.NDYy.NjI3
[1]
4th St. – 21st June 1863 Sunday evening
Dear Ann
It is a nasty cold, drizzly evening, with an E[ast] wind. – Sarah is seated apposite me, & was [underscored] emulating the letter C, in the pernicious practice of writing with the blotting board on her knee, [‘on...knee’ underscored] but on my remonstrance, & telling her what her figure must be if reaches my age, she has changed her position to one like my own, - the two W’s [William and Walker] are seated in the porch smoking their pipes. – Though I said it is cold – 57 9 [‘9’ struck-through] [degrees] being the minimum last night & 60 [degrees] the maximum today – I [underscored] am not cold; for I turned out at 5, when the drizzle began, & walked without ceasing until 7 1/4. – I went as far as 64th St. or abreast of the Armory, on the 5th Avenue, carry= =ing an umbrella over my head all the while; but the mist or drizzle was so searching, & so horizontal [underscored] too, that the umbrella did me little good; & when I came in, I had to change both coat & pants. During the latter half of my walk I was in a state of fusion indeed, from being over-clad. This morning I was rigged out suitably for a temperature of 80, [degrees] tho’ it was below 60, [degrees] & on returning from church, I added a 2nd flannel [‘2nd flannel’ underscored] shirt of winter texture, [‘winter texture’ underscored] & a
2nd p[ai]r [‘2nd pair’ underscored] of drawers![underscored] & that did no more than make me feel very comfortable. –
The two Ws [William and Walker] went down to Trinity [church], & on their return to dinner, brought 1 letter. It was from “Jody,” acknowledging my invitation with thanks & saying he will be here early this week, but hesit= =ating whether he will put up at No. 365, [4th Street] or not. but I think he will [underscored] stay with us. –
David [Spence] & Mr. Mather dined with us today; & they & the young folks seemed to enjoy themselves. They took leave & went home whilst I was in the midst of my nap in your arm-chair. – David [Spence] has pre= =sented himself again, within the last few minutes.
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He has come, I think, to leave his sea overcoat in our charge, preparatory to setting out tomorrow with Mr. Mather for Boston. – He told me yesterday, (whilst I was writing to James at N[ew] O[rleans]) that there is no probability of Mr. Mather & himself embark= =ing for L[iver]pool before the end of July. [‘end of July’ underscored] – I name this, in case there be anything you wish him to bring over to you, [‘you...you’ underscored] as there is ample time for you to think over it, & give us the particulars, if you want anything.
It is my intention to send over by David [Spence], for the benefit of poor old Callaghan, if he be alive, that stout overcoat that you & Sarah ordered for me several years ago. It is still a very good coat for winter wear, & was not moth-eaten when I last inspected it some months ago: & I think it will add much to the poor old mans comfort, & probably last him as long as he needs one. –
If Mytton has not yet seen Callaghan I trust he will make a point of doing so when he is next in L[iver]pool; because it will gladden the heart of the old man. And I would make the same request of Tobin, in case he should be coming home via England, whilst you are still there -for as I have before named, in a former letter, I think that if Tobin returns at all, this year, it will be via England, for the sake of the neutral flag.
I felt annoyed yesterday at discovering, when too late to repair the omission, that I had not enclosed (as I now do) Harriet’s 2 letters of 8 & 15th inst. [8 and 15 June] – I had given them to Walker to read on Friday night, expecting him to read them (tho’ it was rather late), ‘ere he went to bed. He preferred reading the paper, & intended to read
[Marginalia – left side] I have re-inspected the Overcoat for Callahan, & it is all perfect, & entirely fit for one [underscored-
to wear, except ---[continued in marginalia – right side]
[Marginalia – right side] that it wants new buttons or to have the old ones re-covered with silk.
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them in the morning, & returning them to me then. [underscored] I forgot to ask him for them; & he, of course, [double underscored] had forgotten that he had them. But I did not rate at him, as he deserved; tho’ I was much vexed.
We had but a slim congregation at St Tho[ma]s today. It did not rain, but it was dark, as well as cold, & looked likely for rain. – Sarah & I had the pew to ourselves, & it was the same with Matthew & James. – Dr. Morgan required the gas light to read his sermon; & I fell asleep during the latter part of it. –
That letter of Mrs. Cox’s that was delivered to me on Thursday 4 1/4 p. m., with the seal broken, & the envelope open – I am now convinced was [underscored] opened by some Gov[ernmen]t Officials before I got it. 1st there has been no arrival from N[ew] O[rleans] since a steamer that left there 7th June, whose mails were delivered on Sunday last – i.e. 4 days [‘4 days’ underscored] before the letter reached me; & by that steamer I then rec[eive]d a letter from her of 5th June, postmarked Thibodaux [Louisiana]
perfect
6th – with the seal (with wax) ^ & the impression on the seal plain enough to shew it could not have been opened: - & I think that opened letter did not
by
come by that st[eame]r, but ^ some one that arrived in the previous week. – 2nd the broken seal (with wax) bore no impression; whereas she used a seal with a motto of 2 or 3 lines: the wax had been remelted: [underscored] – 3rd there had been gum [underscored] originally on the flap of the envelope, but it had been entirely washed off. [‘entirely...off’ underscored] – It had been done very neatly [‘very neatly’ underscored] & by an expert [underscored] hand, accustomed
only
to opening letters! The ^ clumsy thing was omitting to use gum on fastening up the letter again, & trusting only to the wax to hold it together.
