Metadata
Title
D. E. Wilson to Sarah Josepha Hale
Possibly Sarah Josepha Hale to D. E. Wilson
Possibly Sarah Josepha Hale to D. E. Wilson
Date
1846-05-20
May 20, 1846
Subject
Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879
Medium
Manuscripts
Language
eng
Type
text
Collection
Sarah Josepha Hale Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
46-M-048
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
Philadelphia May 20. 1846
My dear Sir - I fully intended to wait a fortnight
before answering your last letter, pleasant and welcome
though it was - because I know your
important engagements demand all your time
and attention, and I would not add to your
cares. - But I must scribble a note now,
the last Mexican news has so rejoiced me,
and I am sure you will sympathize in
my feelings. Perhaps you will not agree
in my opinion, that our Government has
done wisely and well in this matter, but
I am sure you have a true American heart,
and will be glad that Americans have
been victorious and [DE: that] our brave little
Army relieved from its perilous position.
But I must tell you a little of my own t[?]h.
We have just now, in our family, several
ladies and gentlemen who are naturally [desponding?];
and I have remarked that such are usually
"good whigs" - at any rate, these people, though
good friends of mine are "good haters" of the
President and all his works. When the
disastrous news reached us of the murder
of Col. Cross, the destruction of Lt. Porter
and his men, and the perilous position of
Col. Taylor, surrounded by the enemy and
soon to be reduced by starvation, if not cut off in
attempting to escape from the enemy, it was
at once discovered by these good whigs, that
the Mexican had been vastly underrated, indeed
they now considered them formidable foes - and
then the yellow fever and all sorts of fatal
diseases were waiting to carry off the
volunteers, if they went - but they would
not go - the president and his [?] might go
themselves. Did you ever meet with people
wise enough (in their own opinion) to have
counselled Solomon? - and so infallible that
they could take a bull of the Pope by the horns?
Well, such were my friends, and all I had to
say was to beg them to wait - "bide the time."
In truth, though I had no doubt of the final success
of our army, I dreaded lest many of our
brave men might be cut off, as they went
in small detachments, to join Col. Taylor; - and tho
deaths of those who had fallen were most sad to
their families. The last thought ere I slept and
the first when I awoke was of my poor countrymen,
fighting or starving - and though I felt sure
of the final victory, yet the last week has seemed
to me very, very long. You will therefore understand
that I must [DE: be very glad] have rejoiced greatly to hear the
good news - especially as all those prophets
and prophetesses of [evil?] are rejoicing with me,
and what would be strange, if we did not know
how easily people can, when they choose, shuffle off
their own opinions. These good people seem all to
have anticipated the very course Col. Taylor has taken,
and they are so proud of their brave countrymen!
- I have run on, as though you had nothing to do
but decipher my scribblings - pray do not waste
any time with a hieroglyph. -
I enclose a copy of "The Farewell," with the
last corrections and improvements. - Is it not a
little better than when you sent it?
My daughter has been in Princeton with her
sister for the last fortnight, and I am very
busy, preparing my volume of poems. I miss
your kind assistance very much; and in the
additions I have made to "The Sabbath and its Rest"
feel often quite at a loss for advice or encouragement.
I am very glad my last letter has
elicited the information, which otherwise I might
never have received, of the course you are pursuing
with your workmen. It is noble, patriotic,
just what is wanted to make the onward
course of our country in wealth and physical
prosperity permanently blessed as well as lasting.
I think that in our Republic, if no where else,
[DE: that] the poor and ignorant are under the
especial guardianship of the rich and intelligent,
that the latter should set such examples as they
desire to have the former follow. If every man
at the head of a large establishment, either mercantile
or manufacturing, would do as you are doing, there
would be no doubt of the beneficial influences
which wealth, in the hands of companies or corporations
might confer. - But in our great country there
is room for all and every profession and pursuit.
all may prosper and do good - if those who direct
the energies of the people are honest, just, and good.
Miss Lowry has returned - but I have not seen
her - the H, House is very thin just now - and
dull, they say. When are you intending to return?
