.NDM0.NTkx
[1]
4th St. Saturday night 30 May 1863
Dear Ann
To resume the thread of my discourse:
Last night when I had completed my 2nd letter to you for today’s steamer, I wrote 2 pages of family history to send to Rutson, & after perusal by James I requested him to send it to Mrs. Cox, for her to read – The opportunities for N[ew] O[rleans] are now irregular & less frequent; & tho’ Rutson has not been at the pains to write to me since 22nd April, [‘22nd April’ underscored] & Ja[me]s last letter was written in March, [double underscored] yet it seems better to me to go on posting them up from time to time, than to follow their example, & quietly ac= =quiesce, as that would be, in a more complete fami =ly estrangement than already exists between N[ew] Y[ork] & N[ew] O[rleans]
It was 10 minutes to 8 when Walker, after bathing , made a second & successful attempt at waking me up: & when I came down stairs at 8.20, W[illia]m had gone down town, but Walker had not begun his breakfast. –
I left earlier than usual, & after walking to the Central Market got into a car. Thus I reached Gil= =pins Room by 9.35, & our office at 9.40, where Matthew was hard at work finishing some letters he was writing yesterday. – When I had added the little P.S. & closed envelope No 2 to you, I set to work & fried a dish of Bacon & Lard statis= =ics to lay before 3 of our L[iver]pool constitutuents.
I then had some addenda to make to my letter to Rutson, & to read, for the first time, some of those interesting Bombay letters of Sam Smith, before I enclosed them to Rutson. – That matter was disposed of & John [struck-through] Russell had come back from posting the letter & Matthew was in the office & I at work at drawing up my monthly table of
[Marginalia]
Final P S 3rd June – I presume you gave your letters to D[avi]d Spence. He is not Mr. Menlove,
[underscored] or he would have called ‘ere now – 11 10 a.m. to deliver them. But I hear of you & Mytton in several of our letters. After a [a?] great hunt, I this morn =ing found (for Matthew) in your desk in the dining room, the final [underscored] Decision of the Court as to S[ain]t. Tho[ma]s [Church, New York City]
[2]
of supply of Wheat & Flour for G. B., when it became
at
almost too dark to see what I was about; and ^ 1 p.m. the long wished for rain began to descend, & there was quiet a deluge [‘quite a deluge’ underscored] of it for 1/2 an hour; but contrary to my expectation, there was hardly any thunder & lightning. – It has been a most blessed rain for town & country. In town it has thoroughly cleansed & purified streets & gutters; and as I walked out tonight between 9 & 10 (in my slippers [underscored]) to 30th St. & back, all looked as clean as a new [piney?] piece
I had some talk with Matthew at the office on a variety of subjects besides business ones after I had laid before him the said Wheat & Flour table.
I told him of my talk with Walker yesterday evening, & that it was agreed between him & me then that he is to return to 5 Hanover St. as soon as he has closed up matters decently & properly with Mr. Bigland. – M[atthew]_ observed that when he had recom =mended W[alker]_ ( I fancy in their 2nd talk) to look out for work in some quarter where there is more variety, [underscored] & so more to be learnt, than in our office, W[alker]_ said that, in such case, he would for that object remain with Mr. Bigland, but that it was his wish to come back to us. [‘it...us’ underscored]
I asked Matthew whether he intended moving to Cornwall any earlier than the usual period. He said, “No,” but that he had an idea of taking a 10 days excursion in some direction shortly before going to Cornwall – such as a trip to the Falls of St. Anthony, [underscored][ Minneapolis Minnesota] for instance. – I observed he had better not go too far West, lest he should get scalped “by the Indians!”
