.NDk1.NjYw

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via [steamer]Persia 4th St[reet] [New York, NY] – Saturday night 5 Sept[ember] 1863

Dear Ann

I felt very proud of my achievement this morning [us?][struck-through] in contriving to send you (as a letter under care to Hodgson Mather & Co[mpany]) an ample supply of Seeds from a very fine Musk Melon; & as I took some pains in trying to make the packet secure, I trust it will have come safe to hand. –

I then turned to & wrote a page to James by a steamer whose [mail] bag closed at the P[ost] O[ffice] at 11 a.m. – It was some 3 1/2 to 4 hours after that, that Mr. Adler (formerly a clerk for many years with Sam[uel?] Nicholson at N[ew] O[rleans] [Louisiana]) called on me & gave me James’ letter of 28th ult[im]o [28 August] that had come to him today in one of the morning of the 29th from his brother the Doctor. – Despite of James’ injunctions to the contrary, you will sen[struck-through] see that I incontinently made a copy of it. I sent my manuscript to Harriet, to strengthen her sisterly feelings for the task I requested of her – to write to James - & I now hand you the press [underscored] copy. – Poor Louisa has altogether been having a terrible time of it since her confinement, & even if she should have no relapse, it must take a long time for her to recover he former strength: indeed there is still cause for great anxiety about her. – (of course you will let Fontaine read this copy of James’ letter of the 28th Aug[us]t) –

I was glad to hear that Mrs. Pollard had rec[eive]d that letter of mine in which I remitted her $100 instead of $60 only & I was also glad that by today’s steamer to N[ew] O[rleans] [Louisiana], I had remitted to her $200 in Greenbacks instead of $189 59/100 only. – And if I had only known of Louisa’s terrible attack of Cholera in time, I should have slipped at $50 “greenback” inside of this morning’s letter to James, to enable him to add to Louisa’s comforts, as she will need extra care & nourishment for some time, besides the increased cost of medical attendance.

I found much more to occupy me at the office today, after writing to James, than I expected. – 1st I wrote a note to V[irgini]a Draper thanking her for 2 from her, whereof the first came 3 days ago, & the second this morning; - the latter was simply to hand me 2 letters from Mytton, one of which was to Walker, & the other (dated Paris 12 Aug[us]t) to myself. 2nd I wrote to the house at San Francisco [California] acknowledging the remittance for Mrs. Pollard. – 3rd I wrote a note to cousin Belle, to be laid before Mr. Carlish, asking him to open a correspondence with me, as he can do next to nothing towards collecting the $196 for Sam[uel?] Pollard, from the U. S. Gov[ernmen]t, until he gets from me Sam’s order, in my favor, upon the other party at Washington [D.C.] who holds all the papers. 4th a few lines in pencil to Harriet, with copy of Ja[me]s letter of the 28th. And 5th a note to Colo[nel] Gilpin, that I left at the Metropolitan Hotel as I walked home to din de[struck-through] =ner, laden with a basket of fine peaches, besides 10 or so of extra[ordinary] quality in my “amiable pockets” – And besides this I had some little

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-happily only [underscored] a little – of business [underscored] duties to perform at the office.

Before I had got thro’ with my labours there (that occupied me until 4 3/4 p.m. or later,) William called about 1/2 past 3, & told me that Walker & Sarah had come with him, leaving Orange [New Jersey] about 2 p.m., instead of 4, & had gone straight up to 4th St[reet]. –

The object of my note to Col[onel] Gilpin was to tell him that his brother Richard’s wife is to arrive from Houghton [New York] at 62 Irving Place, [Staten Island, NY] to spend the night there on Monday & to go with Matthew to Cornwall [New York] on Tuesday. – Matthew having yesterday requested me to make this communication, if I should chance to see the Colo[nel], or could contrive to do so.

It was 5.40 before I got home to dinner, & it was 6 when we sat down to it, without David [Spence], who had gone up to the Central Park to hear the Band playing & to stroll about the grounds. I had warned him we were to dine punctually at 1/2 past 5 (instead of our 7 [underscored] o’clock meal yes= =terday,) and finding he could not get back from his peregrinations before 1/4 past 6, he had stopped at the Albemarle Hotel to dine.

Walker looks perfectly well in all other respects save the lost hand.

