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FRACTURE OF HIS LEG.
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coloured envelope, requiring my immediate presence in New York, so I shall have the pleasure of seeing you sooner than I expected.

Sincerely,
M. F. M.

The following letters describe his accident, sufferings and surroundings, at Somerset, Ohio:—

From M. F. Maury to Ann Maury.
Somerset, Ohio, October 23rd, 1839.
My Dear Cousin,

I shall not be with you according to intentions expressed in my last. I write, toes up, to inform you of the accident which detains me. With twelve others I was upset in a stage here last Friday, about 1 a. m. I was the thirteenth, and had my right knee joint transversely dislocated and the thigh bone longitudinally fractured, making together a very serious injury, from which a recovery must be slow.

Fortunately I am in the hands of a good physician, and my mind is at ease. According to one of the first physicians of the State, whom I had to examine the leg, treatment, &c., I may consider myself fortunate if I am off my back in three months time. With this prospect before me, I have written for Nannie and the children. . . .

But for this or some other accident I should now have been in New York. My most affectionate good wishes to your father, and ever, dear cousin, your friend,

M. F. Maury.[1]

In December 1839, Maury had so far recovered from his accident as to be able to leave the place here it occurred.

  1. This letter is written in a changed and trembling hand, and evidentily with great effort, as indicated by the abbreviations, not usual with him at that time, and the interlineations, mistakes, etc. The appearance of the ink shows that it was not all written at |the same time, or with the same pen.