We had some little talk about St. Thomas. [Church, New York City]
[3]
I said it seemed to me that Mr. Barnewall was now clearly inclined to give in; & that sooner or later we should have to do so, but that I looked in the present advertisement of 2 lots of the site as probably a mere “brutum fulmen,” [threat] designed to frighten us, & perhaps also to attract an offer for the entire site from Mr. Tiffany [underscored] or others: and Matthew thought so too. – Tonight as I was pondering over
during my 3 miles walk
this bothering matter, I came very much to the conclusion, that the best thing we could now do would be to tell the Vestry that if they would agree to fulfil their bargain, as implied in the recent collection of the ground-rent, & let the church remain undisturbed [‘let...undisturbed’ underscored] until 1st May [18]64 [‘1...64’
underscored] -they were at liberty to do afterwards, [underscored] what Dr. Morgan has now proposed. – This would give ample time for disinterment in an orderly [underscored] way; & it certainly is most desirable to have that done before [double underscore] there is any demolition of the build
Contents
ing. – I think the Vestry would only be too hap
=py to enter into such an arrangement, & that it would secure peace & good will among all parties. – I should submit this to Matthew to-
morrow. – But it may be that there are a
=mong the vault-owners, who do not attend the church, some parties who will still set the Vestry at utter defiance, or do their utmost to extort every dollar they can wring out of them. That gentleman I went to see in the 4th owner who represents 2 vault, might be inclined thus to push them to the uttermost, also that lawyer [underscored] who owns a vault, & disgusted Mr. Witmon by so plainly going for the more dollars [underscored] & cents [underscored] when the case was agreed in Court.
[4]
I cannot tell how Dr. Van Rensselaer may feel dis= =posed until we hear from him. –
I am dead against any new law, [underscored] tho’ Mr. Wit= =mon agreed with me when I observed to him after the final [underscored] Decision, that it was not unlike the liberty to take the pound of flesh without draw =ing any blood, & that when the time came we should still have to fight for our rights [‘still...rights’ underscored] as Vault owners, [‘Vault owners’ underscored] under that Decision. – But I am still in favour of a talk with Mr. Witmon, tho’ I question whether, as a man, [underscored] rather than a mere lawyer [underscored], he can now feel as in the for= =mer [vocasion?], inasmuch as he has sold his own premises to be converted into a [nuisance ?] to the neighbourhood, & to become, as I must apprehend, the promoter of other & perhaps still more intolerable [nuisances?], that will drive us out of this house. – Still his experience, as in the case of the Ascension Church & as a thoroughly practical man of business, would probably be of some use to us now. –
I walked home via Chatham St. & the Bowery with the view of buying a new straw hat, & at the corner of Chatham Square & the Bowery, I got one -a beautiful [Seghorn?] of the natural colour & that Sarah also admires. I asked her to guess what I had paid for it. She said $2 1/2, & that as I did, that I had made a good bargain when I told her “$1 1/2” – It was simply what the man asked, & I did not ask for any abatement. Sa- =rah has this even[in]g (as I was walking) removed the [oiled?] silk lining, & put some white muslin in its place, for which I have suitably impressed my thanks.
Walker went to Staten Is[lan]d, & I suppose we shan’t see him again until tomorrow evening, or may be not until Monday. – I expect more rain tomorrow.
[5]
(5) 31st May – Sunday night
I rose this mor[n]ing at 1/2 past 6, and went up stairs at 7 to waken W[illia]m & Sarah; and they came down to breakfast soon after I did, at 1/4 past 8 – W[illia]m went down to Trinity, [Church] & called at the P[ost] O[ffice], but there were no letters. – I amused myself with a volume of ArchB[isho]p Whately until it was time to go to church. I carried an umbrella with me lest it should rain before we re= =turned; but it came into play for quite another purpose – to shelter S[arah] & me from the rays of the sun, which were scorching, [underscored] both going and returning. – There was no Mr. Gracie in the pew; but we found his son in law already in it; & Sarah sat next to me for the convenience of finding places. – I had a capital sleep during nearly the whole of Dr. Mor
=gans sermon, & it was “most for[struck-through] refreshing,”[underscored] as I
had had previously a slight tendency to head ache, which it removed. – Matthew & Mary & James call=
St.