They had all dined at 1 at Orange, & so were not as hungry as I was after fasting since 8: - but they made out pretty well not- =withstanding. – I heard nothing, of course, of their talk during dinner: - but afterwards, on asking Sarah, she told me that D[octo]r. Pearson had called early today, & dressed the arm, & said there was not the least need of his services any longer. He did not bring in his bill, but promised to send it here. She paid this week’s bill at the No[rth] Orange house amounting to simply $24. – the [?] weeks board & no more. She said the chambermaid who had waited upon them, was almost in tears at parting with them.

The other doctor, - D[octo]r Bennett – sent in his bill, as desired, & it was paid in the sum of $10. And Walker paid that sum to the husband of the good woman, who took him in charge after the accident; & she said the money would be acceptable to them, as they have a sick child requiring medicine & med= =ical attendance. –

After dinner Sarah & W[illia]m went to the Lafarge; & at their de= =sire & with my full & free consent, they asked Mr. Ludlow, Miss Benson & Sophy to dine with us at 1/2 past 1 tomorrow; & the invitation was accepted. – Walker went out into the porch after dinner to smoke his pipe as of old; & I might have joined him there & had some talk with him; but I felt too tired, & that I was in need of sleep: so I had a very comfortable nap, L position, in Mr. Hutchison’s arm chair until about 9, when Ann woke me to announce the T[ea] kettle

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I made T[ea], & Ann rang the hand-bell, which brought down David, who had returned whilst I was napping & had been sitting & chatting with Walker in his bed-room: - & presently W[illia]m & Sarah returned from the Lafarge & reported the acceptance of the invitation. So after T[ea] I sallied forth with a big basket into the Bowery, & present =ly retuned with it, filled with 4 melons, besides a supplemental Egg-plant I bo[ugh]t at the same shop, & a Citron-cake from Simpson’s.

Leaving these at the house, I went out, a second time; & ere long I came back with another & finer Melon I had picked up at another spot in the 4th Avenue. (N.B. Buying Melons at night & with the functions of the olfactories suspended by the remains of a cold, is too like buying “a pig in a poke:” but it won’t be very ruinous if all 5 – costing 36¢ - should prove to be worthless.) – Satisfied with my second expedition, I went up stairs, intending to warn William & Walker of my wish to break=

fast tomorrow at 8, but found each fast asleep in his res

=pective apartment. – I told Sarah that S[ain]t Tho[ma]s [church] will not be open tomorrow, but will the Sunday after. I know not how the rest may do; but it is my intention to go to Mr. Dickson’s Church in 14th St[reet] tomorrow morning.

My cold has all but gone: - it was only a “good [underscored] cold” not a bad one, & I have treated it actively, & expect to have no re= =mains of it tomorrow. – I have posted up the new weather book in ink, & the extent of daily expenditure by Mary at market; & now I have nothing to do but read over what I have written & then to retire for a full 6 hour’s sleep, which is more than I need when I have had a good nap after T[ea].

Sunday night 6th – We breakfasted soon after 8, & had 2 of the melons; of which one was good & the other poor. Walker was the first to take the bath this morning; & I should think that he must have enjoyed it, as I suppose he cannot have had any such thorough ablution since the fated 15th of Aug[us]t – i.e. for 22 days! [’22 days’ underscored] When I went up to bed last night, it was just about 1 o clock, & I walked to his room, & leaving the candle outside, I went to his bed, & found he was awake. I asked if he was in need of my aid in any way’ but he said he was not. – I went alone [underscored] ot Mr. Dickson’s church, riding up in a yellow car, because it was warm, & I wished to be in good time, so as to secure a good seat.

I took one in the pew immediately in front of the reading desk, & I had, the whole pew to myself. – Thus I followed the services very readily, but had to get a gentleman, who sat behind me, to find me the singing psalm & hymn. – I took our Mother’s Bible with me (the one that rests in my bedroom, I mean, ) [struck-through] marked “May 1829”) & so I made our very well, & did not sleep during Mr. Dickson’s short

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sermon, which lasted scarily 20 minutes. – Before the hymn I took out my purse & had hardly unfastened it, ‘ere the plate was presented to me; & I very gladly put a $1 bill on it; for I have always highly approved of these free [underscored] churches in the city, & indeed ever where, ]’every where’ underscored] & only regret that we have not more of them, - & commonly derive more satisfaction from the service in them than in churches that are only for those who can afford to pay pew rent.

