Letter from Charles Biglow
                                                                Brookfield, Vt.
                                                                Sept. 27, 1826
Silas Biglow
Lynchburg, Virginia

My dear Brother,

   Epistolary writing is an exercise to which I am not entirely a stranger, tho I
must acknowledge my correspondence has not reached far to the south.  As I have no
reasonable excuse for my neglect in writing you, it will be in vain for me to
attempt an apology.  I will add however that I should have written sooner had I not
waited an answer to Abner's of July which has been duly received.

   You will perhaps be somewhat surprised when you find by the date of this that I
am at home so late in the season, and it will be still more unwelcome intelligence
I presume when I tell you my health is such that I am unable to pursue my studies.
It has been gradually declining for 8 months.  I applied to Dr. Murphy for advice
four weeks previous to the close of last term who told me he thought best for me to
relinquish my studies at least the remainder of the term.  I accordingly did and am
still so feeble that I do not think it practicable to return to college this fall.

   The very laborious exercises of my school last winter together with a severe
attack of the prevailing influenza in February left me in a rather low state of
health to commence the Spring Term.  Immediately, however, after the close of
school I returned to Hanover where I found a very general attention to the subject
of religion.

   To this I had not been altogether indifferent through the winter, but my mind has
been severely agitated, occasioned by the sudden and unexpected death of I. H. Caryl
in November, who was my room mate while at Randolph.  Upon this subject my attention
soon became so entirely engrossed that I was unfitted to attend to anything else.
Sometimes I could not confine my mind to any other subject and I dared not, lest it
would be the means of dispelling my serious impressions.

   In this state of mind I remained till about the middle of the Summer Term.  Hence
you will perceive, my dear brother, that I could make but little proficiency in my
studies, and not only so, it was wearing upon me and was the occasion of my neglec-
ting exercise and every other means of preserving my health.  But through the infin-
ite mercy of our God, my mind is now in some measure relieved.  There are seasons
when I cannot refrain from cherishing a faint hope that God has implanted in my
heart a spark of Divine Grace.  But to a firm unwavering hope I am still a stranger.

   As it respects my health, I am troubled with a pain in my left side, a stricture
across the chest and weakness at the lungs.  I think however, I am upon the whole
considerably better than when I left my studies.  I have been applying to my side a
white ointment prepared by Dr. Washburn and have a horse which I ride when the
weather is favorable.  I hope thus to repair my health, tho I often wish myself in
a warmer climate to spend the winter.

                                            Your affectionate brother,

                                            Charles
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