1861 Dec[ember] 3 Greenwood Depot Albemarle

Hon A H H Stuart
My Dear Friend You mentioned to me
while I was at Staunton, that there was an appendix
published in connection with your report about the
raid of John Brown, containing extracts from
the personal liberty bills passed by several of the
Northern States--you said that it could be pro=
cured in Richmond--If you could lay your
hands upon it and send it to me at this place
you would greatly oblige me--I have some
curiosity to see those extracts, although I place
implicit confidence in the correctness of your
report--When I last saw you, I expected
to have been in Richmond ere this, but even
if I were there, I would not know very well
how I could hunt up that same appendix

Please excuse the liberty that I have taken
in making this request= I congratulate you on the
prospect of your being speedily released from
your labors as a member of the convention
The post of honor I believe to be now a private
station, otherwise I could wish to see your
talents & your fidelity employed in the service of
your country=I hope you will enjoy
yourself in the Society of your family I I
shall always do myself the honor of calling
on you, when I am in Staunton. I take
a lively interest in the welfare of your children
Remember me to them when you see them
with sentiments of respect & affection
Your friend
John S. Watt

Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart, 1807-1891, served as a Whig Congressman from Virginia and was Secretary of the Interior under Millard Fillmore. He was elected to the Virginia State Secession Convdention and with George Wythe Randolph made a fruitless visit to Abraham Lincoln in a last effort to prevent war. After the war he labored to return Virginia to the Union and served as rector of the University of Virginia, 1874-1882.
MSS 228-d