.NDMx.NTg4

[1]

via City of Balto. [Baltimore] [‘city...balto’ underscored] 4th St. – 27 May [18]63 – Wed[nesday] night

Dear Ann

Yesterday was so busy a day at the office, both for Matthew & me, that I could only add a p.s. of 2 or 3 lines, ‘ere the mail closed, to say that we had all been rejoiced in learning by the Asia’s news in the morning papers, that the Persia had arrived at L[iver]pool a few hours after the Asia left that port on the 16th – they having passed one another off the Skerries – the letters via Asia are to be delivered here tomorrow morning; & I shall be greatly disappointed if there be not one from you [underscored] amongst them.

I could not get away from the office yesterday until past 6, [‘past 6’ underscored] as I had to finish some accounts for Littledale & Co. which had occupied me for the better part of 2 days, & which they ought to have simultaneously with the appearance of a bill at 60 [?] that we drew yesterday on the Royal Bank for £605.2/2 [underscored] & sold to J.G. Kings Sons at 158 1/2 %

                [?] 

After sending this^ off, as a late letter, I of course rode home, tho’ I had also ridden down [underscored] in the morning; and it was, (as you will be shocked to hear) 7 p.m. [underscored] when we sat down to dinner!. – Walker being one of the party: & it being past 10 when Sarah woke me up for T, I had no chance for taking an evening walk; but I have made up for it today, by walking down this morn[in]g, & since T walking to 36th St. & back

It was only after I got home to dinner yester =day that I could find time to read Miss Lip

                you

=pett’s letter to ^ which I rec[eive]d in the morning, & which I now enclose, along with press copy of

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of the reply I sent her by the first mail this afternoon –

I also hand you copy of what I wrote to Matthew last night & laid before him this morning, respecting Walker. – I suppose he is

                                     yet

deliberating about it ; but he has not ^ made any comments. – On turning into William St. on my way to dinner, I fell in with Walker, who was bound in the same direction; so we walked together as far as the Times Office & then rode up in the same car. – I had already told him this morn[in]g of my having put my ideas together in a letter to Matthew; & I merely added that [struck-through] this afternoon that I had laid it before him, but that he had not said anything to me today on the subject.

I ought to add, to you, that in my long talk with Walker yesterday morning, I adverted to the idea of Tobin, in case of returning here, entering into Maury Bro[ther]s employ; when Wal= =ker promptly interposed that if that was our plan now, he would not wish to inter=

                              up

=fere with Tobin, & would give ^ his own plan of rejoining us: - but I observed that as Tobin’s idea of returning here had been formed with out any expectation that he, Walker, was about to leave us, & as I had never, since he left, held out to Tobin any offer to take his place at 5 Hanover Str. so it would not now influence my

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determination as to now [struck-through] taking him back again.

I also said that I did not think that you had held out any such idea to Tobin, because you seemed desirous of his remaining in China; but that I fancied that such an idea might natu =rally enough have occurred to Tobin, & perhaps have had its influence in strengthening his idea of returning to N[ew] York. –

This change in Walker’s plans & the manner in which I met them yesterday morning have had an excellent effect upon him in his bearing towards me; for his many months of distant reserve have at last vanished & have succeeded by cordiality: but if he is ac= tivated by the wish to propitiate my favour, it is not shown with any sacrifice of self- respect – not after the fashion that his brother Rutson would be apt to manifest on such an occasion.

I have entered thus fully into Walker’s present demeanor, because I know it must gratify you, as it does me. –

Sarah explained her absence on Tu [struck-through] Monday between 4 1/2 & 6 p.m. by telling me yesterday that it was to pay a visit to Miss “Sarissima” Stewart, who was going to the country for the summer, & could only be seen at that time of day, after their dinner: & the two young ladies had had so much to talk about that the time had flown on unconsciously. – I was rather pleased with this, as an indication of some weaning of our Sarah from a too mono =polizing attention in another quarter.

