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Sarah Jackson to Rachel Jackson Lawrence
Clifton, Octr [blank] 1857
My dearest love,
We left you as you remember on monday, travelled all that night and the next day and reached Memphis about dark on tuesday evening the cars were crowded, part of the way the passages were filled with persons unable to find seats. we proceeded to the best hotel Mr somebodies I forget his name, where we remained until Wednesday evening. Jack Martin, Betty's brother dined with us. I never saw any one as much improved as he is in appearance and manners, in my life, he is full of spirits and a great talker perfectly free form embarrasment, and well acquainted with all the etiquette of fashionable life he appeared to be delighted to see us, and sent heaps of love to you?Willy Ward also called, he is [farming], and Johnny had to honor us. he was like a bad name, hard to get clear of, for he followed us about and we found him in the boat where he remained until it was ready to leave, notwithstanding indifference and coldness of manner. We found a very large number of passengers on the boat, and the most agreeable one I ever met with. there was not one exception all were well behaved, respectful, and pleasant. Mr M Watson his son, and Mr & Mrs La Pierce requested us to unite with them and occupy one table at meals, which we did and found it quite pleasant. Mr & Mrs Marion Lewis, Mr & Mrs Williams, Mrs McGuire (Miss Collins) Majr Nelson, two Misses Donelson, (his grand daughters,) with many others who were quite as agreeable but who were strangers to us all before, helped to make the trip down the river one of pleasure. I enjoyed it as much as I ever did a