=ed on 4th ^ as usual; & I read him what I have writ =ten to you on pages 3 & 4 of this letter as to St. Tho[ma]s. [Church]
He said he differed from me as to Mr. Barnewall, & thought him quite disinclined [‘dis’ underscored] to give in. – He said nothing upon my plan of compromise for 1st May ‘[18]64. –
Isl[an]d
Walker has remained on Staten ^, & cannot have had a nicer dinner than we had; which consisted of a fore-quarter of Lamb, roasted [struck-through] half globes of potatoes that had been cooked [?] browned along with it, asparagus, salad, a rice-pudding baked, 1/2 a sponge cake, & 2 fresh post of preserves.
I laid aside my share of the rice-pudding & put it into the refrigerator to eat at T[ea]. – After dinner I read a capital [underscored] sermon of the Country Parson’s, on St. Paul’s thorn in the flesh; but fell asleep over it! My nap lasted for nearly 2 hours I suppose; & when I woke up at 1/2 past 4 I found it was raining fast. I shifted my quarters to the porch, & resumed the thorn in the flesh sermon, & had the following [one?] [last?]
[6]
of another – mostly in the front parlour, however, - until I was tired of reading. It was nearly 7 when W[illia]m & Sarah came in. They had been to some Ro- =man Catholic Church – the name of which I could not make out – I felt rather inclined to animad= =vert upon going to R[oman] C[atholic] churches, but decided it was best to keep my opinions on such matters to myself. –
When we had done T[ea], it had cleared up, after being showery at intervals from 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 : - so at 7 3/4 I turned out for a walk, & extended it to a much greater distance than I at first intended; for I found that the farther I went, the better I felt. At first it was irksome, but during the latter half very pleasant. I went down 4th St. to 2nd Ave, -turned up 19th, passed the Grammercy Park, out of it by Calvary Church, up 23rd St. to Madi- =son Square, up Madison Ave. to 39th, crossed at 5th Ave, & along it to 60th [underscored] whence I revisited along 5th Ave to 10th St.& so home, which I reached at 5 minutes past 10 – feeling very much the better – indeed less tired as I came in than when I went out. – But I must now go to bed where I hope to sleep well after this 6 miles walk.
Monday night 1st June We have had no rain since yesterday evening. –
I rose this mor[n]ing at 6 1/2 & woke W[illia]m at 7, but I was down stairs before him or Sarah
Walker did not come to dinner today. He came for a few moments whilst I was napping before T[ea] & went off again with Tome Sabine; I did not
[Marginalia]
Thermometer 4th St.
May 26 52 1/2 67
27 57 73 1/2
28 60 79
29 63 79
30 67 77
31 69 1/2 78 1/2
June 1 67 78
2 63 74
3 64 1/4
[7]
reappear until midnight – thus keeping Sarah sitting up for him, which I do not like; but I did not blow him up as he deserved. –
I have been [pluging?] away at the Books today; - & have drawn up for you a Statement as to Bank [underscored] of Commerce shares, which I enclose. It cost me
you
far more labour than ^ will think it deserved. – but I did it quite as much for my own [‘my own’ underscored] edification
particulars.
as yours, - & any how, it is right to give you these exact [underscored] ^
When Sarah was out today, she fell in with Mrs. Edward [Kery?] in a shop; & on asking her about Mrs. Duer, was told that she felt somewhat better with the fine genial weather of the last few days, but that, in the main, she is gradually sinking [‘gradually sinking’ underscored] in strength all the while! [strength...while’ underscored] – which, you see, is just the same report as Mr. Gracie gave me 10 days or a fort= =night ago. – I fear her case is quite hopeless, & that you will never see her again! –
Matthew has been “puttering” about today, & hunting up the old papers as to St. Tho[ma]s. – He shewed me the Advertisement. It is dated 16th or 19 May – I forget which – I have no reply yet from Dr. Van Rensselaer. \ 2nd June – See the copy of his reply on back of B[ank] of Commerce paper. [‘reply...paper’ underscored]
It is time I should go to bed, & rest by brains. I walked down town this mor[n]ing; but as it was past 5 when I left the office, I rode home in a car, & made amends by walking to 16th St. & back after T[ea].
