.NDcx.NjM2
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via City of Balt[imor]e [underscored] 4th St. 8 July 1863
Dear Ann – In the Express of this even[in]g the Obituary contains the following: - ‘On the 8th inst [8 July] at Englewood N[ew] J[ersey], - William Lewis Herndon, only son of Chester A & Ellen L. H. Arthur, aged 2 years & 6 months. – Notice of the Deat [‘the Deat’ struck-through] funeral services will appear in tomorrow morning’s papers. \ 9th It is to be on the 10th at 3 p.m. from 34th W[est] 21st St.
Mr. Van Ness came this evening, of his own to announce the fact; & I made T[ea] for him & myself, & he remained until 1/2 past 10. Before he left I contrived to give him 2 glasses of the No 1 Sherry – which would do him more good than the 3 small cups of T[ea] he took inas= =much as the milk was sour. – I think he said it was on the 1st inst. [1 July] that his Sister went hence to Saratoga [NY], to spend about 4 weeks, or so. – He had rec[eive]d your note for her, & posted it. – He was unaware of the return of Matthew & family from Hornellsville [ Steuben County, NY], until I told him. – I read to him your extract from Caroline James’ letter as to Mytton’s Sermon.
Today opened fine & bright, but looked dubious before I left the house about 11, so I took my umbrella with me, & I found it useful for shade as I walked hence to 181 W[est] 14th St. – with your & my Tax Return’s for Income & for Plate. I waited a long time to succeed another gentleman, who was
up
having his returns filled ^ by the Assessor
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on verbal data. – At last, when my turn came, the Assessor, finding my papers com= =plete, directed me to go to one of his Clerks in the adjoining room, - who asked me how I arrived at the amounts of Income subject to Tax, which I explained to his entire sat= =isfaction; & then I swore to the correctness of the returns, & learnt they would be on record next week, when I will call again & pay the tax for both of us - $1601 02/100. – My business with the Clerk did not occupy me more than 5 minutes; but it was past 12 when I took my seat in the 8th Av[enue]: car for the head of Vesey St. – The Plate Tax we paid in the winter was for [18]’62, & the present re= =turn is for [18]’63. – In my own return for the Plate I included James’ portion, & in yours all the Household Plate & your share of the Consular, but I shall change the whole [underscored] of the Plate Tax to House Expences as before.
Soon after I got to the Office I had a visit from Mr. Neill; who seemed chop-fallen, I thought, as to his Cotton, under the cap= =ture of Vicksburg. [Miss.] He left this afternoon for Quebec [Canada], whence he will write us, or tele= graph us, in case he should change his mind. His present instructions are the same as when he talked with Matthew on 2nd July: - requiring a price then utterly impracticable, & now still more so.
[Marginalia – left side] 10th July – The Express of this even[in]g states positively that a son of Steward Brown
[Marginalia – right side] was killed at the battle of Gettysburg & the flag at Brown Bros. office in Wall St. today, has been at half-mast in consequence
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I cannot hear of any sale whatever of Cotton, since yesterday afternoon’s news of the sur= =render of Vicksburg.
We re[ceive]d today $55,000 for 219 bales that I sold on the 27th ulto. [27 June] - & was glad to have the money.
Office – Thursday afternoon – 9th July. – I intend going to the funeral of Mr. & Mrs Arthur’s boy to=
morrow afternoon, if I can manage it; for Mat
=thew of course cannot find time for it, & will probably be returning to Cornwall [NY] this [struck-through] tomorrow afternoon, & I presume neither of the W’s [William and Walker] will con= =sider it any concern of theirs. – William could go with perfect convenience as he has now nothing at all to do in the shape of business [underscored] that I am aware of; & I would be pleased if he went of his own accord. [‘of...accord’ underscored] but I shan’t ask him. –
It began to rain yesterday at 1 1/2 or 2 p.m., & continued raining lightly until dark; & then it increased until it was quite a flood of rain when Cha[rle]s Van Ness took his leave. – Walker went out before T[ea] & returned some 10 or 15 minutes after C[harles] V[an] Ness had left; & we had quite a long talk, which began by my asking who a young man was,
in the afternoon
who had been with him at the office ^. W[alker] said he was a Mr. Anderson, a young Englishman, whom he became acquainted with as one of Mr. Bigland’s friends, - but who is now at logger-heads with Mr. B[igland]; the two having got to fisticuffs [underscored] in Mr. B[igland]’s office the other day, where Mr. B[igland] whipped Mr. A[nderson]! It arose out of money matters between them; & is one of the “7 law suits” [‘7...suits’ underscored] in which B[igland] is now involved! W[alker] is trying to bring their pecuniary differences to a
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settlement, B[igland] owing A[anderson] about $2,300. –
[p..tive?][underscored]
I thus learnt that Mr. B[igland] is under suspen= =sion [‘suspension’ underscored] at present [underscored], & has been so for some time past -i.e. unable to meet his admitted [underscored] engagements. But W[alker] considers it only a temporary [underscored] suspension. –
