1861 November 10 Centreville

Dear Girls
My letters are few and far between--I hate to
plead "want of time"--that old threadbare servant of procrastination
& indolence--It certainly is a bad sign--to hear "want of time" continually
uttered by anyone--In this world--he makes time who wants it--But your
uncle is slow-as you very well know--and he has not yet acquired the habit
of manufacturing the article--But often at night as I sit at my desk fix
ing papers &c and at little odds & ends of time--do I think of you all and
the people at home--& think what nice times we might be enjoying at
home--at Ludbroook-at Hall's &c0 with Bill Murray--Dobbin & South
Lemmon & Co--Well those days will come again I hope and we will
know better how to enjoy them--the ills & annoyances we then thought
hard to bear--how light & insignificant they now appear! What
would we give to suffer them now--could we all only be home & all the
Yankees at the bottom of the Red Sea--"A plague of all Yankees" as Wm
Shakespeare would say--I received Jennies delightful letter a few days
ago--enclosing Pa's to Aunt Mary--By this time you have received
my last with Ma's & Sister's--I sent them more than a week ago by
Maj. Barbour--who got leave of absence & went up the Country to re-
cruit--I would like very much if you would stay in Virginia--
i.e. if you can--I really do not think that your return home will
benefit the family affairs--Pa seems to think it best for you to
stay if you can get along here--Ma wants you to return--but much
pleasure as it would be to return--still you would be only so many
more to board on the profits of a very limited school--What you
all might make by Government writing--or teaching or the like
together with what your uncle Fuller makes will I expect enable

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us all to live very pleasantly here--In the course of the many
changes that are constantly going on--Major Barbour may be
ordered to Richmond--Mr Banks (this is confidential ofcourse) told
me last night he could get me a clerkship in Richmond--if I would
not accept commission of Capt--It would indeed be pleasant
for us all to be in Richmond together--But I would scarcely like
to leave Majr Barbour-unless I find I can be of no further use
to him--However - time will unroll the programme for us--
Let me know as soon as you hear from Mr Hunter in regd to the
Writing--I scarcely know what to do or to advise you to do--It
would be very pleasant for you in town this winter and the writing
will give you something handsome--Aunt Mary & Cousin Cary
anne being there will make us feel something like being at home
When Major Barbour returns I will try to get off for a day or so and
come down & see you--Being guardian of the safe & sole paymaster
it is not so easy you see for me to run about--But if you determine
to go to Baltimore let me know immediately and I will see you
at all events for a day & return the next--I am very happy here--
it is very pleasant to feel that one is doing service to the cause &
being of some use tome [to some?] one besides one's self--Mr. Banks is
is going to Manassas in a few moments--from thence he will
go to Charlottesville tomorrow--and I take advantage of this
safe opportunity to send you fifty dollars--I would send
more but there are some unsettled incidentals of mine
floating about--But I must close Ill write soon--
Remember me to all-- yr most affectionately
Wm Cary Jr

the Misses Cary
University of Virginia
politeness of Maj Banks

MSS 1174