Tuesday night – 2nd June. – I woke at 6 1/2 a.m., but decided it was too early to get up, considering [underscored] the hour I had gone to bed; so I turned round to the other side & had a supplementary nap until 8, when Sarah woke me. I had to forego my bath, & so got down stairs before Wal- =ker & before W[illia]m had quite finished his breakfast. Walker came down whilst we were at prayers. – After breakfast when he & I were smoking, he told me he would come back to his post at 5 Hanover St. on Monday next, the 8th inst. [June 8th]
Having much work to do at the books before I surrender them to Walker, I rode down & remaining at the office until past 5 I also
[Marginalia]
Deaths in week end[in]g 30 May only 347, which is 90 less than week before & 13 less than same week
in ‘[18]62
[8]
also rode back, when otherwise I would with our present weather, much prefer walking each way. Whilst working at the books I do not sit, but am on my feet all the while. This is rather fatiguing, but it is far healthier, as it keeps the blood from concentration in the brain. – As I thus got but 1 miles of walking between break= =fast & dinner, I turned out after T[ea] & took 3 miles more, by walk =ing to 30th St. & back, & I had a moderate [underscored] nap before T[ea] – just as much as I wanted. – We were late in sitting down to dinner for the 2 W’s [William and Walker] did not appear until 10 minutes after 6. – It was a nice dinner: - a large piece (the thickest of the rib) of roast beef, & as our Butcher might truly observe, “as tender as a chicken.”
Sarah called on Mrs. [Bell?] in 21st St today, expecting she was to sail tomorrow to England, but a suitable State “dog-hole” could not be had in the China; & so Mrs. B[ell?] has now, abandoned the intention of going at all this year, & instead of doing so, is to go into country quarters this week or next. – I am disappointed at the non [underscored] arrival of the Persia today; but suppose she has steered for the more Southerly & longer but safer [underscored] track. – I enclose a note to you from our niece Mary – also one of a pleasant tone that I rec[eive]d this afternoon from Harriet, & that served to entertain Sarah & the lads after dinner – This morning I had 2 [?]= =[minous] epistles from Mrs. Cox, & at last [underscored] – one of 23 May (after 31 days silence!) from Rutson, to advise (with the un- -failing punctuality [underscored] I expected) his monthly [underscored] d[ra]ft [double underscore]
at 1d/st, which in this case is for $100 only – so making, with Dr. [...k’s?] d[raf]t on Mr. Greenshaw (now paid)[underscored] of $400, the 2 mo[nth]s allowance of $250 a month for j[oin]t use of Ja[me]s & himself. – It seems to me too plain “cupboard love!” Hisxecuse [His excuse] is thus briefly stated: “Want of “news & a sick household have been the cause of my silence – “not an excess of work – tho’ you will be happy to hear that we (Himself & his nameless partner – who Mrs. Cox tells me is a Mr. Adams) “have earned sufficient to pay $133 state, “city & Railroad Tax – for business as commission Merchant “& Broker. – During the past week we have not earned “1 cent; & as times look now, some time will elapse ‘ere’ we “make another Brokerage.” – Mark, that whilst he states the truth (as I suppose) yet I feel no assurance that it is the “whole [underscored] truth” – or that said earnings, have not exceeded [underscored] $133
Mrs. Cox asks me who Mr. Adams is; but all I know is that he is a descendant of Adam. – Perhaps David Spence could enlighten you. - \ I would not ask [Matthew] Fontaine [Maury], I think. \ Mrs. C[ox]_ names in one of her 2 letters that Mr. C[ox]_ had lately seen both Ja[me]s & R[utson]_ in the St[reet?]. & that R[utson]_ said he was unwell. – R[utson]_ says “Ja[me]s & family all “well. I expect he will go to Baton Rough in a few days.” – He says that in this forced Exodus from N[ew] O[rleans] of the “declared enemies of the U[nited] S[tates] Gov[ernmen]t” – Mrs. Pollard’s daughters Virg[ini]a & Ellen have followed the fashion & gone off, intending to go to Richmond, & that Mrs. P[ollard] herself & Mary intend leaving after a while. Rutson considers ( as [VR?] does too} this an unwise step, but he had not told them so, or tried to dissuade them. – I fear this letter will be too sever a tax on your eyes, as the ink runs thro’ the paper. – Yours affectionately R[utson] Maury [Sr.]