Her other letter sent off on 27th May, as she says in the opened letter (which begins 29 May ends 2 June, & is postmarked Thibodaux [La.] 3 June) has
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no doubt been intercepted, [‘no...intercepted’ underscored] because the letter enclosed
for her to forward to
in it for Mrs. Lewis, contained one ^ for [struck-through] Mrs. Charles Pollard, Albemarle, [underscored] Co[unty] Va. [underscored] – I do not suppose that what she said to [struck-through] in either of these 2 ladies was anywise objectionable in its nature, but she ought not to have enclosed, either to me, or to Mrs. L[ewis], any [underscored] letter for “Dixie.” [underscored] She knew [underscored] it was contraband. [underscored] She says expressly, & underscores [underscored] it, that it contained thus letter “for her” [underscored] (Mrs. L[ewis] to forward to Mrs. Cha[rle]s Pollard; because she knows very well that both M[atthew] and I are under engagement as men of honour, neither to write nor forward such letters; - but I fancy that, as in the case of her first letter to Mrs. L[ewis], she left this 2nd one (the intercepted one) open for my perusal, [‘open...perusal’ underscored] in case I wished to read it –
She speaks in 29 May (the opened letter) of one from me of 30 April [’30 April’ underscored] that had never reached her. But in 5th June she says it had [underscored] reached her within a day or two. –
There has been nothing in any of Mrs. Cox’s letters to me, or in any of mine to her, that Mr. [William H.] Seward [U.S. Secretary of State] might not be welcome to read, if he chose so to misspend his time, - any more than there was in what I wrote to you from England. But I detest this espionage as heartily as that Mr. McRae did, many years ago, in Paris when it was intimated to him that a Gov[ernmen]t Spy was seated near him & listening to his conversation with another gentleman. –
Sarah has just gone up to bed, & I asked her if she had ever sent to Mrs. Cha[rle]s King the extract from Nan’s letter of 11 May as to Mrs. Martin, & she tells me she has not. – These young folks have no memory for what concerns old [underscored] folks only. [underscored]
It is now raining very very heavily with a little thunder.
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(5)
This morning, when I came down stairs to break- -fast, I brought down a new pair of light neat summer shoes that I bought when last in London. I offered them some months ago to Mytton; but when he tried them on, they were too large, [‘too large’ underscored] & therefore declined. – I thought they might fit W[illia]m; but without trying them on, he said they were too small [‘too small’ underscored] for him, & so declined them . Presently Walker came in, & I offered them to him; & they fitted him, tho’ rather tight, & he thankfully accepted them –
cubical
Last week I bo[ugh]t 2 square ^ paper packets of anti-moth, [‘anti-moth’ underscored] powdered cedar – 25c each, & without opening them (because the closed packets emit very decided aroma) I put them in my bottom drawer that contains all the new garments I bo[ugh]t from R. Cain & Son. –
Whilst making my toilet this morning I open -ed that drawer, & took out, in fear & trembling [‘in...trembling’ underscored] a number of its contents; but found, to my great satisfaction, no vestiges of any moths.
in
We are having thus far an extraord^ary share of very cool weather this summer; owing I suppose to the unusually large quantity of ice-bergs. – I think the crops must be back= =ward on this side the Alleghanies [Allegheny Mountains]: - thus far those throughout the West are favorably reported of. Our East winds, you know (which have been so cold) seldom extend beyond the Alleghanies.
I wrote on the back of my envelope to you yesterday, what Matthew had just told me – that the Bank of Commerce has declared 4% semi-annual
he added afterwards
dividend, & ^ that after paying that, & taking out
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of their reserve $90,000 towards extinguishment of the cost of their Banking-house, their surplus fund (at present value of U. S. securities) will be something like 12% on their capital. Nevertheless I observed that yesterday 85 shares of the Stock were sold (not [double underscore] ex- [underscored] dividend) at 105 1/2.
The price has never been higher, at its highest point, there [struck-through] that (107) which we got for the 229 full shares we sold before converting all the scrip shares into full ones, by paying up the 80% & interest. –
Money hs latterly been much more valua= =ble here, say 7% on first rate securities. This is ascribed to the heavy daily amount of Greenbacks paid into the Treasury in exchange for U.S. 6% bonds.
