Metadata
Title
David E. Hale to Sarah Josepha Hale
Date
1830/1839-08-12
August 12, [1830s]
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-177
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
West Point August 12th
My dear Mother - I left Boston in such a
hurry and so sleepy that I forgot to bring
away with me a good many things and
among the rest Huntoon's great coat. I
wish you would find some means to send
it on, the first opportunity. I arrived at West-
Point one day later than I expected. The
steamboats Ohio, and De Witt Clinton, which
were to start on the day that I arrived at
N. York could not take me on board as they
were to run a race and should not stop
at West Point. I had scarcely money sufficient
to bear my expenses and was obliged to borrow
of one of the cadets to pay the [?] [etc.]
I wish then that you would, if it will not
be inconvenient send me a dollar to pay old
debts.
I had a fine time at N. York city
the night before I left. I went to Niblo's
Garden, a most splendid place. It was by
all means the most beautiful sigt [sight] I ever
saw, far surpassing the Theatre. The long walks
were arched over and lighted by innumerable
lamps which looked like globes of fire set
very close together. The pillars that supported
these arches, and through which the green
shrubbery could be seen and the birds heard singing,
were transparencies covered with figures and
looked as I should imagine the stained glass
we saw would look if lighted within.
Then there were grottoes, chinese pagodas,
lighted within besides a large transparency
representing Washington, Franklin, [etc.] over which
was written "Independence" in letters of [fire?]
In the centre was a globe of fire whirling
round incessantly.
Give my respects to Mrs. Bancroft and
tell her anything that will apologize for my
taking leave of her so abruptly. She must
think me half crazy in fact I was half asleep
Remember me to Miss Bancroft and the gentlemen.
My love to William. Your aff. Son, D.E. Hale
My dear Mother - I left Boston in such a
hurry and so sleepy that I forgot to bring
away with me a good many things and
among the rest Huntoon's great coat. I
wish you would find some means to send
it on, the first opportunity. I arrived at West-
Point one day later than I expected. The
steamboats Ohio, and De Witt Clinton, which
were to start on the day that I arrived at
N. York could not take me on board as they
were to run a race and should not stop
at West Point. I had scarcely money sufficient
to bear my expenses and was obliged to borrow
of one of the cadets to pay the [?] [etc.]
I wish then that you would, if it will not
be inconvenient send me a dollar to pay old
debts.
I had a fine time at N. York city
the night before I left. I went to Niblo's
Garden, a most splendid place. It was by
all means the most beautiful sigt [sight] I ever
saw, far surpassing the Theatre. The long walks
were arched over and lighted by innumerable
lamps which looked like globes of fire set
very close together. The pillars that supported
these arches, and through which the green
shrubbery could be seen and the birds heard singing,
were transparencies covered with figures and
looked as I should imagine the stained glass
we saw would look if lighted within.
Then there were grottoes, chinese pagodas,
lighted within besides a large transparency
representing Washington, Franklin, [etc.] over which
was written "Independence" in letters of [fire?]
In the centre was a globe of fire whirling
round incessantly.
Give my respects to Mrs. Bancroft and
tell her anything that will apologize for my
taking leave of her so abruptly. She must
think me half crazy in fact I was half asleep
Remember me to Miss Bancroft and the gentlemen.
My love to William. Your aff. Son, D.E. Hale