.NDI4.NTg1
[1]
via Etna[underscored] 4th St[reet]. N[ew]. York 19 May 1863 Tuesday night
Dear Ann
I have just finished wading thro’ the “Express,” which this even[in]g. devotes great space – in diamond type – to the speak =ing in Union Square last night - & still more to the letters that were read there from parties who could not or would not attend. There were violent[underscored] speeches, but these were the exception. There were very few, if any, eminent or influential men among the speak =ers. – Whilst the Times called the numbers assembled only 3,000, & the Tribune 4 or 5,000, the World calls them 25 to 30,000. –
Sarah observed last night that the police =men were very numerous indeed; but there does seem to have been the slightest indica =tions of trouble or disorder.
Wotherspoon’s circulars were not out until 1/2 past 5, & it was somewhat later than that when I got them; for finding that John had not been at the Post Office since the morn[in]g. I sent him there the last thing
in
to see if there was anything to enclose ^ or add to my letter to you: & after leaving the office I stopped for a few moments at the Reading Room, & it was within 10 minutes of 6 when I left it. Of course I had to ride[underscored] home, & it was beyond 6.15 when I entered the house, & told Ann to bring up the dinner as soon as ready; but I was washed & down stairs before the soup appeared
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Looking at the Therm[omete]r. I saw it had been up to 70 & was then but little short of that.
The matting was laid in both parlours & they looked very nice, clean & cool, & the win= =dows were open in both rooms & remained so during dinner. – Walker had come up to dinner. After the soup we had a boiled shad & mashed potatoes. The cold veal was on the table, but no on partook of it. The 3 gents ate up 3/4 ths of one of Mr. Simpson’s pies & Sarah regaled herself with an orange.
After dinner she sat a short time beside me on the sofa; & I learnt that she & the domestics had had , as I supposed, a very hard day’s work. She said Mr. Chapman was to have come to lay down the matting; but he never came at all; so after 1 p.m. when the servants had finished their din= =ner, they & she turned to with this arduous job, & I must say (as I did to her) that they have completed it most skillfully. I then remarked that I would much prefer to have the carpet in my room remain undisturbed, both for their sakes & my own, - & it is so agreed. –
Sarah said she is intending a visit to Highwood, as soon as all matters are set to rights again. – There is still enough to do in replacing the Books &c. to occupy her tomorrow. –
After this talk she joined W[illia]m. in the garden, & I went up into my own room to get a refreshing nap like that of yesterday.
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I suppose I had slept for about an hour when she came up at 1/2 past 8, & wakened me by informing me T was ready. – I took one cup & laying the second one on the chimney piece I turned out & took 2 miles walk. – For a little variety, I went from Aster Place across 4 & 3rd Ave. to St. Marks church & along 2nd Ave. to 23rd. & returned along Lexington Avenue, Grammercy Park, & Irving Place.
The parlours at No. 62 were still lighted up, but it was too late for a visit; & it was just 10 when I reached our door. –
The gents had retired to their room, the domestics soon did the same, & Sarah, went the rounds & intered before 11. – I hope to be earlier tomorrow than I was this morn[in]g. -for it was 8.15 [ine?] I woke (of myself) & 8.45 [ine? I appeared in the basement ban= =queting hall, & just 10 before I left the house to walk down town. –
The Vines do not indicate as much bloom as last year. The main or Northern branch of the smaller vine, last year bore but one branch of fruit; - & this branch seems now to have no bloom, but the smaller branch will again bear fruit this year unless some accident befall it. – The dwarf rose is already re= =viving & the Camilla looks less miserable.
21st May – 10 1/4 p.m. – I did not feel in the vein for adding anything yesterday or today. The weather is warm, & my “interior” rather unhappy.