[9]
Bank of commerce Stock under Maury Bro[ther]s control how hold prior to 21st May & how held now
Owners Held prior to 21 May ‘63 Held Scrip Total since trans=
Full Scrip equal 21 May Full =fered Increase Decrease
to full in full Sold to from of Stock of Stock
Maury Bros 172 172 206 2/5 236 168 60 --- 29 3/5 --- Ann Maury 147 147 176 2/5 180 55 --- 59 3 3/5 --- Mary S Gilpin 2 6 3 1/5 6 2 --- --- 2 4/5 --- Mary H Maury 9 7 10 2/5 12 4 --- --- 1 3/5 --- Ja[me]s F. Maury 5 2 5 2/5 7 --- --- --- 1 3/5 --- Rose Lancy 5 1 5 1/5 5 --- --- 1 --- 1/5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 340 335 407 446 226 60 60 39 1/5 1/5
======================================================================================
The price obtained for the 229 full shares was $107 less King’s Sons brokerage 1/8% = 0.125 making the nett price $106.875
In paying up on the scrip – the $80 - we had also to pay for accruing dividend since Jan[uary]y Interest at the rate of 7% equal to 2.148 $82.148 therefore the price we pay you & Rose for each scrip share that we have transferred from you to ourselves is $24.727
And in estimating the gain you have realized by the whole transaction, we must first assume the value of the Stock you now own to be par [underscored] with the addition of Interest at the rate (as in the case of the $80 p[er] share paid up) of 7% p[er] annum since the last January dividend.
[Marginalia]
Angier M Perkins might be of use to both Fontaine, & (if he comes to England) to Tobin also.
[10]
The par & 7% interest for the $80 is = 82.148 & that for 20 is = 20.537 therefor par & 7% interest for $100 is = 102.685
Supposing the next semi-annual dividend to be at the rate of 7% p[er] annum (tho’ I presume it will be more [underscored] than that) then that dividend upon $1000 of stock w[oul]d be $35. – & of this there has already [underscored] been earned [underscored] 26.85
======================================
Your present interest in Bank of Commerce stock being simply 180 shares = $18,000 – add the Interest = $2 685/1000 p[er] share = 483.30 [underscored] $18483.30 as Dividend already earned
And in January you owned 147 full shares @ $100 = $14,700 & 147 scrip etc " 20 = 2,940 [underscored] I assume the value of these in Jan[uar]y $17,640.- And you are Credited 21st May with proceeds of 55 full sold at 106.875 = $5,878.13 &59 scrip transferred to Maury Bro[ther]s at 24.727 = 1,458.89 [underscored] so I deduct [underscored] the some 7,337.02 [underscored] 10,302.98
And you are charged with paying up in 88 scrip at 82 148/1000 $7,229.02 for stamp for certificate .25 [underscored] so I add [underscored] the sum of 7.229.27 [underscored] thus showing that the 180 full shares that you now own stand your [in?] apparently only $17,532.25 but as against the Dividend already earned as above stated of $483.30, I ought to change a corresponding rate of Interest 473.63 [underscored] on original stake of $17,640 [double underscore] [abas?] 18,005.88 [underscored] Thus showing you have gained $477.42 [double underscore]
[Marginalia]
Ms. Cox observes to me that Mr. Mees has a claim
on James for a whole years Salary unpaid - & that
furthermore when they travelled to gether in Dixie
last year, James would insist on Mr. Mees paying
his (James’) bills, & has never refunded, & won’t do it.
She names this in confidence, as Mr Mees would probably
not wish her to name it, tho’ he very naturally thinks
hard of this treatment. – It strikes me as not
improbable that his information was [given?]
much addicted to mischief making just
from the mere love of making mischief
But I fear much that James is steeped in
debt & that that Grocer’s bill that R[utson] sent to me, is
far from being the only tradesman’s bill of his unpaid.
