Hasn't heard from home; Legislature business; goods being sent on wagon; sends love to family.

Rich Va
PAID 18

Mrs. Malvina Gleaves
Wythe [ ]
Virg[inia]

Richmond 6th January 1825

My Dear [wife]
I begin to think the time long since I heard [from] you. Your letter of the 12th December is the only let[ler I] have had from you, believe me my dear your letter[ will] be thankfully received if you woul[d] only take it on [yourself] to write, I have attended the arrival of every mail for the last two weeks but it all avails me nothing, must I despair of ever getting another from you while here, or must I still have an expectation of your kind favor of another or two, I will attend a while longer, I have enjoyed my health very well since I left home, I expect that I am fleshier than you ever seen me, I feel thankful to kind providence that my health has been so well preserved since I left hom[e] and trust that when this reaches you, you may have enjoyed an equal portion of health with me, mother & the rest of the family with you,
I have nothing of importance to write you as to our Legislative affairs the business are most of a local nature the Subject of calling a convention is one of a public nature, and will take up some time And I am unable to tell at this time in what shape the bill will be if it should pass

I have succeeded in getting a bill through the lower house adding that part of [ ] to Wythe including Sheffeys plantation and I have [no] doubt but it will pass the Senate, Harold [ ] has had a petition before the house praying to ha[ve ] remitted to him which was obtained by the General [ ] failure to pay in to the Treasury the revenue for [the cou]nty of Washington for the year 1820, the damages amo[unt] to $696 and this day was lost in the Senate. Col. Smyth has attended here himself to hear the fate of his Bill. John Straw was here at Christmas and told us that William Scott was not a coming down with his waggon, and having the opportunity of Mr. Johnathan Aker who is now here with his waggon from Wythe I send you one barrel of sugar 86 lb of coffee 29 lb of Rise (rice) one set of chiney (china) besides I send you a Truck with Sunday books in it and a hat for Allen T. Crockett in said hat as it sets in the trunk you will find two combs one of them for Elizabeth Crockett the other for you with yours you will find a frock for Samuel you will also find in the trunk two calico dress frocks take your choice one for yourself and give Nancy the other you will also find one pair of shoes for yourself cloth for a poliece (poltist) a pair of tooth drawers for Peter Col'n Sanders has an old hat and some other little bundles in the trunk with his name and please let Mrs Sanders have them I also send a case of liquor and four blankets, two straw bonnets one for Goser Jim the other for David the price was $2.50 each and if they pay you receive it

Mr. Aker leaves here tomorrow and I want you to send Peter and William [ to Ri]chard Brown's in Wythe town with the waggon [ ]th of this month at which place Mr. Aker is [ ] herein mentioned, also he is to leave [ ] Sanders and I want you not to fail to [ ]hall them over to our house for him with our goods and you ar[e ] Mrs. Sanders word that such articles are the[ ] kind of Java coffee at 22 cents and sugar at 71 cts [ ] put the coffee in your trunk and make use of the one [that suits] you for yourself
I want to hear how the negroes are, my dear when you write let me know everything that you can either at home [or in the ] neighborhood, let me know how mothers health [ ] let me know how my dear little son groes (grows) and whether he can talk and try to keep him in remembrance of his father who so dearly loves him, my dear if I could only have you and him once more in my arms I would feel at ease Kiss him for me and tell him that father will fetch him something when he returns
Our session will certainly be the shortest that has been for many years there is not a great deal of business before us at this time it appears to be a prevalent opinion amongst the oldest members that we will adjo[urn betwe]en the 7th and 10 of February
I must for want of [ space ] conclude by asking that you give my love to the family, and accept that of the Warmest affection for yourself and Samuel
This from your loving husband,
James T. Gleaves

Mrs. Malvina Gleaves