Sarah is at the piano & W[illia]m. & Walker are assisting in some amusing vocal accompani
ment. – Walker did not return here yester
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=terday after breakfast, but he came today to dinner. We were late in sitting down to dinner, but he was still later in coming to it, & took some time to wash & array himself in lighter clothes; - but we remained at table until he had finished. – The young gents then retired into the garden to read the Express & smoke & I made myself comfortable in Mr. Hutchinson’s arm-chair with my back towards the mirror & all the windows wide open – summer fashion, – & began to amuse myself with one of the Country Parson’s Essays; but Sarah soon joined me for a little chat. – She has not been outside of the front door today. First, because Miss Van Ness called, & second, because our niece Mary
just
called ^ after she had left; & when Mary left, it was too lat. – I asked whether country quarters had yet been engaged for the family in Irving Place, & Sarah said they had - & at Cornwall; not at the house they went to last summer, but a larger one which is kept by Mrs. Turners’ sister, & which it is hoped & expected may be filled exclusively with their own circle of friends as used to be the case at “Tribridge.” –
Before it became altogether too dark to read without gas, W[illia]m. came in from the garden with this evenings Express, & called my attention to the following item under the Shipping head: = “Jeremiah Thompson from L[iver]pool, sailed 24th. April. On 10th May – Lat. 42.45, Long: 50_ saw several large icebergs: - same day saw one of the Black Ball packets, and steamer Persia, [‘and...sia’ underscored] both [hence?] for Liverpool.” – This is the first & only report as yet of the Persia having been[underscored] spoken; & to me it seems a very satisfactory [‘very...tory’ underscored] report of her,
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for which I trust I am duly thankful.
Today Sarah invited Mary to dine with us on Saturday & to bring James with her, & she expects they will come. =
Matthew & I in our respective vocations have each been quite busy yesterday & today. Yesterday he was occupied in transferring to I. G. King’s Sons the 229 full shares B. of Commerce stock sold at 107 on 18th inst. & payable today. & which they credit us $24,503. – for less 1/8% brokerage ....28.13[underscored] $24,474.87 & today we sold them our own d[ra]ft on Rob[er]t. Benson & Co. £1.000-[double underline] @163%..7,244.44 [underscored] $31,719.31[double underline] against which they gave him today $27,000.- [double underline] & he has today paid up the 80% on the whole 335 scrip shares under our control = $26,800 – together with interest at the rate of 7% since last divid[en]d. – say 4 mos. & 13ds. = 602.53[underline] $27,402.53 [double underline]
We are thus (with $4,719.31 still to receive from J. G. King’s son’s) provided with the wherewithal to pay up your & our Income Taxes, tho’ no notices have yet been left with the returns for us to fill up.
After Matthew had got thru’ with his work at the B. of Commerce this afternoon, he was occupied until 1/2 past 5 [‘1/2...5’ underscored] making out requisite papers & instruct =ions for John T. Smith to commence tomorrow to[struckthrough] morn[in]g. to ship to L[iver]pool via Br. ship Constitution 290 bales of E. I. Cotton that T & H Littledale & Co. on 6th inst. order us to send back to them.
Yesterday I was busy drawing out A/Sales of a
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of 38 bales Am[erica]n. sold 3 March last at 83c[underscored] (& which would not now command over 50c[underscored]) being part of an Invoice, whereof we are sending back the other part, which is E[ast].I[ndian].[underscored] I finished my job & some other accounts, & made the entries in Day Book ‘ere I left the office, after 5 yesterday, - & having ridden both down town & back again, I took 3 miles walk after T last even[in]g. – Today I again rode both ways, but from the state of my “interior” (which induced me to confine myself to bread & cold beef & Port wine at dinner today, & has had the desired effect this even[in]g.) I was content with barley 1 mile of walk after T. – After I had drawn the £1000 on R. Ben =son & Co today, that gave me the needful data to close up the accounts for the Lard we shipped over 12 mos. ago on joint account with Mr. Gracie to Cropper Hodgson & Co. and E. Heath & Co.; and I finished this job, & sent him the completed account. –
When Mr. Gracie was calling at our office yester- -day in relation to these accounts, I took the oppor- -tunity of asking him about Mrs. Duer’s condition; & I am sorry to say his report is very discouraging.
He said “she is gradually becoming weaker all the time” – or words to that effect.
As the books were all in their places [lod? struckthrough] now, & the house fully restored to order after the chaos, I would be glad if Sarah would go to Highwood to- -morrow; & if the weather be suitable I shall propose it to her after breakfast. – Today the Therm[omete]r. marked 81 1/2
When I came home to dinner Sarah was occupied in the passage to the Observatory stitching up some old [figured?] muslin dress, with her Sewing Machine.