On my return I met, at Palmer’s corner, Miss Maria Gregory, & her elder brother, who were on their way to pay a visit to our young people: - so we entered the house together. I thought they had been at S[ain]t Bartholomew’s [church], which was reopened today, I believe, after having been closed for some time: but they had not been to church at all. She is looking very well indeed. I like her, & don’t like either of her brothers. How it happens that she is so immensely superior to them, I don’t know. – It devolved on me to entertain them as well as I could, for about 20 minutes, when Mr. Ludlow arrived, & not long afterwards, William, Sarah & Sophy & Miss Benson -who had all been to church together – probably to Trinity. Whether Walker went to church there, or elsewhere I don’t know. – The dinner went off well. Of the two melons, one was good & the other poor: but the Peaches were very fine; & half were eaten at the table & the other half at some time before T[ea]. And the 50¢ citron cake was demolished at the two meals. – Before Sarah proposed to me to ask Mr. Ludlow & the 2 young ladies to dinner, it had been my intention to have sent a note to invite Cha[rle]s V[an] Ness; but I waived that plan & did not name it. After dinner, how- =ever, I wrote a little note to him, telling him of the arrival of the trio, & that they intended leaving here tomorrow; & added “won’t you take your tea with us this evening.” I took the note myself: they said he was at home, & so I left it at the door; -and he came to T[ea] accordingly. – Mr. Ludlow left soon after dinner, saying he had an appointment. – The others – including Mr. Spence (I think) – but excluding Walker (who went elsewhere to pay some visits from which he returned long before T[ea]) attended afternoon service at some R[oman] C[atholic] church, & they were rather late in returning. On their way back they chanced to fall in with Mr. Ludlow, on the street, & so picked him up & brought him back to T[ea]. – Whilst Walker & I were in the garden before T[ea], I asked him whether the last Ligature had come off yet. He said it had not. He said the wound is gong on all right, & the discharge from it is found to have been less & less at each dressing, which occurs every other day. – He said

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that there is more of less of an aching from it all the while.

I asked him what was the time talked of for going to Dun= =nington tomorrow. He said 1/2 past 9.

Having had no exercise except walking home from 14th St[reet] after church, & feeling the need of more decided peristaltic action. I left Mr. Van Ness, David [Spence] & Sarah at 1/2 past 8 (William had gone to the S[ain]t Nicholas [Hotel] to see the Gregorys) & I turned out for a stiff walk, & went to 42nd St[reet] & back; so it was 5 minutes past 10 when I returned. William came in soon after, & he & David shortly afterwards retired. Sarah, I believe, was in attendance on Walker; & when she had come down & “gone the rounds,” I told he that I was in favor of the journey to Dunnington [Connecticut] being postponed until Tuesday, in order that Mat =thew might see Walker tomorrow, when he came up to dinner. Sarah said she had no other objection, except that Miss Dun= =ning had been warned, & was expecting them tomorrow. – She went up stairs, & came down again, reporting that Walker was asleep but that she had been talking with William on the subject; & that he thought it was better, for Walker’s sake, that the original plan should be adhered to; that Walker had been going about visiting today to a greater extent than was good for him & seemed to be fagged & tired; & that if he stayed in town until Tuesday morning, he would be doing the same thing -& that such proceedings were at variance with D[octo]r Pearson’s ad= =vice, who thought the sooner he was in the country again, the better. – I thereupon remarked that I knew beforehand that William would oppose my plan, just from his habit of of raising objections to every thing I proposed. – Sarah said that I did W[illia]m injustice in that remark; as he was simp[‘p’ struck-through] =ply actuated by consideration for Walker. I said it may be so in this case; but I am not mistaken in William habit- =ual opposition to almost every thing I propose to him: “oppo =sition to me is his rule [underscored], & the absence of it the exception.” [underscored] She then remarked that she & William did not think yours[struck-through] their Uncle M[atthew] would care at all about seeing Walker; for that if there had been much real concern for Walker, Mary, when she came to town the other day, would have gone out to Orange. (W[illia]m was present in the office when I came out with that

