Nathaniel Heyward writes from "Blue House" near one of his Combahee plantations to his grandson James B. Heyward congratulating him on his acceptance to Harvard. He provides detailed instructions on how James is to receive money for his studies and tells James he is writing to the president of Harvard but that "he shall know nothing of our money affairs." Nathaniel relates how busy he has been at his mills as he prepares "for a bountiful crop of rice." 2p.
Letter from an unknown sender in "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. The letter writer mentions several mutual friends and family and informs James of weddings and social events in Beaufort and Charleston. The writer also mentions James' grandfather's trips to attend to plantation affairs in Pon Pon, a new house being built along the Ashepoo and other trips to Hilton Head and "Hunting Islands." 4p.
Letter to James B. Heyward from his aunt, M. Smith, in Beaufort. In her letter she describes to James about a recent meeting of the Debating Society of Beaufort and the beautiful "Speechifying" to be heard. She wishes that he would come visit but realizes the "gay and inviting City [Charleston] takes your heart and plain quiet Beaufort suffers in consequence." 4p.
Letter from Nathaniel B. Heyward to his brother James B. Heyward admonishing him for his infrequent letters. Nathaniel also mentions the loss of negroes from their uncle's and cousin's plantations near Savannah claiming that he wouldn't "mind the loss of property so much as that the poor creature's have not had time for repentance." 4p.
Letter from Aunt "Elzh" at "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. His aunt writes about the family, how ice has destroyed their avenue of oaks, and comments on how the legislature in Columbia is attempting to make the college there the only one in the state and turn Charleston College into a preparatory school. 4p.
Letter from Aunt "Elzh" at "Rose Hill" to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. In addition to updating James on family news, the writer comments on the historic low temperatures of the winter, the destruction of St. Philips Church in Charleston due to fire, and the presence of elephants and other "Beasts" in town, presumably overwintering circus animals. 4p.
Letter to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass., from his aunt, Mrs. Smith, in "Old Fort", Beaufort. His aunt refers to a campus "rebellion" that James survived and relates news from family and friends. 4p.
Letter from an unknown sender in Charleston to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass. The letter writer informs James of the news of family and friends including many well-known Charleston families. She also mentions a devastating fire that recently occurred that burned through parts of Meeting, East Bay, Market, Pinckney, Hasell and Guignard streets writing "it is really gloomy to ride in that part of the Town now for the last winter's fire meets this one just at the Market." 4p.
Letter to James B. Heyward in Cambridge, Mass., from his aunt, Mrs. Smith, in "Old Fort", Beaufort. His aunt relays a message to James to research Old Fort in the Harvard library for his uncle and writes at length of the events at "Carolina College." 4p.