I must try & plan the Medina Vine tomorrow myself; as no one else seems inclined to enter upon this task. // 22nd I planted it this morning\\
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22nd May – office noon – The China arrived to-day [bering?] no letters for you to Maury Bros.’ care. – I have this morning the following from Harriet. – “Monday even[in]g. 18 May. My dear Uncle Rutson. – Thank you for your letter recd. a few days ago, I am sorry they had such a very unpleasant day to start on I hope nothing more disagreeable than sea-sickness follow =ed such a storm. \ We are having delightful weather; hardly warm enough to ripen the strawberries, which are just beginning. Frank gathered a handful this even[in]g. & we hope of pick a dishful on Thursday to regale our friend Miss Whiting, who is to spend the day with us. \ The baby, little Nannie, is doing very well tho’ she has had another cold. She has gained 2 lbs in weight during the last 3 weeks, & has nothing whatever of indigestion. She is bright, but cross; - she wants to be carried about & am= =used. \ I went to church yesterday, & had a little talk with Mr. Berkley after service. He had heard of Mytton’s ordination, & spoke in Mytton’s praise. \ Eddy
underlines &
Berkley & Robb[underlilned] Maury (U[ncle]. Rutson ^ remarks – what a horrid[underscored] name!) the 3rd son of cousin M. F. spent Satur= =day here. Robb is not as good looking as Frank, but he is a very well behaved boy. \ A great many arrests imprisonments & banishments are going on, - 40 per= =sons were sent South last week. Another lot is to go tomorrow; & great numbers of persons are leaving for the summer. The say there are 2,000 names down on the list of disloyal persons \ Frank is at home & busy. – He is having some trouble about settling with Mr. Sol. Smith, but expects it will be closed in a satisfactory way very soon. \ Our well is quite finished; & the water is excellent & in great abundance. It is a great comfort. \ I don’t think I ever say the trees look more beautiful than they do now – I wish some of them were on our 10 acres, which look very bare. \ The Tom= =atoes, Hollyhocks, & Balsams that came from Ferry Hill are doing very well in spite of the dry weather. – Love to all – Your very affect[ionat]e. niece. H. Ludlow.” –
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I have written & sent 3 1/2 p.m. mail a long letter to Har =riet to acknowledge this ans. & to tell of the Persia having been spoken on the 10th. – When talking with Matthew on this point, he observed that from the position of the Persia on
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the 10th he expects 11 to 12 days passage, & this was my own inference too before he said so. – I have told Harriet that you will find that cousin Lewis has sailed long before you arrive. I conclude he went off in command of the “Japan” alias “Virginia,” in consequence of some remark to that effect by M. Ferguson of Cropper Ferguson & Co. in their letter of 9th recd. today via China. – I suppose it is matter of public notority, therefore; but as yet I have not
it
seen a work in print[underscored] about ^ nor heard of it otherwise then C[ropper]. F[erguson] & Cos letter. –
When Walker came home to dinner yesterday, he had a very black & bruised eye – the right eye. I had not seen it at dinner, & was not aware of it until dark. A bottle of Arnica had been left out on the ballustrade on the porch. After T, I asked Sarah, whether any of them had been hurt, to require the Arnica; & then she told me about it, & ex= =pressed surprise that I had not observed the bruised eye, - but it was never turned towards me, & no one (according to rule)[‘accor...rule’ underscored] had taken the trouble to tell me. – She said that
a boat in which he had been rowing
he reported that in landing from [the steamboat][struckthrough] ^ at Staten Island, he fell, & thus occasioned the bruise. I at once asked her if it was from a fit[underscored] that he fell. She said (much to my satisfaction) that it was not. – This morning at break= =fast I had a good inspection of it. The blow had been on the eye brow, & it was much swollen, & the eye itself was very bloodshot & looked inflamed. Altogether it and such an ugly look, that I urged him by all means on his way down town to steer for the 6th Ave. & take a ride to Hudson Square, & ask Dr. Walkes’ advice – as the Dr. I told him, is learned[underscored] in eye treatment. – Walker went accordingly, & saw him; & came to this office (before I had come down), & told Matthew to tell me that Dr. W_ said it was unimportant, & the eye itself not hurt.
I proposed a visit to Highwood to Sarah this morning. She said she had but one objection – the present hot weather.
I thought this a poor excuse, & observed to her, after reference to my weather record, that the Therm[omete]r was 82 on the 11th. & 85 on the 12th. the latter being the day she went to see Miss Dunning, that yesterday was 82 & that to-day it would, I suppose, be 85, or more: & that now we might, on all fine days, look for such temperature for 3 months to come, as the general rule.
