.NDUz.NjE4

[1]

New York 10 June 1863

My dear Mrs. Pollard

I received yesterday morn[in]g your long letter of the 25th ulto. [25 May] It was left at our office by your nephew when Matthew was in, but before I had come down town. He asked M[atthew] where he should find Mr. Kennedy, & M[atthew] told him at the Reading Room, which is near our counting house; but I believe they did not see one another yesterday: – for Mr. Kennedy called on me fortunately this morning, and I at once asked him to be seated (as I was myself very busy writing for a departing steamer to England) and I placed in his hands – not your letter, but my verbatim [underscored] & very legible [underscored] copy of it, which he read over carefully & at his lei- =sure; but when he had done, I had no talk with him as to its contents, because I was still too busy writing for said steamer, & every moment was precious. – But I told him that I would take an early opportunity of giving Mrs. Kennedy the perusal of said copy of your letter to me. – After he left I got Matthew to place said copy in the hands of Mr. Whitehead, who has not yet returned it to me.

I was already aware (thro’ a letter of 23rd May from my nephew Rutson that reached me on the 2nd June) that your daughters Virginia & Ellen had gone to Dixie with a party of exiles; & so being constantly occupied all day, & then engaged to dine out, it was past 10 last night before I began to read your letter, & I was engaged in no other way than deciphering & copying it (the former being far the more difficult task) until past 2 A.M. – for I determined, if possible, to to send to Ann [Maury] by a steamer at 11 a.m. today – a complete & legible copy. – With some difficulty I managed to make out every word but one, [underscored] & it was unimportant.

If you had consulted me before having your daughters, V[irginia] & E[llen] to leave you, as they have done, I think I should have tried to dissuade you; but after reading all that you have told me about it I do not condemn it; for I am by no means clear that it was other [wise][struck-through] than a judicious [underscored] step. – Some of the narrative is

[?]- -sing; & together the proceeding seems to me (so far [‘so far’ underscored] at least, as you had heard) more of the nature of a “pic-nic’ [underscored] than of patriotism. – I hope with all my heart that you may soon near that they have reached Richmond safely & in good health. Excuse my not writing more at present for want of time \ I know nothing of Mr.

[Ma..da’s?]

[Marginalia – right side] movements since my first report to you about him.

[Marginalia – left side] My kind love to Mary, & as before [ paper folded over ] yours sincerely Rutson Maury

[2]

(P.S. to my letter of 10th June to Mrs Pollard.

11th June I was too much hurried yesterday to write to you as I wished. Whilst speaking of my own [‘my own’ underscored] trouble in writing a copy [underscored] of your interesting letter to send to Ann, I [...ed?] thanking you as I ought for the [much?] great trouble & the pain [underscored] you had voluntarily & kindly undertaken, in writing so long [‘so long’ underscored] a letter to me. [underscored] I was sorry for your sake that as, upon a former occasion, you hadn’t the use of your daughter, Virginia’s “ready pen,” which reminded me of that of her worthy [?]

I hope you will at all times call on the aid of James or Rutson, whenever you may need it; - & if it be a case in which they are unable [underscored] to aid you, & I can, [‘I can’ underscored] please make your want known to me without any [scruple?], & I will do the needful if I can.

I fear your time, with only Mary & the faithful Mag; to help you, & cheer you, in the absence of the other [?], will bring somewhat [...ity?] [upon?] [you?]

[3]

[?] & [?] your spirits[underscored] too – But, as I said to my friend Mrs. Cox, the other day, in writing up a reply to one of her letters that exhibited [more?] [?] anxiety[underscored] than usual – remember the [?] that, “Be careful for nothing” etc.

Yesterday I had the pleasure to re- =ceive for Mrs. Cox a letter to her, under flag of truce, via Old Point Comfort [VA], from her daughter, written at Richmond, & da- =ted 1st June. – Finding Mrs. C[ox] had not (then X) heard from her daughter since she took flight from the Lafourche. I under- -took the experiment of writing to Mrs. Car= =rington myself, thro’ that channel some 3 or 4 weeks ago, & yesterday’s letter from her was the result, wherewith you may be sure. I felt almost as much [?] as Mrs. Cox herself [?].

The lads can shew you the copy of a letter [to?] their Aunt [Ann] from their sister Nan, [dated?] at Milton No[rth] Ca[rolina] 2nd May strange to say, Nan, who is the wife of a rebel officer, is the only Unionist among her brothers & sisters – [unless?] [...y?] namesake [appears?] that way; but he I think is for the [?][underscored] side, whatever it be. You cannot be [?] [?] of Peace than I [?] – tho’ the [................?............]

[Marginalia – left side] but very lightly now []

[Marginalia – right side]

X she has heard twice, [however?], arrive there