After dinner today, she shewed me a note

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she had rec[eive]d today, written yesterday at Hastings by Miss V[irgini]a Draper, after seeing in the papers that the Persia had arrived. – From its tenour it is the second [underscored] note from her since the sailing of the Persia: & the first one had invited Sa= -rah to enter into an active correspondence, to which S[arah] had demurred upon the score of a general disinclination to writing. – Miss V[irgini]a however, hopes that S[arah] will make an effort in her behalf to overcome this disinclination & write as often as she can; & likewise hopes that S[arah] will come up to Hastings often this summer & pass a day or two with them: - & I may add that I shall be perfectly willing that she does so occasionally; - neither shall I interpose my objection to her bestowing her presence occasionally in like manner at “Dun =nington.” –

About 1 1/2 p.m. today Matthew went out, & told me he was going to the British Con= -suls office, to meet Mrs. Gilpin there. Sarah happened to be in Irving Place after Mrs. G[ilpin] _

              she

had returned, & ^ told me the old lady, though somewhat tired with the effort, seemed none the worse for it. –

This evening I was wakened out of my nap about 1/2 past 8 a few minutes before 9. [‘a...9’ struck-through] by Mr. Van Ness remo= ving out of my hand a newspaper that I had gone to sleep over. – He & his Sister had called to invite Sarah to go up with them to Irving Place, which she did; but I was not aware of the plan until we were seated at our own T Table, & I was occupied in doing the honours by

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(5) laying before Mr. & Miss V[an] N[ess] a supply of bread & sponge-cake, & a variety of preserves, all of which were declined upon the score of being on their way to Matthew’s, along with Sarah, to take T there. It was then 8 3/4, & I at once asked them all then to lose no further time on my account, & urged them to ride [underscored] up, or they would be too late. – they preferred walking; & they were [underscored] too late for T. I left my soon after they did, & took the 3 1/2 miles walk already na= -med. – It was 20 minutes past 10 when I got back, & soon afterwards S[arah]_ returned; & she again made a good report to me of Mrs. Gilpin. So I have given you this report now of the old lady , by way of supplement to Elizabeth’s little note to you which was written yesterday or previously.

W[illia]m & Walker had gone out before Mr. & Miss V[an] N[ess] called, & they had come in again, & gone to bed before I returned from my walk.

Both yesterday & today have been sunny & pleasant – neither too warm nor too cold – such days as would, I hope, be congenial to poor Mrs. Dun[nington] _ of whom, however, I know nothing beyond Sarah’s report after that hot [underscored] visit.

The German Vandals are at work trans= =mogrifying Mr. Witmore’s late residence into some such place of public entertainment as that of our next door neighbour, & as Walker & I passed the Skidmore’s door I could well enter into their feelings from knowing what yours & mine have been. – The Witmore’s basement is being demolished, to insert an iron arch

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under the parlour windows, & the railings in front of the basement has been removed, [thus?] is to form the grand entrance I suppose to a drinking shop in the basement & to a T & larger beer garden, or a sort of Niblo’s Theatre, in the rear. – When I reached our own steps my indig- -nation took another turn, for I saw that some mischievous person or persons had, since this morning, been pounding away & demolish -ing the piece of Roman Cement, on the lower of the two steps that had been so skil[l]fully repaired by this means some time ago: & this price of mischief has enlarged [underscored] the former wound that was so repaired.

I fear it will not be many years before we may be forced into changing our abode by this [porteur?] of 4th St. becoming full of in= =sufferable nuisances. But “sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Had there been time I should have told you yesterday that W[illia]m rec[eive]d in the afternoon a long

                                           good

letter from “[Corney?],” dated 23rd, & giving a ^ report of all at “Bleak House.” – She named that on that day, or the day before, they had gathered no less than 10 or 10 1/2 gallons [’10...gallons’ underscored] of Strawberries out of the garden whereof 9 gallons were sent to market & sold for 85c the gallon. – very good doings, indeed, are there in the strawberry line. None have appeared on the Streets here as yet; -but as a substitute, Mary Nugent keeps us constantly & abundantly supplied at breakfast & dinner with stewed “ “Pie-plant” – alias Rhubarb,

[Marginalia – Left side] At Sarah’s request this morn[in]g for “more Money,” I have to day paid her $50. –

[Marginalia – Right side] 28th When I came home to dinner, my olfactories were shocked by that [...ied?] odour of a dead mouse [‘dead mouse’ underscored] under the dining room floor!!!

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28th Thursday night. – This has been a lovely day, & to me a very happy & busy one; & I now resume my task with pleasure & with a thankful heart. – But to be- =gin with the beginning: - Returning late, I did not rise until a few minutes before 8, but by dint of great caution I got down stairs by 1/2 past 8, & found, the young folks had all waited for me before beginning their breakfasts; & was rather pleased at this, & still more so to find, afterwards that W[illia]m & walker had been at work in nailing up the branches of the 2 Vines that had lately been detached by a strong East wind.