We then got into an amicable talk as to No[rth] & So[uth] -which began by W[alker] speaking of Mr. Neill’s views about Cotton – which W[alker] endorses, & expects that we are yet to see Cotton up to 80 [?], or more, before very long, - for he (W[alker]) scouts at the idea of the South giving in, & consenting to Re-union [underscored]; & he considers it will be greatly to the advantage of the whole American people that they should be under 2, 3, or more separ =ate Confederations, because the opposition [underscored], or rivalry between them, will be of lasting benefit to each & all; - that a Pres[iden]t, such as Abra= =ham Lincoln, is the natural [sequencer?] of 80 years of almost unbroken prosperity; but that this opposition or rivalry between separate Confederacies naturally begets a necessity for placing in power the men of superior talent & character. – Of course there is much in this view of the case, which is the English [underscored] view of our struggle. – I was glad of the opportunity of thus drawing out [‘drawing out’ underscored] Walker into a free [underscored] expression of his opinions; for I hate the non-intercourse [underscored] plan pursued towards me by the two W’s & by Sarah; & do not think it is good for them whilst it assuredly is bad for me.
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(5)
When Walker & I had got to about the end of our talk, it was about 1/2 past 11, & Ann intercepted him as he was about to go up stairs to bed: - it was to invoke his aid in getting rid of the water in the area that threatened to flood the basement. – He took off his shoes & stockings, like a Sailor aboard a ship, during the process of washing the decks, & went to work with a will, scooping up the water, under the front door steps, fronting the basement door, & emptying it into a bucket. Ann carried off the bucket to empty into the kitchen sink, as each bucket was filled; & Mary was at work with a broom in the area exposed to all rain. –
At last there was an arrangement of a piece of oiled floor-cloth, with an empty bbl [barrel] resting in & against it, as it rested against the basement door;
we
& then ^ 3 – Mary, Walker, & I – came up the area steps to the front door (Mary locking the base= =ment gate from out-side the railing) & Ann let us in – I had not much faith in the efficacy of these arrangements, in case the heavy rain should contin= =ue throughout the night; - but they answered the purpose, for the rain had ceased ere I went to bed (hours afterwards) & indeed the foot-walks were drying up in the street.
W[illiam] woke me this mornn[in]g - & had to wake me twice to do it effectually, – first as he went into the bath room & again when he came out – which was 8 a.m.
But by dint of exertion & speed, on my part, we were at breakfast before 9.
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Today is a beautiful day & very warm; but altho’ the Therm[omete]r is several [degrees] higher, the heat is far less oppressive, because the wind is at last [‘at last’ underscored] from the W[est], & the air dry, [‘air dry’ underscored] so that the exhalations from one’s person evaporate, instead of being con- =densed in one’s clothes. For a number of days past the wind has been S[outh] & S[outh] S[outh] E[east], & the atmos= =phere damp & oppressive. – This week for the first time, this summer, the perspiration has been copious on the back [underscored] of my hands.
I have had nothing from or of, Sarah since her note of 2 July & her blank envelope of 4 July.
By the 12 3/4 mail, I sent her a few lines today, chiefly to announce the death of Mr. & Mrs. Ar= =thur’s only child.
Today Mary asked me when Miss Sarah was coming home; & I said I did not know; & that if she chose to stay away for 1 month, or for 6 mo[nth]s- I should not try to prevent it!
We are to have the letters via Asia this even[in]g.
Matthew is gone up town, since 3, to attend a Meeting of his Saving’s Bank before dinner.
He brought today the enclosed note from Eliza= =beth to you – E[lizabeth] is returning to me the copy of Harriet’s letter of 29th ulto., [29 June] remarks of herself that “if I had encountered all she tells us of, added to “the previous R[ail] R[oad] travelling, I [underscored] should not have “retuned to tell the tale!”
Before M[atthew] goes to dinner at 4th St. today (where he will find a hot [underscored] joint of roast beef) he will call at the Metropolitan Hotel, to ascertain whether Col[onel] Gilpin is still there – which I am
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pretty sure is not the case - & to urge him to go of to Cornwall to see his Mother & Sisters. – I have always looked on the Colo[nel] as terribly wanting in natural affection for his nearest relatives. –
There is another battle going on now on the No[rth] side of the Potomac; & [General Robert E.] Lee is able to repel his assailants & beat them back, & I have scarcely any doubt that he will be able to hold his own there until the river, now high, has subsided, when he will make good his retreat into the Shenandoah Valley [Va, WVa], & bid defiance to the Federal forces, as after [Battle of] Antietam [Md] – (The Therm[omete]r today id not exceed 81 [degrees].)
