Catharine Maria Sedgwick Online Letters

1 New York March 1st 1812

I am startled at the date of my letter, except when I think of you my dear Father, & of some others that my heart aches to see. This winter seems to have flown like the vision of sleep. -- Your observation that your life appeared to you a long one, has often impressed me as the most striking proof of the profitable employment of your time -- I have regarded your life to find some rules of action to apply to my own, but I have relinquished the scrutiny with the same feeling of disappointment, that the humble architect of a Cottage would turn from the survey of a lofty pallace, in which he had almost absurdly hoped to find a model for his little dwelling -- A life dignified by usefulness, of which it has been the object and the delight to do good, and the happiness to do it in an extended sphere, does however furnish some points of imitation for the most limited routine of domestic life -- Wisdom and virtue are never at a loss for occasions and times for their exercise, the same light that lightens the world is applied to individual use and gratification. You may benefit a Nation my dear Papa, & I may improve the condition of a fellow being -- I know I am not ungrateful for the blessing of your example, and I trust that I am not without some ardent desires to benefit by it -- -- --

The Doctor’s letter was written in such a jesting mood, that I thought the account of 2 your attack of the gout, was a figure of speech, to decorate his epistle -- Charles letter however informed us that you had in sober sadness a genuine attack -- I am almost afraid that you will suspect me as you have formerly, of a malicious satisfaction in your pain -- I am certainly bound to speak the truth in so honorable a presence, & therefore I must confess to you that I was not sorry that the disorders which threatened your health had found this termination -- I hope my dear Papa that you have not been very persevering in your efforts to counteract the kind purpose of nature -- I know very well that it would take more than all the sophistry of the Stoics to convince you that ‘pain is no evil,’ but I hope it enters into your system of practice, if not of philosophy to submit to a lesser evil (tho’ it be even as severe as the gout) to escape an alarming danger -- You will not think my dear Father that I was regardless of your suffering, so far from it, that were my prayers effectual, every moment of your life would be filled with ease and enjoyment -- -- -- -- --

The account of poor Sarah Tucker’s death reached us this week I can hardly realize that death has made such a dreadful vacuity in a house that my fancy involuntarily pictures as the very region of ‘mirth & jollity’ -- -- Higgins employers and friends have been very sincerely alarmed about him -- He had been a hundred days from Lisbon -- Robert received a letter from him yesterday dated at Havanna, where he put in in distress after having very narrowly escaped the 3 dangers of storms and starvation -- -- He has made a very good voyage -- As a proof of the poverty to which they were reduced, they were boarded by french Privateers 1 who would not pay them the compliment to rob them. John Rodman has returned from France quite sick I beleive, of gallic grandeur -- -- --

Mr Watson is very much absorbed in his business -- Their Bookstore is said to do a great deal more business than any other in the City. For my own part, I donot see how people can afford money for literary food, when they can scarcely buy bread. Mr Whiting is a most amiable excellent man, and I imagine a more practical man than Mr Watson, more flexible to the ways and opinions of men -- This is certainly a very happy circumstance, particularly as Mr Watson has the most unique confidence in his Partner -- --

The formidable opposition to the Theatre which was incited, & has been very much aided by the Richmond calamity, 2 & the formal and repeated denunciations of it from our pulpit, have at length obliged the managers to close the doors. This alternative they preferred to submitting to the beggarly account of empty boxes that saluted their eyes and ears -- I beleive that these zealous reformers have given too much consequence to the influence the Theatre has upon society. I do not believe there are many instances of persons being made much worse or much better by dramatic exhibitions -- 4

Our sweet little Baby has been fearfully threatened with the hives, she is now thro’ His blessings from whom cometh all our mercies entirely out of danger -- Frances is slightly indisposed with a cold. She desires me to tell you that she cannot help rejoicing in her heart at your gout tho’ she deplores the pain it costs you If I dared I should add that this is the sentiment of the whole house -- --

I am sorry to perceive in Mrs Sedgwick’s request for an indication that her disorders have returned. Robert will procure it and send it by the first oppor’y -- The porter was deposited in Van Husen’s store -- Tell my dear Eliza that if she is able, she will gratify me very much by writing one single line of her script in the next letter that comes from Stockbridge. Remember us all very aff’y to Mrs S & to the Catharines 3 and Charles & to all that remain of both Houses -- My dear Papa let us hear very particularly from you very soon and believe me to May our Father in Heaven be graciously pleased to restore you and preserve you to the happiness of your Children --

Ever yours affy CMS

Mr W would be glad to have Mr C S, and his cider to H come down by illegible boat

Letter

Massachusetts Historical Society

Catharine Maria Sedgwick Papers I

Wax blot and tears; ink blots and bleed through.

Hon'ble Judge Sedgwick/Stockbridge/Massachusetts

C M Sedgwick/1812/to her father/Copy parts -- ?

Double vertical lines in left margin of page 1, and single vertical lines in left margins of pages 2 and 3.

1

During this period, the United States, Britain, and France all employed "privateers" to further their political ends. Privateers were privately owned ships, outfitted for battle, that were commissioned by governments to engage in naval warfare and take opposing ships, cargoes, and crews as prizes to be sold or ransomed. The "letters of marque" issued by governnments protected privateers from accusations of piracy. Profits from such engagements were split between the authorizing nation, owners, and crew.

2

The Richmond Theatre Fire of 1811 occurred on December 26, 1811, and killed more than 70 people, including the newly elected governor of Virginia and many of the region's elite citizens. Though now an historical footnote, at the time this was the United States' deadliest urban disaster.

3

The Sedgwick family honored one another by naming their children after their family members. By 1812, both of Catharine’s sisters had daughters named Catharine (or a variant spelling thereof): Catherine Sears Watson and Catherine Eliza Pomeroy.