Difference between revisions of ".OTE0.MTQ4NQ"
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This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full text of this document available soon. | This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full text of this document available soon. | ||
− | + | Head Quarters M Laws Divn. | |
− | My dear Sister Cynt. | + | My dear Sister Cynt. Aug 11, 1863. |
− | + | I received your most welcome letter this | |
morning & wrote at once to Uncle Alex Seddon & | morning & wrote at once to Uncle Alex Seddon & | ||
− | will | + | will send the communication off by tomorrow's |
− | + | mail. You {?] in reply it wd [?] to it | |
− | of two months ago. Have you not | + | of two months ago. Have you not received one of |
much later date? I wrote to you as soon as I heard | much later date? I wrote to you as soon as I heard | ||
− | of Bland's strange & startling act and have | + | of Bland's strange & startling act and have most |
eagerly looked for a reply. You convey however in | eagerly looked for a reply. You convey however in | ||
− | the letter just | + | the letter just received the information I chiefly |
sought-for I write in the earnest desire to know what | sought-for I write in the earnest desire to know what | ||
your feelings & course wd be in the matter. I am glad | your feelings & course wd be in the matter. I am glad | ||
− | to | + | to see that you acted as I wd have wished, so far |
at least as I can judge from what you tell me | at least as I can judge from what you tell me | ||
without having seen your letter to Bland. | without having seen your letter to Bland. | ||
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intention to slight you, which prevented her responding | intention to slight you, which prevented her responding | ||
more promptly. | more promptly. | ||
− | We agree | + | We agree very closely my dear sister in many of our |
views & I dare say your letter was very much like | views & I dare say your letter was very much like | ||
mine. Whilst expressing my poignant sorrow at | mine. Whilst expressing my poignant sorrow at | ||
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husband, her mother or yourself. I told her likewise | husband, her mother or yourself. I told her likewise | ||
− | + | that if the new faith she prefered, & adopted with such | |
apparent earnestness, and in the face of such opportunity | apparent earnestness, and in the face of such opportunity | ||
really wrought a change in her life & character, it | really wrought a change in her life & character, it | ||
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grieve at her choice, but I told her frankly that | grieve at her choice, but I told her frankly that | ||
unless that change did take place, or if I had | unless that change did take place, or if I had | ||
− | reason to suppose she was captivated | + | reason to suppose she was captivated by the other forms |
of religion & not really moved by its holier spirit, and | of religion & not really moved by its holier spirit, and | ||
that disregarding the happiness of her family & friends | that disregarding the happiness of her family & friends | ||
she had thoughtfully or carefully gone counter to their | she had thoughtfully or carefully gone counter to their | ||
wishes in so serious a point, she would have added | wishes in so serious a point, she would have added | ||
− | the | + | the capstone to my misery. |
I trust that however erroneous her views she has been | I trust that however erroneous her views she has been | ||
− | + | activated by a conscientious belief. It is deeply mortifying | |
to me & must be to you all, to think that Bland would have | to me & must be to you all, to think that Bland would have | ||
− | concealed her wishes or purpose from us , whilst she confided | + | concealed her wishes or purpose from us, whilst she confided |
− | in, sought consul of & heartened to, | + | in, sought consul of & heartened to, those whose very |
society both your mother and myself have mainly tried | society both your mother and myself have mainly tried | ||
− | to convince her not to cultivate beyond the | + | to convince her not to cultivate beyond the requirements |
of politeness & kindly feeling. | of politeness & kindly feeling. | ||
It is indeed mortifying to me that your father's daughter & my | It is indeed mortifying to me that your father's daughter & my | ||
wife shd have as her most intimate friends those so far below | wife shd have as her most intimate friends those so far below | ||
− | her in social | + | her in social position, & that they shd obtain such an ascen |
dency over her mind as to induce her to desert the | dency over her mind as to induce her to desert the | ||
faith in which she has been brought up, plant thorns | faith in which she has been brought up, plant thorns | ||
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husband & herself a wall that can not be [?] and | husband & herself a wall that can not be [?] and | ||
− | may never be pulled down | + | may never be pulled down! It is in vain that I have |
tried to reconcile myself to the strange reality. I have prayed | tried to reconcile myself to the strange reality. I have prayed | ||
earnestly to God for strength to bear as I shd this mysterious | earnestly to God for strength to bear as I shd this mysterious | ||
dispensation. I have reasoned on the subject on the broadest | dispensation. I have reasoned on the subject on the broadest | ||
− | + | grounds of Christian charity. I have debated the question in all | |