W[illia]m went down town directly after breakfast, but Walker was in no such hurry, & I invited him to ride down with me, but he declined because he had to call at the watchmakers. – As I was on my way down I found myself repeating the old stave:

“Oh, god my heart is fixed, tis bent, Its thankful tribute to present &c.

and then again during the suspense & uncertainty as to what intelligence awaited me at the office, the other couplet occurred to me, as perhaps [underscored] the more appropriate:

“In all the changing scenes of life In trouble and in joy, the praises of my God shall still My heart & tongue employ.

I was accosted as I passed Gilpins Reading Room by old Mr. Kennedy, who had hurried after me, & seized me by the arm before I saw him, to ask me what tidings I had of you. –

     him

I told ^ I had not yet seen the letters via Asia; & then I pushed on, & found I had reached the office office before Matthew. – You must imagine my relief & joy, when I saw your little packet – the “multum in parvo” [much in little] mailed at Queenstown, lying on my desk; & I need not tell you that it was the first letter that I opened & read. – Matthew

                                  him

came in before I had done, & I gave ^ the your[struck-through] first 4 pages, to read (telling him “all well”!) whilst I was occupied with the other 2 pages, & with the

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letter from Mytton (for which, please thank him heart =ily) and with your letters to Harriet & Sarah.

I provided larger sized envelopes for your little treasures to Mrs. King, & Mrs. Gibson – the latter being improperly directed by you, corner of 34th [underscored] St., whereas 227 Lex[ingto]n Ave. – her house (as I found by looking at the latest Directory) – is at corner of 35th [‘5’ underscored] St. – I then wrote a little note that I had already premeditated to Miss V[irginia] Draper, to tell her, in case of accident or [...ssion?] of the pleasant tidings - & I thanked her for her kind invitation to Sarah, & said I heartily seconded it as I did not wish her to stay moping in town all the time of your absence. – After sending off these 3 missives, to King’s Sons & the P[ost] O[ffice], by John – I wrote a a short letter to Miss Lippett to inform her of our pleasant letters from you & Mytton, & that made another journey for John Russell to catch 1/4 before 1 p.m. mail for “down East.” – I then turned to & wrote 4 pages to Har =riet – all original [underscored] matter of my own to accompany your letter to her by the 3 1/2 p.m. mail. I told her of Mrs. E. H. Hodgson’s kind & thoughtful P.S. to Hodgson Mather & Co’s letter of 16th – vizt. “The Persia is in the offing & will be up about 8 o clock this evening” – I gave her the gist of Tobin’s 2 letters of 24th. & 25 March which I now en= =close, for Mytton & yourself, & remarked, that whilst you must be pleased with this proof of his affection, you would, I thought, regret his declining so kind, so good & so promising an offer as this from Mr. Rodgers.

I also entered upon this question of Walker’s returning to Maury Bro[ther]s employ, & dilated with pleasure upon his changed demeanour towards me. – And to you I may add, that whilst I was thus busily engaged in writing at 2 p.m. to Harriet (Matthew being out at the time) Walker came in, where I gave him your & Mytton’s & Tobin’s letters to read. (W[illia]m had already called some hours previously & read them) By the time Walker had read the letters, Matthew came in, & he & W[alker] _ had rather a long talk, the issue of which was unknown to me before dispatching the letter to Har =riet. – But afterwards, when he was leaving the

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(9) office for the day – about 4 p.m. – I asked him, & he said he had told Walker, that he left the matter entirely or very much for[struck-through] to my decision -so I suppose it may now be considered as de= =cided that Walker is to resume his post at 5 Hanover St.; but I have not seen him since, as he told W[illia]m, whom he met afterwards, that he was going over to Staten Isl[an]d to spend the evening with those 2 young ladies, & would not return to town until tomorrow morn[in]g. –

As Matthew was leaving the office, he told me something of the purport of the article in this Even

ings Post – which I now hand to you – in rela

=tion to Tom Bold & M[atthew] F[ontaine] Maury: whereupon instantly dispatched a note (without signature) to “Jody” by the 4 1/2 p.m. mail telling him hence= =forward to enclose his communications to the other side under cover to uncle Horatio – telling him 2nd of the good news from you & Mytton - & thirdly[underscored] (pur =peosely [underscored][purposely?] in the 3rd case, instead, of 2nd or 1st.) of the aforesaid article in the Even[ing]s Post. –

When all these things were done, I still had some work I wished to do in the Books, & so it was 1/4 to 5 when I left the office to read said article at the news-room, & to ride home to dinner, & I was at our door before 1/2 past 5 & told Ann to bring up dinner as soon as ready. –