“Fancy Stocks” are daily becoming more & more out of favor.
The Finances of the U.S. Gov[ernmen]t have for 3 mo[nth]s past worked very favorably, & quite contrary to the predictions of the London times & Econo= =mist: - whilst those of the C[onfederate] S[tates] [of] A[merica] are frightfully bad, & only getting worse & worse.
Yesterday Matthew told me that Mr. Wother= =spoon had told him that those 2 gentlemen Mess[ieu]r. Ellis & Skinner (whom Sarah I dined with on the 9th inst. [9 June] at Matthews) have made their election of officers to act here for the new Exchange Bank
formerly
at L[iver]pool – vizt. 1st as chief, Mr Wood, ^ of Dennistoun Wood & Co.: 2nd as confrere, Mr. Gallop of Gallop & Spence in the So[uth] Am[erica]n trade; & 3rd Mr. Cross, a son of Dennistoun’s former partner
[Marginalia] The Salaries of these 4 officers of the Exc[hange] Bank are to be for the 1st £4000, for the 2nd £2000 & for the 3rd £1500 per annum.
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who was Manager of the L[iver]pool Borough Bank be= =fore Mr. Sellars succeeded him. – Matthew does not think their choice a judicious one; & I do not feel competent to offer any opinion on the subject. Of course he would have preferred them choosing Mr. Trimble, & is not pleased at having had all his trouble for nothing. – All 3 are English or Scotch. Mr. Gallop resided formerly at Buenos Ayres, [Aires][Argentina] & only came here 3 years ago. He is the go-ahead [‘go-ahead’ underscored] man, & Mr. Wood will be the drag [underscored], I suppose. He (Wood) became deranged for a while after Dennistoun’s failure in [18]’57; he
& his partner Sawson’s
I believe, having thro’ his ^ inordinate ambition, been the cause of that failure. – But it should be added that Dennistoun & Co, a year or two after wards, dis= =charged all their engagements – 20/ - on the £, & inter =est to boot. – For my part, I am just as well pleased that Mr. Trimble has not been appointed.
very
It will be a troublesome post to perform the duty [struck-through] duties satisfactorily; and in my opinion it is a very injudicious period for starting any such institution & thus, if things should not work satisfactorily, Matthew cannot be blamed.
Mr. Towne has never called yet to speak to Matthew about St. Tho[ma]s [church] – M[atthew] thinks we ought to sound the lady [underscored] –vault owners, vizt Mrs. Gibson, the Misses Marx & Mrs. Ehninger.
Nothing more from happy [underscored] Miss Lippett: & no re= =sponse from Mrs. Greene to my note enclosing yours -but Sarah says she is not able to write in her present weakly condition. – Sarah’s letter to- -night I see is directed to Mrs. Bell, Southport, Conn[ecticut] – I know not what it is about. –
The young people of this household are so full of their own affairs, & so unconscious of the
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feelings of those who are deaf, that it is rarely they exchange ideas with me upon any plea= =sant subject. [‘pleasant subject’ underscored] It is only (as their general rule) when there is an absolute necessity [‘absolute necessity’ underscored] for it, that they address any conversation to me. – Thus it too often happens that the communication is of an unpleasant nature. – And when I speak to them, they, in their replies, are as monosyl[l]abic as possible. – I sometimes imagine it would be a great relief to them if I were resting quietly in my grave. –
June Min[imu]m Max[imu]m 17 63 68 1/2 18 63 77 19 65 67 20 58 1/2 65 21 57 69 22 58 70 23 60 Mortality week ending in [18]’63 June 13 406
“ 20 390
and last year June 14 335
“ 21 341
and in [18]’61 June 15 387
“ 22 353
and in [18]’60 June 16 360
“ 23 331
same 2 weeks [18]’59 398 & 352
Monday night 22nd June. The above table shows a decidedly greater mortality than in any one of the last four years, & I suppose it owing to the fact that for several successive weeks (not less I think than 3 weeks [‘3 weeks’ underscores]) the boxes & bbls [barrels] o f ashes, & all manner of garbage & filth, were not removed but lay festering & polluting the air! This was in consequence of some disputes about contracts etc for street cleaning. But the difficulty has at last been arrayed, & the said boxes & bbls [barrels] were all emptied of their contents & removed several days ago, & this nuisance is not like- =ly to be repeated in the present year, I think. –
With the return of fine weather I am in a happier mood today. – I enclose copy of another note from Miss V[irgini]a [Draper] & of my reply. \ - Having ridden home to dinner, I have walked to 30th St. & back today [stuck-through] since T[ea], & it is a lovely summer’s night. – I spent all day at the office till 4 p. m. in preparing a letter & extracts to send to Mrs. Ehninger, & Walker dispatched it via S I Express (cost 12c) at 4 1/4 p. m. I sent her copy of Dr. Morgan’s 28 May letter, & of the Advertisement & of the Vault clause in the final decree of the Supreme Court; & I suggest her coming over some day this week to have a talk with Matthew. – yours affectionately R[utson] Maury.
