.MzM4.NDg3

New York 4 June, 1862

My dear Nan,

It is bed time, I have just been reading in the vol. containing New Testa- ment & Psalms which Lewis gave me on a certain gay day that I dare say you remember. It brings before me the past, & the associations with you both at a time when the separation which has taken place could not have been

imagined. - I know not that I may have any 

opportunity of sending what I write, but you are so much in my thoughts that I think I will have something ready in case there should be any opportunity. – 6th June – I wrote the above scrap the night before last, when the thought of you & your husband & children came vivid- ly before me, & I had much to say – but the flesh is weak & I was so sleepy I had to stop & go to bed. – Since I wrote it I have had the comfort of receiving a letter from Nannie, who tells me she wrote at your request. The details about you are meager – merely that you were at the Old Mansion taking away your possessions. – If you had carried them to Fred- ericksburg instead of Richmond I would have mede an effort to see you –

8 June. You see I write by fits & starts. This is the third time. – I have just been writing three letters of introduction for our excellent friend the Revd Lot Jones who sails in a packet for London in the course of 2 or 3 days. He has called to take leave & ask if he could do anything for me, which he could not, but I asked him if he would like to be introduced to Dr Howson & the Bishop of London. He thought he would like it much so I have written those for him & one to Mr. Ha- milton. I hope he may have a good voyage he is so good a man. Some friend gives him the passage to & fro. The little man requires rest & it is thought he will get it, making a summer passage in a sailing ship. –

It is very good time for him, he will see the Great Exhibition, which Uncle Rutson is so much pleased with that he wants me to go to England as soon as he gets home. I do not think of it, though for many reasons I should like it. For one thing

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Harriet hopes to be able to make us a visit in August, & I should not like to be away when she came, besides which I should not like to go off a gallivanting as soon as Uncle R got home after his long absence. Nearly a year.

When I have returned from England I have sometimes said that they must treat me well at home, I have been made so much of while away. I think Uncle R may say so, for he has been made much of by all his friends.

I wrote to him when he went to London to see the Great Exhibition to be sure that he got a photograph taken of himself by [Tilogs?] at Bayswater. I am told they are incomparably superior to all others. He intended to gratify me but cannot, for [Tilog?] requires to have an ap- pointment made weeks before & takes two weeks before he furnishes a proof: I am sorry it is so. – Uncle R – is delighted with the Great Exhibition. It surpasses his expec tation both in general effect & in its details.

I wish you could see how lovely we look when the carpets were taken up & the chimney swept – not by William Myers but by George Smith – I thought all looked so dirty that I should like to have a little painting done. I said if I could get Mr Simpson right away to begin the next day I would have the parlors painted. Mytton at once volunteered to go to Astoria & summon Mr Simpson to the pre- sence. I was positive in my message that he must begin at once. When Mytton re- turned I was sorry that I had not left him a discretion for he said Mr Simpson had begged hard to put it off, for he had a child dead & the funeral to take place next day. However he come, set the men at work & returned home to the funeral. I was concerned. We began on Tuesday the 20 May & we have not finished yet. One of our painters belonged to the 7th Reg. & was obliged to leave. Another determined to set up for himself, so we are left with only one. He is an excellent painter & a steady respectable man, so I am content. The parlors are very nice indeed. – I have gladdened Mary’s heart by having the kitchen

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& the basement Hall, (Entry) whitewashed & painted. – I have had a great painting of foot pails & water pails, watering pots & foot stools. – The green paint left from the Blends is highly ornamental. –

Miss Betsey [Battail?] had a letter from Fredericksburg a few days ago. She was disappointed for it was almost all taken up with histories of a child that had been sick & was well again. Perhaps you may think writing of the painting our house is not worth sending but I will not tell you something that will interest you. A late letter from Harriet tells us that Frank has been confirmed & taken the communion with her. I do rejoice most heartily.