After dinner – (which consisted of minced Veal very nicely cooked, with [?] bales baked as garnish – roasted potatoes; water-cresses, & some bananas as dessert) – I had a good deal of talk with Sarah, as she sat beside me, whilst I was taking my ease in Mr. Hutchinson’s arm-chair – The greater part of it was about Walker, & she said she was glad he was to return to his old post at the office; & said that Walker had told her of his proposal to do so, & of his talk with me about it. – I also told her of

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(10) my note to V[irgini]a Draper, & of my remark about “moping in town “ etc. – We also discussed the matter of To- =bin’s 2 letters, & I observed (as I had already done in my letter to Harriet) that his returning to the study of Mathematics seemed to me to indicate an aban =donment of Mercantile life, & a design of follow- =ing some profession after reaching N[ew] York, such I had so often urged upon him. – vizt. Engineering or Machinery. – I had intended naming in the earlier part of this letter, that within a few days past Sarah had a long & interesting visit from a lady of Rochester [New York], who introduced herself as the wife of this Mr. Ives, [underscored] who worked his passage to China in the ship with Tobin. In writing to his wife he had so often named Tobin, & said so much in his praise, that it had determined her to call & make herself known to you, & thro’ you to express her gratitude to T[obin]_ for his kindness to her husband.

After T I turned out for a walk, & called in Irving Place, to give your letter’s to Aunt E & the rest of the ladies to read. – I then pursued my walk thro Grammercy Park, & Madison Square to 26th St. & back by the 5th Ave. – The night is so fine, the air so balmy, & a fine breeze blowing from the South, that I enjoyed the walk much; -& all the more after the pleasant tidings of this morning. – I bethought me that Tobin will be very apt to take passage in a British ship for England, so as to avoid risk of cap= =ture by a C[onfederate] S[tates] [underscored] privateer, & likewise upon the calculation of finding you in England.

I told Sarah of this, & remarked that it would be rather funny if Tobin were to be captured & have his affects burnt by his brother-in-law! [‘his...law’ underscored]

But perhaps this very risk of C[onfederate] S[states] Privateers may deter Tobin from leaving China at all: as he would soon her[e] of the capture of the Jacob Bell -[A. A. Low & Co’s.?] ship. – With thanks to God for the safe arrival of you & Mytton. I am your affectionate brother R[uston] Maury

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Miss Lippett New York 2 May 1863 care of Messrs Goddard Bro[ther]s office 5 Hanover St. – Noon Providence R[hode] I[sland]

My dear Miss Lippett

Yesterday morning I received, and, in my Sisters absence, read your letter to her of the 25th inst. [25 April]

Mytton’s ordination having occurred several weeks earlier than had been originally intended – (it took place on the 29th April) – my sister & he embarked on the 6th of May in the steamer Persia, [underscored] whose arrival at L[iver]pool in the evening of the 16th was announced by telegraph from Halifax via Asia, which sailed thence on the 16th. & from Queenstown on the 17th inst. [17 April] Thus, when the Asia’s letters reach us tomorrow morn[in]g, I hope & expect to receive one from Ann. – As the Persia sailed in the midst of a heavy storm which lasted several days, I felt anxious until we heard last week that she was spoken, 4 days out, in a position about 1/3rd of that from N[ew] York to L[iver]pool}

The price of passage hence to Liverpool is now reckoned & - payable in Gold or its equivalent. – Second class passengers thus pay in Gold [underscored] etc.: $80 in the Cunard steamers from New York, or $62 1/2 in those that sail from Boston; & these steamers sail every Wednesday, alternately from each port.

There is another line of very good steamers, sailing from New York to L[iver]pool in which my Sister has twice gone, & which sail every Saturday: - by these vessels first class passengers are charged only $80, & there are other good vess [struck-through] steamers, of yet another line, that sail hence to L[iver]pool every Wednesday & like= =wise charge but $80 for first-class passengers. And both of these take steerage [underscored] passengers for $32 1/2; but I should consider a berth among these steerage passengers (with which these vessels are crowded to their utmost capacity) a most unfit position for the young lady you speak of; tho’ I would not have the same objections to a second- [underscored] class passage by the Cunard [underscored] steamers. –

There is no chance, I think, of Sarah or any of us hearing of such an opening as you speak of, vizt. as Nurse or attendant,

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                                    lady

to enable this letter [struck-through] ^ to reach England passage free. [underscored]