its worldly bearings, and still I can come no nearer to | its worldly bearings, and still I can come no nearer to | ||
acquiescence in what seems to me an uncomfortable | acquiescence in what seems to me an uncomfortable | ||
inflexible, & I almost feel inclined to say unfavorable | inflexible, & I almost feel inclined to say unfavorable | ||
− | act. Had there | + | act. Had there been any necessity for haste or secrecy I |
might understand it. Had there been any reason for a want | might understand it. Had there been any reason for a want | ||
of confidence in me I might excuse it. Had it been a | of confidence in me I might excuse it. Had it been a | ||
matter of less serious consequence, even the indiscretion | matter of less serious consequence, even the indiscretion | ||
of youth might have atoned for the thoughtlessness of such | of youth might have atoned for the thoughtlessness of such | ||
− | precipitation- | + | precipitation - but there is nothing of the kind to [?] |
− | the act | + | the act, for I had told Bland a year ago that |
if she continued unshaken in her belief & her wishes | if she continued unshaken in her belief & her wishes | ||
− | after due | + | after due time for consideration, and inquiry into the |
subject, I would not go so far as to face her conscience | subject, I would not go so far as to face her conscience | ||
− | or prohibit arbitrarily where | + | or prohibit arbitrarily where I could not influence or |
persuade. | persuade. | ||
After some consideration & a little time for thought she | After some consideration & a little time for thought she | ||
told me she had been mistaken in her feelings & | told me she had been mistaken in her feelings & | ||
− | [?], and often since that, has she | + | [?], and often since that, has she assured me in |
the very words you quote that she "had gotten over | the very words you quote that she "had gotten over | ||
that foolishness." | that foolishness." | ||
− | So much for the matter. My only hope, like your | + | So much for the matter. My only hope, like your own |
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removal from evil influences which have exerted so | removal from evil influences which have exerted so | ||
great an influence over a young & uninformed mind. | great an influence over a young & uninformed mind. | ||
− | + | As regards my relations with Bland in every other | |
particular I have had the greatest reason for [?] | particular I have had the greatest reason for [?] | ||
[?]. For months she has secured all that all that | [?]. For months she has secured all that all that | ||
I could wish, and even I no longer complained | I could wish, and even I no longer complained | ||
that she was undemonstrative, for in her greeting when I | that she was undemonstrative, for in her greeting when I | ||
− | saw her, and in the | + | saw her, and in the letters she sent me, I saw one |
unmistakable growth of affection & interest | unmistakable growth of affection & interest | ||
− | In many respects her | + | In many respects her character has greatly |
improved- and I hear from many sources the same | improved- and I hear from many sources the same | ||
testimonial. Never since my marriage despite the | testimonial. Never since my marriage despite the | ||
− | trying nature of separation, was | + | trying nature of separation, was I as happy as I |
have been for the last three or four months, & | have been for the last three or four months, & | ||
the sad changed face of which you spoke once more | the sad changed face of which you spoke once more | ||
bore its usual [?] of light hearted mirth & | bore its usual [?] of light hearted mirth & | ||
− | happiness , until I received this late unexpected | + | happiness, until I received this late unexpected |
blow. | blow. | ||
Her letters, I have received lately, are | Her letters, I have received lately, are | ||
still couched in the most affectionate & tender lan- | still couched in the most affectionate & tender lan- | ||
− | - | + | -guage and if professions of love are worth any |
− | thing, I am obliged beyond my | + | thing, I am obliged beyond my expectations. |
She speaks of being in every respect pleasantly | She speaks of being in every respect pleasantly | ||
− | situated at Belleville, of being usefully | + | situated at Belleville, of being usefully employed |
− | in various ways , and of | + | in various ways , and of only wanting my presence |
− | to render her | + | to render her completely happy. This I can not |
understand because it wd be utterly impossible | understand because it wd be utterly impossible | ||
for me under any circumstances to be so, had I | for me under any circumstances to be so, had I | ||
− | + | caused grief to those I love. But people differ. | |
− | |||
She never mentions now her new faith- and I | She never mentions now her new faith- and I | ||
doubt if she has informed any one of it. I have however, | doubt if she has informed any one of it. I have however, | ||
for I do not care chose to conceal the fact, and that the | for I do not care chose to conceal the fact, and that the | ||
− | deed is over and is | + | deed is over and is irrevocable. |
I wd give a great deal to see & talk to you about | I wd give a great deal to see & talk to you about | ||
− | this & other matters, but I feel it will be a long long | + | this & other matters, but I feel it will be a long long time |
− | [?] [?] | + | [?] [?] see each other again. |
Revision as of 14:38, 23 January 2012
This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full text of this document available soon.
Head Quarters M Laws Divn.
