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Saturday Evening 
My sweet wife,
The only leisure moment since I reached this place, has been seized upon to write you my darling I have never been so busy in my life, Col. [unclear text: Ira] having thrown the entire responsibility upon me -- the Solicitous office is no sinecure, I do assure you -- my health is very good -- Col. [unclear text: Ira] has been very unwell and is now quite feeble -- I know very few persons here and have been too much engaged with the Grand jury to make any acquaintances I had determined when I received you [your] sweet little note by John Smith, to return home from this place but Col. [unclear text: Ira] says I must go to [unclear text: Autauga] with him and that he hopes to go alone to Coosa, so if his 



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health improves you may look for me about the 16th -- the time seems so long till [until] I'll again embrace my darling -- so slowly move the wheels of time, when away from my Callie -- Court is now being called --
Sat [Saturday] night 11 O'clock -- I have just returned from hearing sentence of death passed on four of the unfortunate Rickam negroes two belong to the McRenall boys, one to [unclear text: Judge Graham], one to Rickam, two of Rickam's were acquitted -- we will take the case of the four to the Supreme Court and hope to reverse -- their cases have taken up the entire time allotted for state's business I have written 24 Indictments, 3 for felonies I will do better, I will at all hazards write from Kingston and hope to return to the arms of her I love and who, I believe aye Know, loves me -- the reflection is so sweet so refreshing to my wearied spirits, that there is one who loves me supremely -- Dear Callie I have never loved you so tenderly, so fondly so devotedly, so supremely as this night, alone in 



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the city of Centreville -- Callie we ought occasionally to leave home, to learn the secrets of how to appreciate the comforts of that delectable place -- but home is where the heart is -- and where now, my little canary, do you think your husband's heart is? nestled up close to his own little wife -- dearest how I do love you -- My candle is nearly out so darling good night -- think often of
your own 
[Signed] Porter 
Sunday morning, I leave in a few minutes for [unclear text: Autauga], with me immediately to Kingston, I am so anxious to hear from my little pet -- God bless and preserve my darling --