[11]
This is I must confess a very cumbersome round about statement, and so I will place it in a shorter, & clearer way
We sold for you 55 full [underscored] shares or $5,500 stock at $106.875 $5878.13 call the cost thereof $5500 - & interest since Jan[uar]y at $2 685/1000 147.68 [underscored] 5647.68 [underscored] nett profit $230.45
And bought from you 59 scrip[underscored] (or $1180 stock) at $24 727/1000 for each such scrip share = $1458.89 call the cost thereof $1180 – & interest therein since Jan[uar]y at $2 685/1000 = 31.67 [underscored] 1211.67 [underscored] nett profit in scrip 247.22 [underscored] aggregate profit on 55 full & 59 scrip shares 477.67 less the stamp - .25 [underscored] $477.42 [double underscore] which you see tallies my result with the other & longer statement
Maury Bro[the]s sell out 168 full shares or $16.800 stock at 106 7/8 $17,955. – the cost of which at par, & interest since January at 7% is 17,251.08 [underscored] profit 703.92 but upon the 60 scrip shares bo[ugh]t from you & Rose Luncy they pay a bonus of 251.40 [underscored] so then nett profit is only 452.52 less 3 stamps 0.75 [underscored] 451.77 [double underscore]
[12]
[Top third of page]
Dr. Van Rensselaer to R[utson] M[Maury] [Sr.] \ Greebush 30th May \ Rec[eive]d 2nd Jun “We are much obliged for our kind letter informing us of the arrival of our good friends in England, where we wish them a pleasant visit among the “Bulls” \ I had noticed the advertise[men]t of the 2 corner lots for sale for some time past; but had no sus= =pecison it was part of our[underscored] property. – In regard to any future action, I shall be guided by the judgement of the meeting you refer to, as being likely to take place. – The corporation should pay the owners, not, the original value – but the proportion =ate value at the time of sale \ - But I would much prefer to keep the church where it now is - & where it is so much needed. – It is the best site for a working church in the City, at the present time; & among a population greatly needing church services – I shall probably see you before long Y[our]s truly (signed) Jer. Van Rensselaer.”
(This letter from the Dr. enclosed his check on a Bank in Albany, for the $13 60\100.) I have still $12.50 to col= =lect from W[illia]m Whitten.
[Bottom third of page]
In one of her 2 letters Mrs. Cox observes that Mr. Cox had thrown some business a while ago into Rutson’s hands, -but did not continue it because he found that R[utson]’s charges were higher than those of other people. – I sup= =pose that Mr. C[ox] complained or objected to some excess of charge, at the time when R[utson] wrote to me that he had found Mr. C[ox] to be in matters of business the very meanest man, without exception, he ever had dealt with. – I believe, however, that Mr. C[ox] is a very close [underscored] man in business, & is now of course compelled to be more so than ever -
[Marginalia –middle of page left hand – rotate page clockwise]
Mrs. Cox would like you to make the acquaintance of the Perkins family in London. The son of the great Inventor in Steam, & in Steel plate engineering I believe she is quite correct in saying they are exceedingly kind hearted & worthy people.
Mrs. J. P. Roy (the widow of her brother lives with them. The son of the inventor is called Angier M. Perkins. I once (I think it was in ’44 [1844]) went to his machinery works in London & was much pleased with him.
Mrs. H.B. Gwathmeys daughter V[irgini]a was a gust of the family some years after that. The family lives in the country I think. i.e. in one of the neighbouring villages. Please take a note of Mr. Perkins x [?] name.
[Marginalia –middle of page– right hand, rotate page counterclockwise]
Statement as to sales & transfers of Bank of Commerce Shares – and conversion of scrip into full shares
And the nett profit thereby for Ann Maury & for Maury Bros on 21st May 1863 when these transfers were made.
Shewing the projfit for Ann Maury $477.42 for Maury Bros. 451.79 [underscored] $929.19 [double underscore]