Or do you propose fixing your residence
in Allentown? - Pray give a distinct name to your
place - What shall it be? Your friend ever, S.J.H
Mr Wilson
My dear Sir - I fully intended to wait a fortnight
before answering your last letter, pleasant and welcome
though it was - because I know your
important engagements demand all your time
and attention, and I would not add to your
cares. - But I must scribble a note now,
the last Mexican news has so rejoiced me,
and I am sure you will sympathize in
my feelings. Perhaps you will not agree
in my opinion, that our Government has
done wisely and well in this matter, but
I am sure you have a true American heart,
and will be glad that Americans have
been victorious and [DE: that] our brave little
Army relieved from its perilous position.
But I must tell you a little of my own t[?]h.
We have just now, in our family, several
ladies and gentlemen who are naturally [desponding?];
and I have remarked that such are usually
"good whigs" - at any rate, these people, though
good friends of mine are "good haters" of the
President and all his works. When the
disastrous news reached us of the murder
of Col. Cross, the destruction of Lt. Porter
and his men, and the perilous position of
Col. Taylor, surrounded by the enemy and
soon to be reduced by starvation, if not cut off in
attempting to escape from the enemy, it was
at once discovered by these good whigs, that
the Mexican had been vastly underrated, indeed
they now considered them formidable foes - and
then the yellow fever and all sorts of fatal
diseases were waiting to carry off the
volunteers, if they went - but they would
not go - the president and his [?] might go
themselves. Did you ever meet with people
wise enough (in their own opinion) to have
counselled Solomon? - and so infallible that
they could take a bull of the Pope by the horns?
Well, such were my friends, and all I had to
say was to beg them to wait - "bide the time."
In truth, though I had no doubt of the final success
of our army, I dreaded lest many of our
brave men might be cut off, as they went
in small detachments, to join Col. Taylor; - and tho
deaths of those who had fallen were most sad to
their families. The last thought ere I slept and
the first when I awoke was of my poor countrymen,
fighting or starving - and though I felt sure
of the final victory, yet the last week has seemed
to me very, very long. You will therefore understand
that I must [DE: be very glad] have rejoiced greatly to hear the
good news - especially as all those prophets
and prophetesses of [evil?] are rejoicing with me,
and what would be strange, if we did not know
how easily people can, when they choose, shuffle off
their own opinions. These good people seem all to
have anticipated the very course Col. Taylor has taken,
and they are so proud of their brave countrymen!
- I have run on, as though you had nothing to do
but decipher my scribblings - pray do not waste
any time with a hieroglyph. -
I enclose a copy of "The Farewell," with the
last corrections and improvements. - Is it not a
little better than when you sent it?
My daughter has been in Princeton with her
sister for the last fortnight, and I am very
busy, preparing my volume of poems. I miss
your kind assistance very much; and in the
additions I have made to "The Sabbath and its Rest"
feel often quite at a loss for advice or encouragement.
I am very glad my last letter has
elicited the information, which otherwise I might
never have received, of the course you are pursuing
with your workmen. It is noble, patriotic,
just what is wanted to make the onward
course of our country in wealth and physical
prosperity permanently blessed as well as lasting.
I think that in our Republic, if no where else,
[DE: that] the poor and ignorant are under the
especial guardianship of the rich and intelligent,
that the latter should set such examples as they
desire to have the former follow. If every man
at the head of a large establishment, either mercantile
or manufacturing, would do as you are doing, there
would be no doubt of the beneficial influences
which wealth, in the hands of companies or corporations
might confer. - But in our great country there
is room for all and every profession and pursuit.
all may prosper and do good - if those who direct
the energies of the people are honest, just, and good.
Miss Lowry has returned - but I have not seen
her - the H, House is very thin just now - and
dull, they say. When are you intending to return?
Or do you propose fixing your residence
in Allentown? - Pray give a distinct name to your
place - What shall it be? Your friend ever, S.J.H
Mr Wilson