.NDg0.NjQ5
[1]
Via [steamer] America via So[uth]hampton [England
4th St[reet], [New York, NY] 12 August [18]63 Wednesday night
Dear Ann
David Spence & our nephew William went over to Jersey City [NJ] this a.m. & saw Mr. Mather off. They took a letter for him via [steamer] China from Mr. Hodgson, requesting him (as David says) to remain on this side, but David said that no pecuniary induce =ment could be held out strong enough to have that effect. – I said I supposed it was the heat [underscored] that made him so anxious to go back. – “No;” – said D[avid] – “it was not so much the heat as his being home-sick: [underscored] – we had not left L[iver]pool [England] 48 hours before he wanted to be at home again.” – As I returned to our office after going to the P[ost] O[ffice] before 10 to post our letters for the [steamer] “Scotia,” I bo[ugh]t a little ba-asket of Peaches \ for 75¢ \ & sent it by W[illia]m & David as a present to Mr. Mather: & besides the letter from his partner they took a few words in pencil from me & a few words in pencil for you [underscored] which he was desired to put inside the envelope for you cont[ainin]g the B[isho]p Seabury paper for Mytton; it was simply to say, I was in the midst of reading your letter via [steamer] China. –
After I had down reading it who should call but that unpleasant man – Colo[nel] Gilpin. I don’t know what he came for. I told him that on the days of the week when he will find Matthew at the office – vizt. after 11 1/2
[2]
a.m. Mondays until 3 p.m. Tuesdays, & the same for Thursdays & Fridays. – He picked up a fresh No. of “Hunts [Merch[an]ts?] Magazine;” & I tho[ugh]t to amuse or interest him by reading to him the chief part of your letter via [steamer] China; but I was sorry I did so as it was like casting pearls before swine; for instead of giving me his undivided attention, as any real gentleman [‘real gentleman’ underscored] would have done, he kept his eye fixed upon the page of the said [Merch[an]ts?] Magazine. – It was a relief to me, as it always is, when he took himself off.
Matthew very often vexes me by a simi= =lar want of good manners. – Yesterday I was talking with Mr. Mather, when Matthew came in a little before 3 to lock up his desk & leave for the day. He knew that Mr. M[ather] was to sail via [steamer] Scotia this morning, but was going off without saying “good bye,” when I reminded him. Mr. M[ather] put out his hand & Matthew turning his back, [‘turning his back’ underscored] put out his in return. Had I been in Mr. Mather’s place I should have felt much affronted; as it was I felt much vexed. – The truth is that altho’ my deafness is so terrible a hindrance to my usefulness, it is I [underscored] who make all the business friends we have by ingratiating myself with the parties in every way I can think of; but Matthew very seldom goes an inch out of his way for such purposes.
[3]
When the Colo[nel] [Gilpin] had gone, I wrote a long letter to Harriet, - filling 4 quarto pages – which I dispatched at 3 1/2 p.m.
Today has been uninterruptedly bright & warm, but with wind from the N[orth], the heat (87 [degrees]) was not oppressive, because it was dry [underscored], & the evapo- =ration was so rapid. –
At T[ea] Cha[rle]s Van Ness called & took a cup. He had felt the heat very much – of course he must in consequence of his wig. – If I ever live to lose most of the hair from my head, & should betake myself to a wig, it will be in winter only [‘winter only’ underscored], to keep my head comfortably warm, & not to delude the world with the idea it is the growth o f nature. – Wigs beget disorders of the hair I am sure. – Some time after T[ea], when I returned to the parlour after visiting my own room, I selected 3 of the best peaches from a dish on the side-board, & offered them to Ch[arles] V[an] Ness; & as he declined them, I then got a wine glass some cake & decanter of Sherry & poured him out a glass – which was acceptable; & for moral entertainment I read him portions of your 3 last letters - & Sarah found the book on the scrubbing of the White Horse to show the print of it to Mr. V[an] Ness. – No doubt that same White Horse is the original of all the inn-signs of that name so common throughout a large part of England. –
Ch[arles] V[an] Ness says his sister is now at Fish
[4]
Kill [NY] – I often think of his positon of [struck-through] in life with a feeling of compassion, as it cannot be in accordance with his taste; & I admire his patience & resignation to his lot, as truly Christian; for I never head hem utter a work of complaint on the subject. –
I am delighted with the variety you have been enjoying since you left L[iver]pool [England] for London [England] &c. – Worthing [England] seems to please you – the place itself, & still more the people you have met there. – I am glad Edgar Corrie was coming to dine with you there on the 1st Aug[us]t - & hope it will end in you spending a day or two at his house at Black-heath [England] on your way to or from Bexley [England]. It made me happy to see himself & wife so very happy there after all their turmoil & trials.
