1740: "Prudent as Well as Agreeable"
Eliza Lucas wrote this letter to a friend, describing her life as she managed her father's three plantations in South Carolina's Lowcountry. She would later become well-known for leading efforts to make indigo a profitable cash crop. (She also later married and is better known by her married name, Eliza Lucas Pinckney.)
Spelling and grammar is original.
To my good friend Mrs. Boddicott
May the 2nd [probably 1740]
Dear Madam,
I flatter myself it will be a satisfaction to you to hear I like this part of the world as my lott has fallen here, which I really do. I prefer England to it ‘tis true, but think Carolina greatly preferable to the West Indies, and was my Papa here I should be very happy. We have a very good acquaintance from whom we have received much friendship and Civility. Charles Town the principal one in this province is a polite agreeable place, the people live very Gentile and very much in the English taste. The country is general fertile and abounds with Venson [venison] and wild fowl. The venson is much higher flavoured than in England, but ‘tis seldom fatt.
My Papa and Mama’s great indulgence to mee leaves it to mee to chuse our place of residence either in town or country, but I think it more prudent as well as agreeable to my Mama and selfe to be in the Country during my father’s absence. Wee are 17 mile by land, and 6 by water from Charles Town where wee have about 6 agreeable families around us with whom wee live in great harmony. I have a little library well furnished (for my Papa has left mee most of his books) in wch I spend part of my time. My Musick and the Garden wch I am very fond of take up the rest that is not imployed in business, of wch my father has left mee a pretty good share, and indeed ‘twas unavoidable, as my Mama’s bad state of health prevents her going thro’ any fatigue.
I have the business of 3 plantations to transact, wch requires much writing and more business and fatigue of other sorts than you can imagine, but least you should imagine it too burthensom to a girl at my early time of life, give mee leave to assure you I think myself happy that I can be useful to so good a father. By rising very early I find I can go through with much business, but least you should think I shall be quite moaped [moped?] with this way of life, I am to inform you there is two worthy Ladies in Crs Town, Mrs Pinckney and Mrs Cleland who are partial enough to mee to wish to have mee with them, and insist upon my making their houses my home when in Town, and press mee to relax a little much oftener than ‘tis in my power to accept of their obliging intreaties, but I am sometimes with one or the other for three weeks or a month at a time, and then enjoy all the pleasures Crs Town affords. But nothing gives mee more than subscribing myself, Dr [Dear] Madam
Yr most affectionet and most obliged humble Serv’t
Eliza Lucas
Pray remember me in the best manner to my worthy friend Mr Boddicott.
Source:
Eliza Lucas Pinckney letter, published in Eliza Pinckney by Harriott Horry Ravenel (New York, Scribner's Sons, 1896).