4th St. Thursday Night – Willia[m] & I rode up & got here at 1/2 past 5; & as soon as Ann opened the door, I told her to bring up the dinner as soon as ever it was ready. She asked me whether the
with Mr. Matthew
gentleman who was in the parlour ^ was going to dine with us; where my reply was, “Never “mind – bring up the dinner as soon as possible.”
On entering the parlour, I found “the gentleman” was, as I suspected, “Colo[nel] Gilpin,” and I bid him welcome heartely – not so much for his own [‘his own’ underscored] sake ( as you know) as for that of others. [underscored] – I then remembered that there was no Sherry [underscored] decanted, & so rushed up stairs for the purpose, with 2 empty Decanters which I filled out of No. 2 quality (I think;) M was the label – I shant soon forget the heat [underscored] in the Garret: - it seemed to me over 100 [degrees] which is no doubt very good for the wine, however hard upon me; - but I stuck a pin then, & determin= =ed that my next visit to that garret shall
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be in the morn[in]g [underscored]. – The operation consumed far more time than I liked; & I was not half thro’ with it, ‘ere I heard the hand-bell announcing dinner on the table. – I also had to replenish
all
the Port wine decanter; but ^ was accomplished &
already
we were seated at table & the roast been ^ carved by me at 5 minutes before 6. – The Colo[nel] declined both Lager-beer & Sherry, but took 2 glasses of Port; so I might have spared myself that en= =trance into the attic-oven! [underscored] – It was a nice dinner, & topped off with a beautiful [underscored] dish of fine [underscored] fresh Raspberries, & a fresh sponge-cake; -& the Colo[nel] seemed to enjoy the fare. We got to the end of the meal by 6.25, when I said grace, & ran off to the Bowery, & was just in time for a yellow car. – I reached the P[ost] O[ffice] 6 minutes before 7 (it closes at 7;) but I had my journey for nothing; [‘had...nothing’ underscored] as Walker had staid down town, & had already got the contents of our Box at the P[ost] O[ffice] ‘ere I got there. – I rode back again & found Mat= =thew reading the letters, & that the Colo[nel] had gone back to his Hotel, or at least had left our house.
I read your letter, as far as I could, by the waning daylight, first in the parlour, & then (to get more daylight) in the midst of the grass-plot; but I could only accomplish 2/3rd of your letter, your ink [underscored] being so pale. [underscored]
I then told Walker that I wished he would
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(9) abandon his eccentric [underscored] & mole-like [‘mole’ underscored] ways, in so far as they concerned me. [underscored] I had told him as early as 3 1/2 or 4 p.m., that we would
punctually
dine ^ at 5 1/2, in order to get the Asia’s letters.
It was all but 5 when I left the office to join W[illia]m (by appointment) in W[illia]m St. to ride up to- =gether; & for more than 1/2 an hour before I left, Walker had been engaged in confab; in Matthew’s & my room, with his friend, that Mr. Anderson – the unsuccessful pugilist! – I left them still talking when I came away, but I had [?][struck-through] got John [Russell] to put away all the books. – I did not know whether Walker would follow me, or not, & I did not like to ask him in the presence of Mr. A[nderson] – nor, when dinner was ended, did I like to trust to his having called at the P[ost] O[ffice].
