Catharine Maria Sedgwick Online Letters

Stockbridge October 10' -- 1 My dear Jane -- --

As I have neither time nor matter for more than one letter at presented I have hesitated for a moment to which of the NYork Clan to address it, for I am deeply in debt to all -- and hope with a blessing on my efforts, in time to pay all, but as I owe you to the amount of two well-filled letters, I think it but reasonable illegible to begin with you -- Oh how different are the bright moments when you receive half a dozen letters, break their seals, and devour their contents from the heavy hours when they are to be answered

Mr A and Sarah returned in a state of great exhileration as different from what they were when they left us, as the flattest liquor is from its sparkling ‘up’ state -- As to Sarah she raves about NYork and says she cannot stop here longer than till the Spring -- The children -- the theatre -- and George Pomeroy are her favorite topics -- --

I do beleive that if there had been a chance thrown in my way of getting to Hudson yesterday, I should have been with you today -- as it is I have been with you in spirit, but I find the bare imagination of a feast -- even a feast purely spiritual is a poor satisfaction 2 of an appetite whetted by the thought that your ears are tingling and your hearts thrilling with the sound of Mr Channings voice -- It is however a great consolation to me to think how much Lucy and all of you are enjoying -- and I trust that some of the dry bones of our Congregation will be shaken at the presence of the prophet, and that you dearest Jeanie and some other precious ones whose walk is certainly heavenward will be quickened in your progress. I do not mean sent to Heaven before your time, but that you may get such an impetus on the ‘forward wheel’ as to keep you from those little divergencies that may prevent your finishing your course at precisely the right point -- I never shall cease to regret the loss of this 'privilege' -- but I will hope that you will all get such a lift that I shall of necessity from the law of attraction rise towards your elevation -- -- _____ While I think of it, I wish you would tell Harry that if ever my tract 2 is fit to be published I shall certainly give it to Sewall -- It was written for the NY region and is adapted to no other -- and besides if there is any benefit to come from it in any shape 3 ‘charity begins at home’ and furthermore what are the illegible publishing Committee to me compared to Mr Sewall? Likewise tell Harry that I shall send a letter to Govr Clinton by the Doctor who goes to Albany tomorrow, & that I will also send the books by him illegible

We have had a very agreeable time with Robert Watts -- He is quite an enthusiastic admirer of our Country, a sure avenue you know to our good graces -- He has discovered a way to the peak of Monument illegible Mountain by which it is after you leave your carriage as accessible as the ‘little hill’ from illegible Woodbridge’s -- He has planted a flag-staff, with a flag and inscription on the summit, and has engaged a man skilled in woodcraft to make a commodious path which is to be finished tomorrow eve’g -- He went from here to the summit and back again in one hour and fifty minutes -- and he has visited so many times at full speed, & made such odd illegible and mysterious enquiries by the way, that the curiosity of the people on the road is wide awake, and I beleive they think him either mad or confederate with some wood 4 nymph or demon -- If you should chance to see Mrs H Rogers will you thank her for a charming letter which after infinite pains I recovered from Northampton -- and tell Susan Ledyard that the moment I have paid off half a dozen debts of 2 months standing I hope to find time to convince that her letter had not “every thing but a thankful heart,” but had every thing and that into the bargain --

Alas poor Tom Warner! I cannot spare him any more time or room -- -- Charles & Eth have passed the Sunday with us -- oh dear Jeanie I wish you could look up with me at this moment through the half stripped branches before my window illegible & see this sweet moon shining through a silvery cloud that dims without quenching her brightness -- --

Tell Lizy with my love and thanks that I shall write to her in the course of the week -- -- Best love to R & H -- Susan & ‘the boys’

I will attend to your business with Miss Rice -- I distributed all your beautiful and suitable messages with laudable fidelity -- and set among my jewels dear Jeanie your expressions of love to me -- kiss the dear children for me -- especially

Jane --

Thank Lucy for her letter -- and tell her that her pressing invitation put me in mind of some she gave me last spring -- I am thankful to hear such accounts of the school --

Letter

Massachusetts Historical Society

Francis James Child Papers

Wax blot and tears; no close or signature; postscripts are in the left and upper margins of page 1.

Mrs H. D. Sedgwick --/Cedar Street/New York

1818?, above the dateline.

1

The year of this incompletely-dated letter has been tentatively identified by several factors. After dimissing the date of 1818 added by another hand, we conclude that it must be from the early 1820s. The wives -- both Elizabeths -- of Charles and Robert seem to be normalized as partners; Robert and Eizabeth Ellery Sedgwick married in August of 1822. "Mary Hollis" was the only known tract of this period and was specifically aimed at a New York City audience.

2

We believe the tract Sedgwick mentions is "Mary Hollis," first published in 1822 by The New-York Unitarian Book Society. There is evidence, however, that the tract was originally published prior to October (see Sedgwick's letter of 1822-08-13); here, she may be discussing a second edition, also published in 1822, by E. Bliss & E. White.