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indignant remark – “There is such a thing as natural feeling” – -& I suppose had reported it on his return to Orange. – I told Sarah that I had offered to go out with Mary, but that she had so very many things to do in town, that she could not get thro’ her commissions & go to Orange too. – We then had a dis- =cussion – mostly, or entirely [underscored] on my[underscored] side.- I reverted to my long talk with Walker in the yard on the 7th August, whilst she & W[illia]m were on their way back from Dunnington: - & said that Walker had spoken of his uncle M[atthew]’s sang froid [‘sang froid’ underscored] [sangfroid], not as com= =plaining of it, but as something rather to be imitated; & that I had observed that the feeling of uncles & aunts who have chil =dren of their own, must necessarily be very different towards nephews & nieces, from that of uncles & aunts who have no children. I then said that it had never appeared to me that Aunt E[lizabeth] has much affection for them (whereupon Sarah laughed & said “No; she certainly has not”) but that “it was[struck-through] is not so with your uncle Matthew.” He has warm feelings in spite of his habitual manner. It is a manner I detest, & it unfortunately increases as he grows older like other habits. He does himself great injustice by it. – I told her that she would have been astonished had she read, as I did, the letter he wrote to you about his juvenile recollections of Sedgwick. [England] – I said that most of my own time was taken up in endeavours to strengthen the ties of family af- -fection; & that whether we are part of seniors or juniors, I opposed all manifestations of indifference [underscored] with all my might & main, & should continue to do so: & that it was, this, & this until Tuesday. – I then bethought me that perhaps Mat =thew, after all, might not come here to dinner tomorrow: that I did not know the precise time for Mrs. Rich[ar]d Gilpin to arrive tomorrow; but that Matthew, I supposed, would have to go & meet her; & that to this end he might perhaps drive down town. And in this uncertainty I supposed that the better place, if Walker himself were so-inclined, would be for W[alker] to ride down to our office (say in a yellow car) at noon & then return straight to 4th [Street], & leave for Dunnington in the 2 p.m. train that stops at Stamford [Connecticut]; & they could then ride in a carriage

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from Stamford to Dunnington, which would not be anything like the disappointment to Miss D[unning] that the postponement of the journey until Tuesday would be; & that his would also put it out of Walker’s powers to be paying too many visits tomorrow.

I said that I was disposed to leave the whole matter of going in the morning or in the afternoon to Walker himself. [‘Walker himself’ underscored] - & therefore Sarah betook herself to bed, as I am now going to do also. – But I must add some little first. –

I had understood that it was tomorrow that William is to start for S[aint] Louis [Missouri]: but he is not to do so until Thursday; & it is intended that he shall go tomorrow with Walker & Sarah to Dunnington. – but in case of the journey thither being in the afternoon, instead of the morning, it may not suit his plans to go. - However, I have said my say, & I leave it to the trio to decide as they see fit. – Between you & me, -I do not think that Matthew has shewn as much feeling & interest about Walker, as I would have expected. And I may add that I do not think that William has any affection at all for his uncle Matthew. – But you see I was right in my conjecture that the trio were not insensible to that omission of Mary going to see them: - and my own feeling on that point is just as strong as ever: - it was monstrous [underscored] & unpardonable [underscored], and most deplorable. [‘most deplorable’ underscored]

My walk tonight has done me great good: & for one thing it has acted as an aperient [underscored], which was just what I wanted.

My cold has vanished in toto; & I expect to sleep very sound =ly (& not that I feel sleepy at present) & to resume the use of my tub, which for the last 2 mornings I had discontin =ued. – David seems to me to like his quarters: - & for your comfort, (as he is occupying your sanctum sanctorum) he is most orderly & neat in all his habits; & I suppose will be far less apt to disturb any of your fixings & possessions, than one of your own sex would be. -

Monday afternoon 7th 5 Hanover St[reet] – Having a few minutes to spare I may as well employ them. – We breakfasted soon after 8. Before breakfast Walker being up, dressed & down stairs long before any of the rest of us wrote either there, & [‘either...&’ struck-through] in his own room previously, the note I now hand you, & he handed it to me to read & enclose to you, as I was in the porch about an hour after breakfast. – He was in the garden when I came down stairs; so I went to him there & gave him the purport of my talk with Sarah last night, & said I left the whole matter to the decision of