He expressed his regret properly, however, when he thus learnt from me how he had put me to the mindless trouble of going after the letters, by his absurd reticence & eccentricities. –
Matthew asked if all was well with you, & I said – “Yes – as far as I have read” - & then as he had finished the 3 business letters, he took his leave whilst I was spelling out our pale ink, by twilight, on the grass-plot. – After my little talk with Walker, I settled down into
was
an arm-chair, & ^ waked up by him at 9, to tell me T[ea] was ready, - & then I read the rest of your letter, after taking 2 cups of T[ea]; & gave it to W[illia]m & offered it afterwards to Walker, but he said
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he would read it tomorrow. – I asked W[illia]m if he had heard whether the Colo[nel] [Gilpin] was going up to Cornwall tomorrow. He said that at Uncle M[atthew]’s request he W[illiam] had looked at the papers to learn the hour of departure of the st[eame]r in the morn[in]g [underscored], that stops at C[ornwall], & found she starts at 10 1/2 a.m.; but he doubted whether the Colo[nel] was going then. – It is monstrous! [underscored] Here he has been in town since Monday [underscored] morn[in]g, (when I told him of the means of reaching Cornwall,) & today is Thursday [underscored] - & he has never made an effort to see his old Mother! – when in all human probability, if he goes away now without seeing her, he never will have another chance of doing so! –
I have had a 2 miles walk since T[ea] & have already written a letter – dated tomorrow – to Miss Lippett to enclose your Note to her & a Certificate of deposit in the B[ank] of N[ew] York for $130 – as the equivalent of £20 - & I intend to dispatch that letter by the early mail at 12 3/4 tomorrow. –
Whilst I was at T[ea], Walker told me that when I was napping before T[ea], a young gentle- =man – aged as he supposed about 23 – had called on behalf of Mrs. Arthur to inform Sarah & the other members of the family of the death of her little boy, & that the funeral will take place from Mrs. Herndon’s house in 21st at 3 p.m. tomor=
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=row. – I told W[alker] I had already announced this to Sarah today by the 12 3/4 mail – I then enquired whether he had asked the said young gentleman the cause [underscored] of the child’s death; & he said he had not: - whereat I stuck a pin, & tho’ I said nothing, I thought it indicative of a want of sympathy. – As W[illia]m was present during this last talk with Walker, there may be the bet =ter chance for his accepting this direct [underscored] invita =tion to all of us: but I only know that it is my own [‘my own’ underscored] full purpose to do so, if possible [‘if possible’ underscored]
There is at last a letter from Mr. Leech enclosing to us a power of Attorney, which as far back as April, [double underscored] he knew was essential to enable us to receive $1600 for him; & as luck will have it he is decidedly the gainer [underscored] by this de =lay, provided the other party be now ready to pay, because Gold is now so much lower
any
(therefore Exchange also) that at ^ time since April. – He remarks that he has not heard yet of your having reached England, not having been in L[iver]pool since February, but he forgets that I furnished him with your address – “care of Miss Bold, 11 Welfield Place, L[iver]pool”
You talk of my not writing to you oftener than once a week. – I had too much to do at the time. You advert to, when I had in my hands that correspondence with Miss Lippett as to “Miss B_”; but I have not felt any such
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weight upon me since then – or since I resigned the Books to Walker: - & I have enjoyed, in a- =bundance [‘abundance’ underscored] the 2 grand essentials to “[?] & Corpus [sa...?],” – to wit Sleep [underscored] & Exercise [underscored].
The journal [underscored] plan is the easier one to me; for unless I record events as they occur, I am apt to forget them, or bothered if I try to remember them: - & it is more mental labour, as you know to condense matter than to expatiate.
If deaf people are debaned from writing [underscored], as well as conversation, they are apt either to be
come very stupid, or to turn crazy! –
I am sorry to hear that Mary Wakefield is troubled with her eyes, to add to all her other sore afflictions. – I am glad, however, that there are others to take you place beside her, & that your steps were soon to be towards the South.
10th Friday – 10 1/4 p.m. Just in after 2 miles walk; the 2 W’s both in bed & Walker asleep in his, but W[illia]m awake. – I put on sables this morn[in]g; & with some inconvenience, I left the office at 2.20 p.m. & went to the funeral. There were not many there, but quite enough. It was held in the drawing room; & the coffin, most beautifully decked with the choicest flow- =ers, was in the front room – which was reserved for the fam =ily & their nearest friends; & tho’ not invited to do so, I left the corridor, & took a seat there, when the service began, & so sat facing the parents [underscored] & Mrs. Herndon – the coffin the clergyman ( P Episcopal) being between me & them. I took a good look at the child before the family came down stairs. It looked very sweet, & as if simply sleeping! – During the service, the parents sat on a sofa; the father was calm – the mother (in deep mourning & closely veiled) seemed in an agony of distress, for which tears (which seemed witheld) would be a great relief. She used her H[and]k[erchie]f but once, I think – as they were closing up the coffin. She did not stir from her seat until the coffin was removed, nor did Mr. A[rthur]. Mrs H[erndon] & diverse
[Marginalia – right side]
See Margin of previous page \ y[our]s affectionately R[utson] Maury
[Marginalia – left side] others came forward & kissed the child ‘ere the coffin was closed. – After the coffin was taken
[Marginalia – from pg11] down stairs, I let the parents pass me without recognition; but I put out my hand
[Marginalia – from Pg10 right side of] to Mrs Herndon, who returned the [prepare?] several times, before she descended the stairs. Whilst she was waiting at the front door, to take her seat in a carriage, I asked her the cause of the childs death, & she replied very audibly Water on the Brain.
[Marginalia – from pg10 left side of page] I then walked over to 4th avenue, & rode down, & reached Hanover St. at 4 1/2 p.m. M[atthew] left there a 2 p.m. for Cornwall.