When you return to L[iver]pool [England] I wish you would either write a note to Mr. Edward Burton (E[dward]. Heath & Co[mpany]) to tell him you are there, or get [Matthew] Fontaine [Maury] to tell him. I feel that we are under decided obligation to the Mess[ieu]rs Heath, & their fac-totum Mr. Burton, who is a most excellent man of business – I know none in L[iver]pool whom I think is superior.
I should like you to wave ceremony & go to see poor Mr. Edw[ar]d Heath & his wife. I am sure the visit would be very highly appreciated. – I was greatly pleased with their 3 daughters, - the eldest of whom is
[5]
(5)
is now married to a clergyman in Dev- =onshire [England], I think – If Rob[er]t Heath should ask you to pay him a visit at Heffers- =ton Grange near Northwich [England], go by all means; you will be pleased with the spot & the country around. – He often has his mother or some of his nieces with him. I wish he had a wife. – He would show you round to [divers[e]?] pretty spots around there. If I am to select the time I would place you there on a Sunday & a week day.
Mr. Burton will be pleased if you let him give you letter to his uncle at Kendal [England] for your next visit to Sedgwick [England]. – He will fall heir to this business of E. Heath & Co[mpany], & I would like our young folks to keep & re= =tain this connexion.
Perhaps Tom Bold may tell Mr. Torr that you are in L[iver]pool; & if Mr. Torr should ask you to come & see them at his fine house at East-Ham [England], I would like you to go; but his dinner parties are I think usually for gentlemen only. – He is a self-made man, intelligent, ambitious, & very fond of Money. His wife whom I have never seen, was a Miss Dempsey, the daughter of an old Timber-merchant. The firm was Demp= =sey & Pickard when I was a [ap]prentice lad.
I enclose an odd looking note I rec[eive]d to- =day from Mr. Sabine. – I had not the most distant idea whom it was from until I opened it after dinner.
[6]
I read Mytton’s old letter (stale one) of 29 June from [struck-through] to Harriett before I sent it to her today. – The effect of his visit to England seems to have been that of inspiring him with disgust for this country, & I am sure that that will not be pleasant for his future wife.
I do not admire the feeling of contempt for the unwashed multitude in a clergyman. – Mytton would like a cure like that of our cousin Mr. Hamilton. -an educated, polished congregation. He has not the feelings of a Howard, I think. – His grand tour will not in= =spire him with humility, I fear, but tend to puff him up, & make him conceited, critical, cynical. – He would then, I suppose, if like Mr. Boyd the County Parson, or the Rev[eren]d Sidney Smith, be one to devote part of his time to pure =ly literary pursuits & essay writing.
You have given him good advice to be less diffuse in his correspondence during his grand tour. –
13th Aug[us]t Thursday night. – We have had just such another day as yesterday, but 5 [degrees] cooler. – I went with basket on my arm like Ch[arles] Ja[mes] Marshall, to the Tompkins market in search of some better peaches. – I did not see anything of Mrs. King or her sign; so I suppose she has retired from business.
[7]
But I laid out 62 1/2¢ & got a good supply -large & thoroughly ripe, but most of them some what bruized; & as I walked back, I laid out 12 1/2¢ upon a beautiful egg-plant, which Mary cooked very nicely for dinner today.
I was in no hurry to go down town as I had nothing of moment to do at the office, & I knew Matthew would be there. – On my way down I called at Mess[ieu]rs Arthur & Gardiner’s office
82 Nassau St[reet] [New York, NY]
There was no one there save an office or errand boy & a clerk. The latter told me that Mr. & Mrs. A[rthur] are at Albany [NY], & that your letter for Mrs. A[rthur] was duly forwarded thither yesterday.
Matthew reported all well at Cornwall [NY]. – I told him of his misbehaviour to Mr. Mather, & said that if he had been a chimney sweeper he (M[atthew]) could hardly have treated him more cavalierly! – He left the office early, soon after 3, to attend a Savings’ Bank meeting And Walker had gone off at 3 p.m. with W[illia]m, after putting away his books & papers. So John [Russell] & I had the office to ourselves; & I set to work to answer a letter rec[eive]d 8 days ago from Sam Smith (the literary cotton broker) but I was not in a very good vein for writing.