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(9) Office 3 1/2 p. m. – Tuesday 23rd. –
I am taken rather by surprise by the intended movement from Irving Place to-morrow towards the Far West: - and for the life of me, I can’t see the slightest call for it, in the shape of recreation, [underscored] for any one of the party; - for Cornwall [NY] itself it would seem to me would furnish recreation enough; & then the time for flitting to Cornwall is so close at hand, that it will make nothing but confusion, hurry & trouble according to my thinking. – If they are to reach any of these far away spots – such as the falls of St. Anthony [Minnesota], Lake Su= =perior or Mackinaw – they must either hurry to & fro at a rate that will be making only a toil of the pleasure, or they can’t be back in time to assist at the removal of Mrs. & Miss Gilpin to Cornwall; - and I should say that these two ought not to be deprived of their aid in the operation. – It is more likely that Elizabeth will get worried & knocked up than derive any benefit; & if they must go, it were better that she were left behind, I should say.
But there are other reasons why I would have liked this journey to be postponed sine die, & that Matthew should have re- =mained here. –
1st. We have so much Cotton to look after, & the very next steamer from L[iver]pool
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may bring a change of instructions requiring an early sale. – Pending the fate of Vicks- =burg & Port Hudson, Cotton is in a very critical state, of course:
2nd. We have not settled this bothering busi=
ness as to our Cotton with the Excise Commission
=er, who threatens to sue us, & may do so in Matthew’s absence:
3rd. We have to hand in our returns for Income Tax – for all 3 of us but the pa= =pers have not yet been left either in 4th St. or Irving Place.
4th. St. Tho[ma]s goes to sleep for a fortnight just at the time I was expecting some progress to be made that would bring it to a speedy conclusion.
“Business first & Pleasure afterwards” is my motto in such cases as the pres- =ent. – If there were no business on hand of any moment, I would not care. – True, I have Walker to aid me, but his aid will be of very very little use to me in such matters as any of these 4 that I have cited.
Perhaps you will think that the saying of mim [‘of mim’ struck-through] that I think I had credit for utter
ing when a child; - “Don’t make no diffi
=culties” – might not be usefully applied in answer to these objections.
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I am pleased that your wishes in respect to Walker’s return to his old post have been anticipated. – I enclose copy of a very joyous pleasant note I have rec[eive]d this morning from Harriet. – I also had today a good, proper, instructive, business letter this morning from Rutson [Jr.] dated 13 June. It does not con- -tain anything about family matter; but it contrasts most favorably with any letter I have had from him for months & months past; & so it pleases me. –
I have read Matthew’s letter to you (at his own suggestion) & am pleased with it, as you will be too. – It caused my letter to be beyond the 1/2 oz., else I should not have written beyond where I stopped last night, & been content with merely copying Harriet’s letter for you. – but Walkers ill shaped epistle to his Rev[eren]d brother has been handed to me since I began this sheet.
The only volunteer communication I have had from Sarah within the last 24 or or 48 hours – san “Tea is ready” – was this morning – “Uncle Rutson, I shall want some more money today.” And I accordingly have now $50 in my pocket to hand to her when I go up to dinner.
She remained in doors all yesterday tho’ the day was fine.
Perhpas I may find “Jody” at the house when I reach home.
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We have strawberries to breakfast, as well as dinner, every day. – The family health seems perfect – the Misses Nugent included.
I walked down to the office this morning, but must take a seat in a Car on my return.
I have had not the slightest tendency to Vertigo for a number of weeks past, because I have had a sufficiency of Sleep & Exercise, & there has been such cool weather in the main throughout this month & most of May also.
I am not thirsting for recreation at all at present beyond that which Sunday al= =ways brings to me.
When I was with young Dr. Parmley the other day I was naming for Mary Wakefield’s sad state, supposing that the Nervous system had been a part of his studies. – I told him my idea about the “Electric Battery” produced by so much various stimulus , & no exercise as counterpoise - He seemed quite of my opinion in the matter
Yours affectionately Rutson Maury
Gold has been very steady yesterday & today at 143 e 143 1/2 -only 1/2 % being the range of the fluctuations throughout the day. – Cotton rather works up= =wards, but it requires a rise of 10c plb. [per pound] (at present Exchange) to clear cost of the cheapest of the Lots consigned to us.
[Marginalia] It seems to me the U.S. Currency is steadily appreciating instead of depreciating.