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4th St. 10 1/2 p.m.- Having ridden both ways (tho’ my interior is no longer unhappy,) I turned out after my 1st cup of T & before 9, and have walked to 30th St. & back – thus securing 4 miles walk altogether, for the day. – On coming in at 10 I look ed at the 2 thermometers outside, & found them still up to 77, after showing 85 max[imu]m. today.
I was here by 5 1/2, or a little after, & found Sarah only. At 5.55 I asked her to order Ann to bring in dinner; & by the time it was on the table, W[illia]m. & Walker had arrived & were ready for it. - \ I found the follow- =ing had arrived for you from one of the Miss Fontaines: - “Bixley 8th May. – My dear Cousin. As Sophia is from home, & Fanny only writes when she is obliged, the pleasing task of answering your welcome letter de -volves upon me. – We were so delighted to find that you are likely so soon to visit England again, & hope you will try & arrange to give us as much time as possible. – We felt disappointed when we found that you leave Sarah behind. We should in= =deed have much enjoyed seeing her again; but shall hope to see another cousin with you. Please to remember us kindly to him, & say how glad we shall be to welcome him to Bixley. – We quite re= =spond to the feelings you express as to his future course, & trust that he may indeed be all that your affectionate wishes desire for him. – We shall anxiously look for the announcement of your arrival, & trust indeed that nothing may occur to prevent our expected meeting. – Will you give our very kind love to Sarah, & say how pleased we should have been to see her again. My sisters unite with me in love to yourself & kind remem- -brances to your brothers – your affectionate P.S. Do you know whether L. S Fontaine my brother is in N. York? We gain no tidings of him
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To this query as to their Brother I am as unable as yourself to furnish any information.
After dinner W[illia]m. & Walker retired to the garden to smoke, & read the Express, & W[illia]m. reported he could not find in it anything to show that the China had seen the Persia, nor among the news via China any allusion to
[Marginalia]
Your interest in B. Commerce was = 176 full shares: - it is now[underscored] 182 full shares &
no[underscored] scrip.
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to the matter named in Cropper Ferguson & Co’s letter.
I amused myself in reading Miss Fontaine’s letter as I sat in Mr. H_’s arm chair, & when I had read it, I threw it to Sarah to read, as she lay out at full length on the sofa. I then read for some time, one of the Country Parson’s essays, until, as the light failed, I fell asleep. – I awoke before 1/2 past 8: & at that hour Ann brought in the T things, & Sarah being fast asleep, I did not disturb her, but made the T my= =self, & was engaged in drinking my first cup when she joined me, but did not take any T.
I supposed on my return home that she had been to Highwood, but purposely[double underscored] avoided asking[underscored] her, as I preferred a voluntary[underscored] communication from her.
When she came to the T table, she informed me she had been, & had found the heat quite overpowering for want of a breeze. – Contrary to my advice, which was that she should ride down in a R[ail] R[oad]. car & em- -bark from Barclay[underscored] St., she had walked[underscored] to Christo- pher[‘Christopher’ underscored] St., but had returned via Barclay St.: & she had ridden from Hoboken to Mr. Duer’s gate in the R[ail].R[oad].[underscored] car, & returned to Hoboken in the same way. She did not start from 4th St. until the middle of the day [‘mid...day’ underscored] -why,[underscored] I know not. – Mrs Duer could not see any one having been so overcome by yesterday’s heat, Sarah She ^ spent about 2 hours at Highwood, where she found Mrs. King, & Fanny[underscored] (Mrs M. Lean) who had arrived last night. – She had told them about the Persia having been spoken. – It was about 5 p.m. when she got back to 4th St. – and this is all that she has told me on the subject. – The heat – the heat -not a puff of air either on land or in crossing the Hudson, – this (somewhat like the unfortunate ad- -vice I gave her Mother as to “Summer Clothes,” 17 years [‘Sum..years’ underscored] ago) constituted the staple of her communication.
I apprehend a still warmer day tomorrow, & increas= =ing heat every day until we have a thunderstorm – of which, as yet, there are no signs. –
“It is all wind that blows nobody any good;” & thus I am imagining that the irruption of Cotton into N.O. that people are now predicting, may furnish remunera= =tive employment to my name sake perhaps, in his new vocation of Cotton Broker. Yrs Affectionately R. Maury
[Marginalia]
this hot weather makes me think of, & pity Tobin, – also the poor Soldiers at the South
