Beschreibung
46 letters, 100 pages, some splits and tears along folds, some toning and damp staining, else in good, clean, and legible condition. The letters offer a view of one 19th century Massachusetts family and their lives in the state. The Welch?s must have been a family of some prominence and privilege, at least for a time. John N Welch ran the customs house in Boston, and two letters show him being relieved of his position, in 1814 and 1829. His sons went to sea and plied the waters of the world with varying degrees of success. Sample quotes: ?Lynn July 28th 1816 [James Johnson to Lydia H. Welch, Boston] My dear Sister, ? My ride here was not very pleasant; it was very dusty & we were obliged to keep the windows shut, which produced very disagreeable sensations in your friend. I never spoke a word till we were within half mile of Lynn. No one interrupted the silence; except a gentleman whose frequent sighs proclaimed him over head & ears in love, to look at him was enough to make one sentimental, why he sighed so deep sometimes he actually made us start & when he found we observed him he made such horrid grimaces, that if there had been any one in stage that I had been the least acquainted with, I fear I should not have been able to conceal my laughter. I wish you had been with me to witness his agitation, which I believe he affected for oddity?s sake, why he would have made, ?even thick lipp?d, musing Melancholy, to gather up her face into a smile, before she was aware? I was obliged to interrupt their cogitations by asking for a glass of water. The lovesick swain turned his dove like eyes on me, & looked as if he had rather I had been in the Red Sea, than broken the silence, my request was complied with in defiance of his looks & he condescended to ask, if I felt better. I dared not answer in the negative for I really believe he would have advised the stage man to leave me, he was quite handsome, but appeared like one of Lord Byron?s characters ?With pleasure drugg?d, he almost longed for woe And even for change of scene, would seek the shades below? ? Do you think if one of my ?mortal supporters? should fail me, or I should say it did, which is the same thing that a certain Gentleman whose name I would not mention on any account, but who appears to exert himself to relieve suffering humanity, & to lighten the afflictions of his kindred as much as possible by contributing books &c to amuse them & as I am a kind of a cousin I think I have a claim, would extend his charity to me, if there is a chance that he would pray let me know, he is a good fellow ?James Johnson? ?New York, Nov. 15th, 1824 [James Johnson to Mr. & Mrs. John N. Welch] Dear Friends, The Stage called for me on Saturday morning at half past seven o?clock and I was backed a bout Town for nearly an hour, ? but I was tied as fast from the fear of being left, as the Horses in the harness - we however at length collected our passengers and proceeded on our journey ? we arrived in Providence at 2 o?clock ? and at 4 took passage in the Steam Boat for N. York ? we had a very pleasant time down the sound, and arrived here at half past six o?clock on Sunday evening. Capt Mackey engaged my passage on Board the Packet ship Canada Cap Rogers and I expect to embark on board tomorrow morning at 10 o?clock for Liverpool ? I was in hope to have recd a line from your advising me of news from Boston and I still hope that pleasure by tomorrows mail which will arrive before we sail ? you must write me in the course of a week or two, the Packet ships sail every week from here to Liverpool and a letter bag is always to be found at the reading room in Boston or left at our store Mr. Sewall will forward any letters to my address ? I again hope to have this pleasure soon after I arrive in Liverpool ?? I took lodgings at Bunkers in Broadway where I. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 030821
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