James Richey, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to his parents, Ireland, 15 September 1826. Hopkinsville, Kentuckey Septr 15th 1826 Dear Father and Mother I recvd Brother Andrews letter on the 26 ulto, and am glad to hear you are all well as we area at present thanks God Your letter gives me much satisfaction knowing by its contents you are all well and in the Land of the living. for it was SO long Since you wrote before I could not conceive what had become of you I am Sorry to find my mother enjoys such bad health for in her old age it will be sore affliction to her to be confind & I am glad to hear also She is well at the date of last letter my Brother in his letter never mentions my fathers name whether he is sick or well but I may Suppose he is well or he would have said SO. I am glad to hear Brother William Succeeds So well in his practice I suppose he is reckond a good Physcian I know if he is not it must be his own fault, for in his young days he was very apt and ready to learn I wonder he never writes to me he seems to have forgotten he has a Brother in the Wilds of America I was Somewhat surpris° at the mention you make of Sister Dinah marriage not that I am surpris at her getting married but at the Sircumstances attending it. you Seem to hold it a most atrocious crime probably equal to one when once committed no forgiveness for but for my part I can see nothing SO criminal in her conduct that she should be banished from your presence it is true she married against your consent, but in the name of God who had a better rite to choose a partner for life than herself She is old enough to be able to judge whether she could give her heart as well as her hand to Mr Bell and if She could not she certainly has committed no Sin before God or unpreju[d]iced parents. now I