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himself Sarah & William. – And after all had finished their breakfasts, except myself, he told me it had been decided to leave by the train at 2 1/2 p.m. today. W[illia]m & David went off to the office early, Walk =er walked [underscored] down about an hour after them, & I walked down about 1/2 an hour after him. – It was about noon, or later when Matthew arrived, & Walker was not there. – I met him coming in, as I went off in a hurry (in the absence of John Russell) to post the note to Matthew’s son James (whereof I enclose a copy) & thus I missed being present at the interview I had been at so much pains to bring about, & I was sorry for it. – I have an idea that it was of that cold, brief, sang-froid character, on Matthew’s part, that I dislike so much. I judge so because W[alker] in the same room with M[atthew] for 1/2 an hour after my return from the P[ost] O[ffice], & I did not see any conversation going on between them. – But I may be mistaken.

Monday night – I walked home to dinner, & since T[ea] have walked to 20th St[reet] & back, thus making 6 miles walking today, & as usual I feel all the better for it; as I had a good np before T[ea].

Matthew brought me a note from Elizabeth, as is generally the case twice a week, & as it contains matters to be communicated to you, I enclose it to save myself the task of needless writing. – He rec[eive]d at noon today a Tel[egram] from West Chester, that Mrs. R[ichar]d Gilpin did not feel well enough today to undertake the journey to N[ew] York, & this caused him to leave the office sooner than otherwise because he wished to go to Irving Place before dinner, as I had told him that I had requested Mary to have dinner on the table punc=

uation, whereupon I remarked that it would would be a fine piece of busi

=ness if the event were to come off, whilst she was halting in Irving Place.

I went out of my way, after he left the office to write a little note to the the Colo[nel], [Gilpin] which I left at the Metropolitan Hotel, informing him of the Tel[egra]m from W[est] Chester. – But I might as well have let it alone; for Matthew wanted to see him about other

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matters; & to this ^ he went to the Metropolitan some 1/2 an hour or so after we had dined. He read in the mean= =while your letter to me of 24th ult[im]o [24 August] via [steamer] City of N[ew] York which I rec[eive]d this morning, - & from which I see that you will probably get the distressing intelligence of Walker’s accident either when you have arrived at Sedgwick to see poor Caroline Weston & poor Mary Wakefield too – or when you are just on the eve of setting out on that visit. –

The [steamer] City of N[ew] York brings us a consignment of 101 bales of cotton from Hodgson Mather & Co[mpany], that will give us some $800, or so, of Commissions. – Despite of the drains of extra [character?] on one’s purse this year – such as supported Ja[me]s & Rutson at N[ew] O[rleans] [Louisiana], & Fontaine at L[iver]pool [England] - & those occasioned by the calamity to Walker – my income this year will I presume

[Marginalia]

Sept[ember] [18]63 Mini Maxi=

                       =mum	=mum

2 61 72 3 62 1/2 73 4 62 1/2 71 1/2 5 60 71 1/2 6 62 76 1/2 7 69 78 [?] [struck-through] 8 68 76

---

Deaths week ending 5th Sept[ember] 565 of which 332 aged 5 & less 84 chol[era] inft.

The we[a]ther for first 5 days uninterruptedly fine: nothing could be finer. The 7th has been half cloudy & half fine.

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largely exceed my outgoings: - which certainly is cause for thankfulness -for this is a result that I had not expected when I took upon myself the support of our two nephews at N[ew] O[rleans]; - and I have commonly found that in those years when my “heart has been enlarged “ to assist others, I have yielded to its promptings. I have afterwards been more than repaid, even in a pecuniary way, by an enlargement of means – some= =what like that extraordinary character, the clergyman of the Plymouth brethren persuasion, who entered on an expenditure of, I think, £80,000, in full faith that Providence would furnish him with all the means!

It is certainly a great blessing to be in such a condition as to have no anxiety as to sufficiency of income; & likewise to be spared from the curse of an insatiable desire to amass wealth. –

To return from the digression: - Mr. Hodgson remarks in H[odgson] M[Mather] & Co[mpany] letter that he has engaged passage for you & Mr. Potter via [steamer] Persia, 7th Nov[ember] – which I am glad to see, & hope you won’t leave sooner, & that the interval may be found sufficient to enable you to accomplish all that you have to do, or wish to do. –

I quite agree in your estimate of Mrs. Tom Irlam’s excellencies of disposition & character; but at this late day I have no design of at= =tempting to carry out Mr. Bailey’s design of uniting my fortunes with hers. – And I may add that I thing Mr. W. R. Duncan a great sim =pleton, for entering upon the marriage you have named, & which either Elizabeth or Mary Bold had already reported to me some 6 weeks ago.