My dear Sister Cynt. Aug 11, 1863.
I received your most welcome letter this
morning & wrote at once to Uncle Alex Seddon & will send the communication off by tomorrow's mail. You {?] in reply it wd [?] to it of two months ago. Have you not received one of much later date? I wrote to you as soon as I heard of Bland's strange & startling act and have most eagerly looked for a reply. You convey however in the letter just received the information I chiefly sought-for I write in the earnest desire to know what your feelings & course wd be in the matter. I am glad to see that you acted as I wd have wished, so far at least as I can judge from what you tell me without having seen your letter to Bland.
I am indeed sorry that she has not replied to your letter,
but am quite sure she has now done so, & hope it was her speedy departure Gloucester rather than any intention to slight you, which prevented her responding more promptly.
We agree very closely my dear sister in many of our
views & I dare say your letter was very much like mine. Whilst expressing my poignant sorrow at the step she had taken, and my astonishment that she wd have I am so without consulting either her
husband, her mother or yourself. I told her likewise
that if the new faith she prefered, & adopted with such
apparent earnestness, and in the face of such opportunity
really wrought a change in her life & character, it
might perhaps in the end have reason no longer to
grieve at her choice, but I told her frankly that
unless that change did take place, or if I had
reason to suppose she was captivated by the other forms
of religion & not really moved by its holier spirit, and
that disregarding the happiness of her family & friends
she had thoughtfully or carefully gone counter to their
wishes in so serious a point, she would have added
the capstone to my misery.
I trust that however erroneous her views she has been
activated by a conscientious belief. It is deeply mortifying
to me & must be to you all, to think that Bland would have
concealed her wishes or purpose from us, whilst she confided
in, sought consul of & heartened to, those whose very
society both your mother and myself have mainly tried
to convince her not to cultivate beyond the requirements
of politeness & kindly feeling.
It is indeed mortifying to me that your father's daughter & my
wife shd have as her most intimate friends those so far below
her in social position, & that they shd obtain such an ascen
dency over her mind as to induce her to desert the
faith in which she has been brought up, plant thorns
in the pillow of her mother & build between her
husband & herself a wall that can not be [?] and
may never be pulled down! It is in vain that I have
tried to reconcile myself to the strange reality. I have prayed
earnestly to God for strength to bear as I shd this mysterious
dispensation. I have reasoned on the subject on the broadest
grounds of Christian charity. I have debated the question in all
its worldly bearings, and still I can come no nearer to
acquiescence in what seems to me an uncomfortable
inflexible, & I almost feel inclined to say unfavorable
act. Had there been any necessity for haste or secrecy I
might understand it. Had there been any reason for a want
of confidence in me I might excuse it. Had it been a
matter of less serious consequence, even the indiscretion
of youth might have atoned for the thoughtlessness of such
precipitation - but there is nothing of the kind to [?]
the act, for I had told Bland a year ago that
if she continued unshaken in her belief & her wishes
after due time for consideration, and inquiry into the
subject, I would not go so far as to face her conscience
or prohibit arbitrarily where I could not influence or
persuade.
After some consideration & a little time for thought she
told me she had been mistaken in her feelings & [?], and often since that, has she assured me in the very words you quote that she "had gotten over that foolishness." So much for the matter. My only hope, like your own
is I must confess a feverish one, & based solely on the
removal from evil influences which have exerted so
great an influence over a young & uninformed mind.
As regards my relations with Bland in every other
particular I have had the greatest reason for [?] [?]. For months she has secured all that all that I could wish, and even I no longer complained that she was undemonstrative, for in her greeting when I saw her, and in the letters she sent me, I saw one unmistakable growth of affection & interest
In many respects her character has greatly
improved- and I hear from many sources the same testimonial. Never since my marriage despite the trying nature of separation, was I as happy as I have been for the last three or four months, & the sad changed face of which you spoke once more bore its usual [?] of light hearted mirth & happiness, until I received this late unexpected blow.
Her letters, I have received lately, are
still couched in the most affectionate & tender lan- -guage and if professions of love are worth any thing, I am obliged beyond my expectations.
She speaks of being in every respect pleasantly
situated at Belleville, of being usefully employed in various ways , and of only wanting my presence to render her completely happy. This I can not understand because it wd be utterly impossible for me under any circumstances to be so, had I caused grief to those I love. But people differ. She never mentions now her new faith- and I doubt if she has informed any one of it. I have however, for I do not care chose to conceal the fact, and that the deed is over and is irrevocable. I wd give a great deal to see & talk to you about this & other matters, but I feel it will be a long long time [?] [?] see each other again.