But as I was walking down town this morning – before I had read your letter a second [underscored] time, having done so very hurriedly yesterday – I was turning over in my own mind the propriety of my endeavouring, in this lady’s unhappy case, to act after the pattern of the “good Samar =itan.” Instead, however, of “two pence,” it would, I think, require some such sums as two hundred dollars [‘two...lars’ underscored] of our present currency, to accomplish what this lady needs. –

1st then are expences to be paid, I suppose, for her board with the kind lady she is now living with; 2nd her journey hither on to Boston; 3rd the passage to Liverpool about $120 currency (as the equivalent of $80 in Gold;) 4th some expence here in at Boston prior to embarking, & 5th. she ought not to land at Liverpool penniless, but should have something like 5 Pounds in English money, to enable her at once to join her friends, & £5 are now worth about $36. –

I am not sure that I might not be induced to advance the needful in this case, if the Lady is sure [underscored] of finding friends in England & at the same time disappointed [underscored] in the applications which you say have already been made to them: - though it strikes me that the one case is inconsistent with the other; for the same parties who would receive her & give her a home, would, as I should think, also be willing to remit the funds to pay her passage.

You do not say how long [‘how long’ underscored] it is since she & the English Consul wrote: - & thus it strikes me that she may yet obtain from England the money she requires. –

I have sometimes interfered in cases of a similar nature, & like the friends around you, whom you advert to, have (as well as I can remember) generally had reason to regret it – in so far as repayment [underscored] was concerned.

Yours sincerely Rutson Maury

[Marginalia] I shall forward your letter to Ann in my next one to her. (Sarah will probably write to you soon.

[13]

4th St. – 26 May 1863 Tuesday night

Dear Matthew

After breakfast this morning, Walker and I had a talk on the matter that brought him to your office yesterday: -

                            partly I think

and as I am so deaf at present (owing ^ to this last cold[underscored] spell) & had been thinking over this matter deeply in all its bearings, the talk was mostly on my [underscored] side – although it was begun by himself.

He had evidently waited purposely this morning, to have this conver= =sation; & I think he expected me to enter upon it last evening; but I was then too tired, & had not thoroughly considered the matter.

He began by asking if you had named the subject of his talk with you yesterday; and I said you had; and I observed that there was much force in what you had recommended to him, whether as it regarded us or himself. – I asked him if he had been to see Mr. Taylor, & he said he had not. – I did not enter upon the affairs of Mr. Bigland further than asking him whether he & Mr. B[igland]_ were at loggerheads; and he said they were not; - whether Mr. B[igland]_ had paid him his salary; & he said he had; - how soon he could leave Mr. B[igland]’s employment if he made other arrangements; & he said any [underscored] day [underscored], whenever he pleased, for he had not been acting for him in the capacity of book-keeper [underscored] for some time past. –

I said that thus far I had found myself quite competent to look after our books & accounts, though it had involved harder work both for you & for me; yet that we had kept as well up to the work, [‘well...work’ underscored] I thought, in performing what we had to do, as when he was with us, & that I foresaw nothing at present [‘at present’ underscored] to cause us to require further aid, because we found John Russell apt & willing , & constantly becoming more efficient: - but that perhaps it would involve either less leisure & relaxation for you during your abode at Cornwall, or harder work for me than agreeable during the heat of summer. – I said that it now seemed not unlikely, however, that we might have Peace in the course of this year, & before that, & perhaps pretty soon, or resumption of something like former intercourse between N[ew] Orleans etc and N[ew] York, as well as between that region & Europe; & that this would naturally bring more

[14]

business to Maruy Bros. of the kind we had been engaged in prior to the War; tho’ I felt sure that however the present struggle may end – whether in Reunion or Separation – the return of Peace would be attended, in the first instance, at least, with far more of direct [underscored] intercourse between the So[uthern] ports & Europe, both commercially & financially than I had ever known since I came to this Country; but still that New York must continue the great financial cen= =tre, the London, for the whole Country, & that the tendency must be for all business, both commercial & financial, gradually to return into its old channels, just as it was before the War, whether we have two Confederacies or one only - & of course all the sooner in the latter event, which I thought he more probable.