I am very glad to learn that Louisa’s son is placed at last, & is so actively employed; for I agree with you in thinking him of an indolent turn, & lacking in energy, & thus the very opposite of his excellent father, whose motto was ever that of “busy bee” im= =proving each shining hour. – Tho[ma]s Henry’s condition is lamentable indeed! – or , as one might say, utterly contemptible. –

I do not shew your letter to-day to our young people, because I do not wish them to see that it was you, who recommended me to curtail the weekly allowance to Fontaine. – I am very glad to hear from you to-day that he appears to have at last found some employ= =ment. – It is far more for his own [‘his own’ underscored] sake that I desire this than us a saving of my expenditure. –

Whether the interview today with Matthew was satisfactory to Walker, or not, it seemed to me that the postponement of 5 hours in the departure from Dunnington was of decided advantage to Sarah as she could not have left conveniently at the earlier hour. I gave her my shawl to take for Walker’s use, in case of cold or inclement weather during the visit.

In reading the concluding part of Walker’s note to you, I am again pained, as I was with that of 25th ult[im]o [25 August] to myself, with the ab= =sence of those expressions of a Christian or religious character, which are befitting the occasion. – And as the note to you is not

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like the one to me, written at his dictation [underscored] by a third party, but by his own hand, [‘own hand’ underscored] the conclusion is the stronger that he is unhap=

               a

=lily devoid of ^ sound, healthy, proper feeling of what he owes to his maker. – When he & I were in the garden yesterday after= =noon, I hesitated whether to ask him, or not, if he had looked into the book I gave him the other day; but I did not do so. – And during my walk to-night I was pondering over the matter, & thinking that I would write to him on the subject; but I have not done so, & cannot do so to-night. – I had that intention when I came in, & I thought I would first go up stairs & see whether he had not left the book behind him; but after looking all over his room, I did not find it.

I saw he had, apparently been reading some trumpery, such as a miserable Am[erica]n Novel called “Grey Livingston” (evidently, however bo[ugh]t prior [underscored] to his accident, as it had “Tho[ma]s Pipes” written on a blank page with his right [underscored] hand) & a volume of Harper’s Monthly, lying open at the story of (somebody or other) the Robber! [‘the Robber’ underscored] – It was whilst I was on this search for “Wilberforces Treatise,” that I picked up on the table, the scrap of paper on which he had been exercising his pen, before he commenced the note to you. – There is still proof of his biass to set aside reasonable advice founded on uni= =versal experience, & a design to carry out his own notions as so much better, [finer?] his persisting now in the unnatural [underscored] leaning of his left [underscored] hand, as he previously did when writing so ^ execrably with his right [underscored[; and one effect must necessarily be that he will write with the less facility [‘less facility’ underscored] – or not as well [underscored] as he would if he would now make the writing lean thus: \\\\ instead of ////

Thus he is still pig-headed on some [underscored] points. But I must confess -and I do so with much pleasure – that his manner & deport= =ment toward me have undergone a most marked change since his accident: - as they now betaken deference, respect & affection: - and such being the case, I think that I ought to endeavour to use my increased influence, so as to help him if I can ^ towards securing “the one thing needful.” But if he is [underscored] reading

                                in it

the book I gave him, he will find ^ far better arguments than I could address to him either verbally or in writing. – In that long talk I had with him on the 7th ult[im]o, [7 August] he told me that he hated to receive advice on any subject whatever: [‘receive...whatever’ underscored] - & perhaps a gentle hint may go farther with him, therefore, than any attempt at a power- =ful, knock-down, logical argument; - & I might add that both with old & young we commonly find that Example does more than Precept.

