Metadata
Title
Representative M. H. Smith to Sarah Josepha Hale
Correction: could likely be from Mrs. Smith
Correction: could likely be from Mrs. Smith
Date
1835-03-02
March 2, 1835
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-103
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
March - 2d - 1835
I recieved [received] your packet with its enclosure
for Miss [Martineau] & Wherein an accompany
note from the [Mr?] Smith under whose name
the packet was sent, requesting me to inform
you that he had conscientious scruples about franking
& begged particularly, as he was no acquaintance
of yours, that you would not again enclose any
thing to him. I own I felt so very disagreeable
that I partly determined never to trouble any
gentleman in the same way - although in
this case innocent of an offence - Your package
for Miss M. - I committed to Mr Calhoun's
care, who expects to meet her at Charlestown -
It could not be directed to her on her journey
thither, as it was impossible to know at
what stage it might find her - I was very
much pleased with this celebrated woman,
who seems to be unspoiled by the flattering distinctions
lavished on her - I had a great deal of
interesting conversation with her & on the whole
recieved [received] so favorable an impression, that I was
induced to address her in a [partial?] epistle
which if you take the National Intelligencer
you have probably seen - it appeared the 7th February
& as I see [DE: by your last?] you sometimes publish
in your Magazine sketches from other periodicals
You may perhaps think this worth a republication
- I hope no one will take your extract
from a letter from Washington, for mine - certainly
the person who wrote it - could not have known
but only seen Miss M. -
I do not like the idea of publishing an account
of our social intercourse with even public characters
Such a habit must destroy the ease & confidence
of intimate society - After the lapse of many
years such, or the death of such personages when these
[reminiscences] become somewhat historical - it
is a different thing. [DE: but ?] I saw a great
deal of Miss M. while she was here & shall
enter in my book of reminiscences some of the
delightful conversations I enjoyed with her - but
should feel it unjustifiable in making any such
communications now. I found none of the difficulty
your correspondent describes in the use of her elastictube
- After a minute or two I forgot it in the
interest of the subjects on which we conversed
& in a carriage she does not require it, but hears
distinctly - her visit has furnished an agreeable
episode to the regular story of every day life -
[DE: ?] leaves on my mind most agreeable impressions.
I read your report of the Seamen's [?]
Society & am happy, there to find my own sentiments
on charity, so ably expressed - But many
really good people; will still adhere to the system
of gratuitous [? ?], nor is it possible to make
them comprehend that by giving to all & any who
are destitute, that you
& education are the only effectual means of improving
the condition of the poor. We have here two
[Womens?] societies - The ladies meet & make up the
clothes - the original design, was to give them only to
such as were too old or too sick to work for themselves
Those are extreme cases which seldom occur, as there
are few old people who have not some relation, who
could & ought to work for [them?]. & of course hundreds
& hundreds of garments are given & thereby a [?]
opened to indolence - I cannot persuade them, it would
be doing more good, to pay poor women for making
[these?] garments - There is a pleasure in having meetings -
very seducing to females who have little to do at
home & who have no other opportunity of meeting ladies
of a different class of society - I have [perceived?] all [these?]
working societies are very apt to degenerate into gossiping ones -
Reading aloud has been ineffectually attempted - the
cutting out & fitting of work [etc.] & - interrupts it.
I was agreeably interrupted in this letter by a visit
from Mr. Jacob Abbot - I regret the shortness of his
visit will prevent his passing an evening with us -
I intended sending this letter by him - but could not
finish it yesterday. I shall give it in charge to
Mr Thatcher, who is to [?] this evening - I have
seen very little of him, as he has been confined
to the [house?] by indisposition - I have not heard
of your son's being in our City - I hope he has
not been here with out calling - I am just recovering
from a very severe cold & expect in the
course of three weeks to return to the country.
Yours Madam, with the kindest wishes.
M.H. Smith
I will thank you by the first private & safe opportunity
to return such [articles?] of mine as you do not intend publishing -
[wither?] printed or mss.
I recieved [received] your packet with its enclosure
for Miss [Martineau] & Wherein an accompany
note from the [Mr?] Smith under whose name
the packet was sent, requesting me to inform
you that he had conscientious scruples about franking
& begged particularly, as he was no acquaintance
of yours, that you would not again enclose any
thing to him. I own I felt so very disagreeable
that I partly determined never to trouble any
gentleman in the same way - although in
this case innocent of an offence - Your package
for Miss M. - I committed to Mr Calhoun's
care, who expects to meet her at Charlestown -
It could not be directed to her on her journey
thither, as it was impossible to know at
what stage it might find her - I was very
much pleased with this celebrated woman,
who seems to be unspoiled by the flattering distinctions
lavished on her - I had a great deal of
interesting conversation with her & on the whole
recieved [received] so favorable an impression, that I was
induced to address her in a [partial?] epistle
which if you take the National Intelligencer
you have probably seen - it appeared the 7th February
& as I see [DE: by your last?] you sometimes publish
in your Magazine sketches from other periodicals
You may perhaps think this worth a republication
- I hope no one will take your extract
from a letter from Washington, for mine - certainly
the person who wrote it - could not have known
but only seen Miss M. -
I do not like the idea of publishing an account
of our social intercourse with even public characters
Such a habit must destroy the ease & confidence
of intimate society - After the lapse of many
years such, or the death of such personages when these
[reminiscences] become somewhat historical - it
is a different thing. [DE: but ?] I saw a great
deal of Miss M. while she was here & shall
enter in my book of reminiscences some of the
delightful conversations I enjoyed with her - but
should feel it unjustifiable in making any such
communications now. I found none of the difficulty
your correspondent describes in the use of her elastictube
- After a minute or two I forgot it in the
interest of the subjects on which we conversed
& in a carriage she does not require it, but hears
distinctly - her visit has furnished an agreeable
episode to the regular story of every day life -
[DE: ?] leaves on my mind most agreeable impressions.
I read your report of the Seamen's [?]
Society & am happy, there to find my own sentiments
on charity, so ably expressed - But many
really good people; will still adhere to the system
of gratuitous [? ?], nor is it possible to make
them comprehend that by giving to all & any who
are destitute, that you
& education are the only effectual means of improving
the condition of the poor. We have here two
[Womens?] societies - The ladies meet & make up the
clothes - the original design, was to give them only to
such as were too old or too sick to work for themselves
Those are extreme cases which seldom occur, as there
are few old people who have not some relation, who
could & ought to work for [them?]. & of course hundreds
& hundreds of garments are given & thereby a [?]
opened to indolence - I cannot persuade them, it would
be doing more good, to pay poor women for making
[these?] garments - There is a pleasure in having meetings -
very seducing to females who have little to do at
home & who have no other opportunity of meeting ladies
of a different class of society - I have [perceived?] all [these?]
working societies are very apt to degenerate into gossiping ones -
Reading aloud has been ineffectually attempted - the
cutting out & fitting of work [etc.] & - interrupts it.
I was agreeably interrupted in this letter by a visit
from Mr. Jacob Abbot - I regret the shortness of his
visit will prevent his passing an evening with us -
I intended sending this letter by him - but could not
finish it yesterday. I shall give it in charge to
Mr Thatcher, who is to [?] this evening - I have
seen very little of him, as he has been confined
to the [house?] by indisposition - I have not heard
of your son's being in our City - I hope he has
not been here with out calling - I am just recovering
from a very severe cold & expect in the
course of three weeks to return to the country.
Yours Madam, with the kindest wishes.
M.H. Smith
I will thank you by the first private & safe opportunity
to return such [articles?] of mine as you do not intend publishing -
[wither?] printed or mss.