22d June. We have Uncle Rutson home again. I wish you could see him. He looks so well & so happy. Sarah & Mytton have been entertained at the number of cravats they saw. A diffe- rent one almost every day. So they were so curious to know how many he had that they incited me to make the enquiry, & we learnt they had seen them all. The piece of splendor worn today was purchased to wear at Emily Addison’s wedding. The Bolds’ miniature house in Welfield Place, Princes Park has been Uncle R’s head quarters all the time. He intended going to lodgings but they urged him so much to stay with them that he consented.

The social family intercourse was pleasant & cheerful for him, & they write that they do not know how they can spare him.

5th July – We passed a wonderfully quiet 4 July – I think there was less noise than usual in the streets. Miss Van Ness is staying with us. Sarah is in the country with Miss Dunning. Walker is on Staten Island at country lodgings – not far from where you were. By his own account he is with a very nice family. I miss Tobin exceedingly. He was always so much with me when at home. Even should he return in my life time he could never be the same [as he?] was he will be older, have fresh ties & views. May God [ ] shield him through all the trials he has to encounter [ ] making them purifying to him. The [Tundra?] was spo[ken] on the 28 April eleven days out having made about 1500 [ ]

Mytton went with me to spend a day & night at Dr Drapers 

on the 30 June. I found that a brother of one of their servants had gone in the ship with Tobin. His father died when he was 3 month old. He was the only boy, had been the idol of his mother & sisters - most carefully trained – 22 years old. He was in the employ of Waite the grocer & butcher at the corner of Fourth & Greene Streets. He had $20 a month & a full supply of butcher’s meat for his mother & himself. His sisters [?]

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with each other in furnishing him with articles of clothing. It was their pride to see him look like a gentleman. I saw his Carte de visite done at Bradys – he looked gentlemanly. He was as steady as possible but latterly had been seized with a desire to see the world & had been led off by some one. He went in the [?] at $12 a month. His sister at the Drapers knew nothing of it until she came to New York with an invitation to him from Mrs D. – to spend the 4 July. She was surprised that here brother did not appear at tea time, & asked her mother why he didn’t come – she said he went in a ship to China 2 months ago & she had not written to tell her of it because she thought it would be so distressing to her that she should be ignorant of it as long as possible. The poor girl took some comfort in hearing from the Drapers that Tobin had gone in the same ship, so I have written to Tobin to ask him to take an interest in him.

Mytton’s friend [Nassett?] 23 years old & James’ friend Trenor 18 only were both killed at Fair Oaks. The funeral services were held at Sr Thomas for both at the same time on 15 June. Sad! and it was! Both so young & so cherished! You may suppose James has been sadly distressed. He went to the grave at the cemetery in 2nd St & when Matthew stopped here on the way home, James felt too much to do so. –

There are sorrows all around – Miss Van Ness is much cast down by the death of her brother Eugene the [Col.?] He died of Pneumonia about a month or 5 weeks ago. She was fortunately staying there at the time. Charles was sent for by telegram & entered the house 20 min. after his brother’s death. – The Haddens are all in the country Miss Mary & Bella are to return in October & I believe old Mrs. Jones will accompany them, bringing his bones back. We have some expectation that Harriet may be here in August. The children have the hooping cough the change will do them good. Harriet’s heart has been made to sing for joy by her husband going with her to the communion table. – You may have heard it before, if not, I am sure you will rejoice at it. Mytton is going to the Drapers again today (Saturday) & on Monday he is to bring back a basket of cherries for preserving. Uncle R- Miss V- Ness & I shall have the home to ourselves. I wish we could have you & Lewis with us & dear little Willie & Charlie. Poor things I fear they are pining for the sea air! God will bring all right in his own good time. – William & Fontaine are in Liverpool. Uncle Rutson allows William two guineas a week for his support & Fontaine one guinea. He gave the same to both at first but F hs employment in the foundry that used to be Fawcett & Preston’s. It is now managed by William Mann. Fontaine has a guinea a week & will have more by & bye when he knows more. –

Love to all the kin from all the hold

Your affectionate Aunt.