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I carried down 2 baskets with me to the office today – a larger & a smaller one – I filled both with Peaches; & the former containing 35 large ones (at 3¢ each) went to Dunnington, & the latter containing over 20 smaller ones ( at 2¢ each) I carried home with me, along with 5 big ones (at 3¢) in my amiable pockets. - \ NB I have to-day a handsome note of thanks from Mr. Mather for a diminutive basket of Peaches I sent to him, by David, when he ( Mr. M[ather]) embarked, & for other attentions whilst he was here\

Matthew brought me today a very long letter of 5th inst[ant], [5 September] from Mary describing a great mountain & pick nik excursion undertaken on Tuesday last by a large party of them under the superintendence of Professor Mahan: & I must try & squeeze it into this letter, as it may help to entertain you, I think: - tho’ it will make the entertain= =ment rather costly in the matter of postage. –

On asking Matthew today whether he had remembered to tell them at Cornwall what Nan had said in her letter of 19th August about Miss Mary Gilpin, I was shocked to find he had not: so I have just made a copy of that & some other portions of Nan’s letter, to en= =close in my bi-weekly dispatch to Elizabeth. –

Tuesday night 8 Sept[ember] – Matthew rec[eive]d a letter from R[ichar]d Gilpin, written yester

day after sending the dispatch, & saying that after 2 days rest his wife, accompa

=nied by their 2 youngest children & a nurse, will probably set out on Wednesday (tomorrow) & so reach the foot of Barclay St[reet], by Camden & Amboy [Railroad] (the [“Fen..ah?] [underscored] Line, as poor Nan [?] called it) at 6 p.m. – When he shewed me the letter, Matthew remarked that it would interfere with his plans, & I said – “Why not telegraph her to postpone her journey to N[ew] Y[ork until Thursday [underscored]?” – But he said he would not do any thing of the kind. – About 2 p.m. he told me that he had resolved to stay here instead of going back as usual to Cornwall today: and I said “there is no necessity at all for your staying, if it be merely on Mrs. “R[ichar]d Gilpin’s account; as I will undertake to meet her tomorrow & ride “up with her to Irving Place.” – He accepted this offer, & went back as usual; and it now devolves upon David & me to do the needful tomorrow even[in]g, (unless the journey be again postponed) & to this end we are to dine down town. – It is not a pleasant duty; but I am getting like an Eel – that is “made to be skinned” - & so in a measure reconciled to the necessary operation! And I am reminded of the same operation having been inflicted upon Mytton you & myself for 2 successive nights about this time (I think) last year. But I shall not be surprised, nor sorry, [‘nor sorry’ underscored] if another telegram should come tomorrow to say she has again postponed her journey. – I have, however, just been writing a note for Ann to carry to Irving Place tomorrow, warning

                                                              gone

the servants there of the of the present programme. I might have ^ there after T[ea] to-night, to have given them a verbal [underscored] message, but I forgot it, & I could not well have done so had I remembered it in time; as there is an early departure to bed in this household to-night, so as to rise at

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6 1/2 , & breakfast at 7 1/2, because the [steamer] Persia’s mails close at 9 1/2, & both David & I have letters for her to be mailed tomorrow.

William returned tonight from Dunnington. He & Walker slept in the same bed there last night. – Not having arrived at the expected hour yesterday, no dinner had been prepared for them; but they had a dinner – tea (or as Mr. & Mrs. Cropper call it, a “Meat[underscored] – tea”) at a later hour instead. – Poor Miss D[unning] is “complaining” as usual & confined to her room; and whilst Sarah was sitting with her, there, both last evening & today, Walker & W[illia]m passed their time in hunting for Crabs etc. – W[illia]m considered Walker slightly the worse, owing to the excitement he had undergone since leaving Orange, or as W[illia]m said, from 2 days passed in the city. – He had a little more pain in his arm, & did not sleep quite so uninterruptedly as latterly at Orange, but it was nothing of any [...ent?]; & I have no doubt he will get on very well at Dunnington; as he is fully alive to the necessity of taking care of himself. – But at the same time I think it would have been better, both for him & Sarah, to have re =mained quietly at Orange for another week or two instead of going to D[unnington]

I sent Aunt E[lizabeth] today, a copy of my note to her son James, & said I trusted she would not disapprove of my request to him. – I sent her also your letter via [steamer] City of N[ew] York, & Mytton’s to me of 12 Aug[us]t. I told her of Louisa’s Cholera attack; & asked her to thank Mary for her long & entertaining letter, & to say, in reply to her “Moral,” that I am like the “deaf Adder that refuseth to hear the voice of the charmer, charm she [underscored] “never so wisely.” And besides this food for the mind I sent, in Matthew’s little bag, 25 very nice Peaches.

