeth,                                                              Hope Park March 30^th 1796

For sometime I have waited in the hopes of hearing from you. Now I begin to fear you are either sick or offended at my apparent neglect in not answering the letter I received two months ago, sooner than I did.

If either of these fears are true I shall be very sorry – but I hope you will very soon write to me & inform me the reason you have not wrote, since my last letter.

Since I have wrote last – I have been to two balls – & my sisters wedding. The balls were very agreeable – & I danced a good deal. Dancing you know has always been my delight – & I prefer balls to any other amusement. & After staying two months with my Dear Sister Peter – I left her, & my sweet little niece very well a fortnight ago – and came up with Brother Law in his chariot – Sister Eliza was married the twenty first - & left us on Thursday. She has every chance for happiness – a good hearted affectionate husband – one most sincerely attached to her - & she is the same to him

They are fixed in the City, four miles from Sister Peter. Mama & self expect to go to the City in two, or three weeks – I am now Miss Custis, & as you may suppose not a little proud of the title, & have determined within myself – that I will always be called Eleanor – as Nelly is extremely homely in my opinion. Tomorrow I am seventeen.

Before I left George Town I had the pleasure of seeing, Miss A Stuart – she made many enquires after you. She told me little Snipe was very well. I should like very much to see her. Miss Stuart says she often speaks of me. I was introduced to Mrs. Charles Lowns at the last ball I was at – she made nearly enquiries after you. When have you heard from our Dear E Allen? I have not had a letter from her for three or four months. When do you intend writing to her – if you will informme – I will write, & send the letter to you, to inclose for me. I have never heard of or from our little friend Susan since she came to Virginia. Sister Law desired me to remember her to you whenever I wrote Sister Peter also.

Remember me to your Mama, Papa, Sister & Brother Mifflin. Also Mrs. Smith of Roxbury – I hope she enjoys better health than when I left Philadelphia – love to H McCall – Mrs. Plumsted, & M Ross –

With truth, & sincerity

Your faithfull friend –

Eleanor Parke Custis

P.S This is wrote so bad I fear you will be scarcely able to read it – write to me very soon – a very long letter.

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