Presently David Spence came in, & I asked him to take pot-luck with us at 5 1/2 p.m.; & he said he would, & left the office, & I went on with my letter, & worked at it until past 5, when I copied what I had written & clear =ed out. – As I passed the Commercial Advertizer Bulletin board, I was shocked but not surprized to it announced that
[8]
Tho[ma]s Addis Emmett is dead. – I enclosed an obituary notice of the event from this evening’s [New York Evening] Express. – I suppose I must go to the Funeral at Astoria [Queens, NY] on Saturday, if the hour & weather suit. – I am good for little else than such duties – a sort of “old Mortality,” – I did not know he was sick; - how should I? cut of as I am from the knowledge of almost everything except what I obtain at such vast labour by letters in reply to my own, & by reading the newspapers. – But poor Tom Emmett has looked for several years past as a man with one foot, or more, in the grave. Tho’ only 65 he has long had the appearance of one 75; from being so utterly broken down & heart-broken with the loss of one child after another! – It seems like a dream when I remember the remarkable hilarity & vital =ity of himself & brother, & Bache [McEvers?], & indeed all the clan & sett of jovial spirits one used to meet at those delightful lit= =tle gatherings at Bache’s house in Browne St[reet] 25 or 30 years ago; & then again those meetings at the Racket Court, where these 2 Emmetts were the leading spirits in fine manly exercise.!
I hope you will have the opportunity of paying Rob[er]t Such “tit for tat, as you propose. I burst out into a fit of laughing when I read that part of your letter. –
When I asked David [Spence] to dinner today I told
[9]
(9)
him I could not promise him anything better than [struck-through], or anything else, than Peaches & Vegetables; - but there was quite a suf- =ficiency in a small piece of roast Veal & a new tongue; & he seemed to enjoy the fare, & said they were much the finest peaches he had yet met with. –
The newspapers are very barren. – In the matter of the War there is nothing stirring except the siege of the defences at Charles= =ton [SC]. – The papers talk with the almost con =fidence that F[or]t Sumter [SC] must fall like Pulas =ki from the eminence force of years on terra firma, brought t bear in its weak side.
If Charleston is taken, I hope the city will surrender without being bombarded.
From the moment that Vicksburg [MS] & Port Hudson [LA] surrendered, I have looked upon the Southern cause as destroyed. –
I feel certain that the spirit of counter -revolution is shadily at work in the S[outh] W[est], & that it will work its way Eastward.
The Emancipation Proclamation is the sole hindrance, as I think, to Peace & Re -union. –
There are plenty of men among the Southern Officers who entertain just the views that M[atthew] F[ontaine] M[aury] does; but I do not think those views animate the rank & file [‘rank & file’ underscored] – Common Sense and Truth will prevail. – Common Interest
[10]
No[rth] & So[uth] demands Reunion.
The South is worn out & exhausted.
The price of that Shirt at Mobile - $25 in C[onfederate] S[tates] money, but $2 1/2 in Greenbacks – tells the tale. –
The London Times has led all England by the nose – except that portion of the Gov[ernmen]t that sides with Earl Russell
The So[uthern] Privateers cannot compel the North to make peace with the South on any other terms than reunion. – They only make ill feeling between the North & England. – The business of running the Blockade is all the while becom= =ing more & more hazardous; & must yet become more & more so.
England, as you find, desire our separation, but simply for her own sake, [‘her...sake’ underscored] not ours. And I consider she is greatly mistaken in supposing our Union antagonist to her interest. So sure as we are separated, there will from that time be a constant increase of hostile feeling at the North against England.
If the alternatives were simply an end =less civil war – i.e. for years & years -or an early Peace with reunion, I can= =not doubt but England would greatly
[11]
prefer the latter. –
M[atthew] F[ontaine] [Maury] & those of his kidney consider that the people of the South would be for ever disgraced by making peace without complete Independence. – I do not think so; but I do think it would be to the lasting dis
grace of the North to make Peace other
=wise than with Reunion. – No one can deny that, considering their means, the South have made the better fight. The disgrace is where the stronger man [?] under to the weaker. –
Separation involves an expence in standing Armies & Navies that would eat up both sections, & the So[uth] far sooner than the North, by enormous taxation.
Reunion is the only [underscored] remedy, I think.
And I feel confident that when we reflect what the War has cast, we shall know how to value Union.
We have [commonily?] found that during periods of truce there has been a commingling between rank & file on both sides with perfect good will.
It is the newspaper editors & politicians playing upon the passions of ignorant men, that have done all the mischief They do their best still to forment the ill feeling still. But there are still as good & as wise men in the Country
[12]
as there every were: & I think the people will yet recall such men to their proper posts. –
I don’t see that the N[ew] York Riots have done anything for the Sough; but I think they will be found to have weaken =ed the Democratic part in this City.
As Mrs. Sabines autograph would entail double postage I copy it, as follows: “Dear Sir – Illness has prevented me from thanking you for your very kind letter until now. – I was beginning to be very uneasy about Tobin; & tho’ relieved, I am still anxious for I do not think he can bear much. Will you have the goodness to give my love to Walker. and believe me with great respect – yours truly Julia Sabine.