The [steamer] Scotia’s letters were delivered at 4 1/4 p.m. today, & we had more than usual by her, some of which are bothering ones, that will demand Matthews prompt attention on his return to the city in Thursday. – I shall be right glad when they have all got back again to Irving Place, so that Matthew can give his undivided attention to business for 6 days in the week; for if we have business to look after during the period of rustication it is apt to receive less attention than it demands.

I read your letter via [steamer] Scotia after dinner, & the enclosed copy of Nan’s to you of 7 July. – Fontaine sends me a letter, via Scotia, to James, posted as a late letter to Queenstown on the 29th; & writes on the inside of the envelope to me, “Have just this minute yours of Walker’s accident.” (He says nothing o f having rec[eive]d my previous [underscored] letter, curtailing his weekly allowance.) His letter to Ja[me]s is open, but written in cypher [underscored]. – I feel sorry when I think how shock =ed & grieved you will have been on Sunday morning at Breakfast, on getting the first account of poor Walker; & how painful must be your suspense & anxiety until you learn that his life is no longer in danger. – I must now go to bed as I am rather short of sleep. Y[ou]rs affectionately R[utson] Maury.

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New Orleans [Louisiana] 28 Aug[us]t 1863 Rec[eive]d 2 1/2 p.m. 5 Sept[embe]r Friday evening

Dear Uncle Rutson

I got yours via [steamer] Hudson yesterday, & intended answering this morning, after planting a few Cabbages, but before I had time to plant one, Louisa was taken very sick with vomiting, purging, & cramps – even to her finger ends. – I at once gave Brandy & water, & applied Mustard plaister to stomach, & sent for D[octo]r Adler. Before he arrived she was blue & cold up to the body & to the shoulders, & no stoppage of either vomiting or purging; so I sent for D[octo]r Stille, a neighbour. He came: found no pulse & ordered Mustard to calves, thighs, & even on stomach, and hot bran

dy & water. While he was here, Bridget arrived with Adler’s pre

=scription, which was given 3 times & thrown up. The system react =ed, however, & Stille left. An hour afterwards, when Adler came, she had collapsed, & was again cold & blue all over. If you ever did see a kind hearted elderly Doctor exert himself, you may judge of his actions. Bridget was ordered to rub with Mustard, & apply hot bottles to the feet; & to make assurance doubly sure, she brought in the top of the Stove, wrapt in a blanket, much to Adler’s admiration. – The other servant was started off for Brandy & Ice, which were freely applied internally, & in about 1/2 an hour Louisa commenced to rally, the mustard plaisters to bite (which they had not yet done) the vomiting stopped & the medicine was retained. The old D[octo]r then rushed out & drove to the drug store at a furious pace & got some more Medicine, 10 drops of which given twice relieved the cramps. – He then seized Sarah & carried her off to Rutson’s, & then drove down & conscripted Mrs. Pollard, & brought her in his buggy. Since that time – say 11 o’ clock – Mrs. P[ollard] & I have been in constant attendance, & I am glad to say Louisa is much better, tho’ Adler says, not by any means safe yet.

Mrs. Pollard has just gone home. The letter with $100 via [steamer] Hudson, arrived all safe, & she sends you many, many thanks for it, & all the trouble which she has given, which she never would have done, had she known you were so unwell. – Now do Uncle Rutson, stop wri= =ting copies of letters etc. and take exercise. Let Walker copy this, if required. – I cannot write to you as I wanted to at present.

P[ost] S[cript] Of course we tell Louisa she has an attack of Indigestion, but from the symptoms you will see it is, as Adler says – in plain English – Cholera. To quote Louisa, according to Price-current, she was this morning on a par with Confer[erate] notes, which are selling at 13 -14¢ in the $: but, thank God, she is now just about par with “Greenbacks.” - \ 9 p.m. – Adler, just in, will forward this. Louisa is doing very well – i.e. as well as can be expected - \ Rutson will write to you by the River mail tomorrow. Y[ou]rs affectionately Ja[me]s Maury