I said that he was well aware that I had opposed him & Tobin too, in their wish to enter upon a mercantile career, because I thought that too many of the family were already embarked in it; but that when a man ever “put his hand to the plough” he ought to stick to it; - that when, as his ever urgent desire, he took Mr. Parkers place, & had acquired efficiency, I had presumed that he looked forward to succeeding you & me in our business, after we are gone; & that this idea was pleasant to me, because when a man plants a tree, it is not for himself alone, but for those who are to come after him; - that it was therefore the cause of much disappointment & pain to me, & chiefly upon this score, when he so eagerly entered upon the proposition of Mr. Bigland; but that I did not oppose it, because, tho’ inconvenient & unplea= -sant to us, I could not tell but it might [underscored] be more for his own advantage to enter into partnership with Mr. B[igland]_, though I had a misgiving at the time that it would not prove so, & had therefore, whilst telling him to do just as he pleased, remarked that he ought to consider the matter very well, [‘consider...well’ underscored] & make it the subject of much reflection, before he entered upon that [con...?].

I said also, that looking merely to his own [‘his own’ underscored] ulterior advantage

    now

it was ^ again [underscored] deserving of much reflection, whether it was desira =ble

[15]

=ble for him to return to his former post with us; that neither you nor I were ambitious of entering upon as active & large a business as he might like; that we are still (& probably happi= =ly for us] under the necessity of working for our support, instead of having a sufficient income from the interest in our capital: but that, as he knew, our connections with [?] England were but very few, [‘very few’ underscored] & that we naturally studied safety [underscored] as the first object, & must thus expect to follow business on only a moderate scale; & thus that the “goodwill” [underscored] of Maury Bros. was no great desidera =tion for a young man like him. –

I observed that altho’ it seemed to me that his Uncle Horatio is chiefly governed in his own views by the love of Money, yet I had often thought that his idea was correct, that it was best for young men to be [?] altogether [underscored] upon his own [‘his own’ underscored] resources instead of having Uncles & Aunts to help them out of their difficulties; for that all of us, except the few who expect suf =ficient property, must sooner or later be dependent almost entirely upon our own exertions; & that it is [hard?] indeed for any one to attain [commerce?] or success, who is not what may be styled a “Self-made” [underscored] man. –

I said that after Mr. [?] had declined our offer of $1000 a year (out of which he would have to support himself entirely,) [underscored] I had him induced to take the [post any way,?] is no small [?] [?] motives of [?][underscored] others that if he, Walker, returned to the post, it would not be upon a larger salary – during the present year, at least – than the $600 a year we were paying him last year: for that I found my task a [much?] easier one than I expected , tho’ the business we had had [?] to since 1st Jan[uar]y, had [proved?] larger decidedly than I [  ? ]

In fine, I said, that I was willing to surrender this post to him, & indeed upon various considerations we already [?] -tho’ perhaps chiefly as [?] [?][underscored] [?] & [?] – rather desirous [underscored] to do so; but that your [underscored] consent was as [?] [?] as mine; & that I would speak to you on this subject

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tomorrow, but not today when you would be too much engrossed with writing etc. for the steamer. –

It may seem to you that taking Walker back now, is too like “adding a fight wheel to one’s carriage,” seeing that we have thus far got one so well [?] here, & that John Russell is daily becoming more efficient. - but whether you feel it or not, I at least am sensible that I am growing older, [‘growing older’ underscored] & thus incapable of as much exertion as our business may [underscored] require, except at the risk of [?] injury to my health. – During the warm weather, since Ann left, I was troubled with vertigo, though with more of sleep & walking exercise, it has vanished; and I had some little tendency of the same kind before Ann left.

My deafness is another & more serious impediment to my use =fulness. And I do not like the idea either of requiring you to come daily to the City from Cornwall to relieve me from this inconvenience; or of my having [more?] than [?] to occupy my if you are to have as much relaxation as I wish, & as I am sure is desirable for you. – Increased occupation in the sum= =mer time is what I would always avoid if I can: - and if Walker comes back, I believe it would furnish the means of relief to both of us during the ensuing summer; and I do not think he will be less inclined to conform to our wishes, but all the more so, after his experience in other quarters during the last 5 mon[th]s. –

I look upon him now – tho’ of course I did not intimate anything of the kind to him – as somewhat like the “Returning Prodigal” - & am inclined therefor to meet his advances ac= =cordingly. – His engagement with Mr. Bigland had, as I feared it would, to his estrangement from us in 4th St. in a way that for several months was equally painful to Ann & to me; but latterly [he has?], of his own accord, made residency [in?] 4th St. [?] [?] at Staten Island the exception [underscored] – I think that Ann will [?] in the views & wishes that I have now laid before you; [I?] wish she was here to give us her counsel. Yours affectionately R[uston] Maury