Aug[us]t 9th. To Rutzen Maury Esq[uire] 363 Fourth St[reet] N[ew] York.
14th Friday night. – I don’t know whether you will pronounce my letter to Fontaine of [struck-through] to be of the “Pliny” stamp; but it seems to be to the point: [underscored] & I shall be glad if it have the desired effect of setting him resolutely to work in search of employment. – I intend sending Ja[me]s a copy of it by a st[eame]r that sails tomorrow afternoon.
I went again, armed with a ba-asket, to “[Ramoth?] Gilead” (alias Tompkins market) this morning & laid out 75¢ in Peaches & 12 1/2 in another egg plant. I selected some of the finest (about 25) & put them in a letter [underscored] ba-asket, which Matthew took with him to Cornwall [NY] this afternoon. – I finished my letter to Sam Smith (cotton broker) & as I prepaid, it, I put the one to Fontaine (with 1d stamp on it,) inside of it.
The weather is getting warm again – 84 [degrees] today. As I have now got to the last page of the Weather Book (for the present month) I bo[ugh]t a new book ruled only horizontally (for $1 1/4 ) to answer for the future. It is about as thick as the old book, but of the foolscap superficies, & will answer well enough, I have no doubt. –
[Marginalia] have not [underscored] written to Cropper & Co[mpany] about Fontaine.
[13]
(13)
T[homas] A[ddis] Emmett’s funeral will be at 2 1/2 p.m. to morrow, & the [Sylvan Grove?] with that object
for Astoria
will leave Fulton St[reet] Ferry at 1 1/2 p.m. , so I expect to go, as I foresee no hindrance.
For nearly a week I have had a most unu- sual disorder – a sore throat [‘sore throat’ underscored] arising rom much inflammation of the tonsils, & external
slight
swelling of the glands, with some ^ pain in them also. – But it was abating, & has now clean [underscored] gone away. – I thought several times of going to see dr. Wilkes about it, but did not. I laid aside cigars, snuff & wine; lived on bread vegetables & fruit, & kept my bowls open; sucked much Everton Toffee, Keatings Cough Lozenges & the Delectable (Gunn or Jujube) Lozen=
at last
=ges until ^ Nature [underscored] concurred. One effect is singular: - by the test of the ticking of my watch, I am this evening hearing very, very much better [‘very, very ...better’ underscored] than at any time for mo[nths] [underscored] past; -& that always make me more cheerful, con =tented & in better humour. – Reading the Times today, I saw a notice of a new discovery of a very simple & [?] remedy for Dip[h]theria [underscored] -vizt. the application of ice [underscored] to the Tonsils. I was well when I read this account, or I should certainly have tried its efficacy for my sore throat, which I fancy belonged to that type.
I resumed my cigar this morn[in]g; - & thought when I walked to 23rd St[reet] & back, I smoked 2 with none other than pleasant effect.
Before I went down town, Sarah left on a visit to Highwood & she gave me a full report of it before she went to bed. – She saw Mrs. King & Mrs. J. G. King Jr; but she did not go to [Hawshurst?], as she had intended to see Sarah Duer, because Mrs. Van Rensselaer (who has little time at her command, being constantly occupied
[14]
(14)
in nursing her son Stephen, who was wounded at Gettysburg [PA]) was spending the day with Sarah Duer. – Mrs. King looks poorly, aged & care-worn. [‘poorly...worn’ underscored] She has suffered from the heat [underscored] as well as grief. She speaks calmly & thank- =fully of Caroline’s [Duer] departure. She says it was Dropsy that she died of. About 2 weeks before her death there was a great discharge of water from her knees; & that greatly re =lieved her from the oppression on her chest And at that time the Doctors thought she would rally & live for months perhaps. About a week before she died she sank into a sort of stupour. If she spoke it was so very feebly that Mrs. King could not hear her. The daughter Sarah, however, who lay on the bed beside her all the while, could manage to hear her, or to make out what she wanted. Some 24 hours before she died, she woke up, as if over, from her stupor; & asked for something to drink, when they gave he some Milk Punch. She then being in full possession of her faculties desired that all might be summoned to enable her to take leave of them; she even asked to see the old coachman, after parting with the other, & he came. – After this taking leave of each & al, her strength began to give way, & she said some =thing more, hardly articulate. Her daughter Sarah asked if it was not that she wished to see Mr. Harris, the clergyman. Yes it was; & he soon came & administered the Communion to her & to a number of others, chiefly the younger members of the family & then she gradually relapsed into unconsciousness & so passed away peace= -fully & without suffering. – It is this hopeful serene, painless departure that helps much to make her poor Mother thankful & resigned. But as Sarah reports – “the are all feeling very sad.” – I am glad S[arah] went today Y[ou]rs Affectionately R[utson] Maury.
