Metadata
Title
William G. Hale to Sarah Josepha Hale
Date
1847-06-14
June 14, 1847
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-109
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
Galveston, June 14th 1847.
My dear Mother
I received yesterday your letter of May last
and write at once to caution you about some matters you mention
in it.
I have doubted whether Mr. Johnson intends to reside here
permanently and I still doubt it - but Judge Watrous has told me
that his, Mr. J's views have altered much since his visit to New
Orleans, where the amount of business in prospect has been so
great as to encourage him to remain in Texas, until he has
made his fortune. I expect the result of it will be that he
will spend the winters here in doing business and the summers
at the North in procuring it
My partnership with him is well known here - and
his not speaking about [at?] the North was nothing singular. He
had contracted for the building of our office before he left - which
is not done - and I shall, as I had always expected, remain
with Judge Watrous, who is to have a very pretty and convenient
suite of rooms for offices, library [etc.]
You need not be concerned about me in my
connection with Mr. Johnson. Whether it exists and remains or
not, I am not especially anxious - for all the business he
obtains for Texas will unquestionably be mine also - and if
he does not come out, I can stand very [DE: very] well by
myself. I have received offers from several of the
leading members of the bar here to enter into partnership
with them - and if that with Mr. J is dissolved, I
may accept some one of them - although if it should be
possible I prefer to stand by myself.
The caution I wish to give to you & José
is to say nothing about Mr. Johnson & your opinions
to Judge W. or any one. I have said nothing myself
and for this reason - that it may & probably is all
a mistake - and I should be especially sorry to suggest
anything in the conduct or character of Mr. J.
which should not prove strictly true - and also necessary
- and it is certainly not necessary.
I wish too you would dismiss your
fears about me - and remember that I am a Yankee,
with some education & common sense, some experience,
some capabilities of managing - and that if I am not
now able to take care of myself, I never shall be
Everything is going on well here - the
climate is far - infinitely less oppressive than in
Richmond & Phila. - the town healthy and pleasant
- and I am in less danger of sickness here than in
the North - If the yellow fever should come, which is
very doubtful - I shall go down the island - at a distance
from the city, [or?] on the shore of Galveston Bay.
I have a promise of very good business
- am rather respected here [etc.?] - and feel at present the
very dignified Office of District Attorney of the United
States for this District - by an arrangement with the [present?]
incumbent, who is dangerously sick. The emoluments will
help me a little.
The autographs which [?] mentions are in my
collection - now at Richmond - I am quite sure he sent
them to me, in exchange - but I will write to him.
I am exceedingly glad that your finances are
so good - Do not think of me - I have only been anxious to
gain enough to send you or Jose some thing - which I hope to
do next winter.
So the Spaniards & the [Russians?] have gone - The
Judge is delighted - and how is the household of the Mar[?]
House flourishing? I shall write to Mrs. Howell soon
about her land matters -
You may expect Charley in about a fortnight
after this letter reaches you - He will not, I think, be
long in Phila - but long enough to tell you every-thing
you want to know.
I am boarding at Mrs. Cooke's. It is a very
pleasant place - and she a pleasant woman. The [cautions?]
about her which Josepha was pleased to give - were rather
[?] - and based upon stories, which very naturally [?]
but which, I think, leave nothing which ought to affect her
character - She has been unfortunate only - perhaps imprudent
but from goodness of heart and some little [desire?] of [admiration?]
- nothing else -
Love & remembrance to everyone - I have
written to Fanny. [?] yours
William G. Hale.
Mrs. Sarah J. Hale
{Care of L.A. Godey Esqr.
Philadelphia -
Penn.
My dear Mother
I received yesterday your letter of May last
and write at once to caution you about some matters you mention
in it.
I have doubted whether Mr. Johnson intends to reside here
permanently and I still doubt it - but Judge Watrous has told me
that his, Mr. J's views have altered much since his visit to New
Orleans, where the amount of business in prospect has been so
great as to encourage him to remain in Texas, until he has
made his fortune. I expect the result of it will be that he
will spend the winters here in doing business and the summers
at the North in procuring it
My partnership with him is well known here - and
his not speaking about [at?] the North was nothing singular. He
had contracted for the building of our office before he left - which
is not done - and I shall, as I had always expected, remain
with Judge Watrous, who is to have a very pretty and convenient
suite of rooms for offices, library [etc.]
You need not be concerned about me in my
connection with Mr. Johnson. Whether it exists and remains or
not, I am not especially anxious - for all the business he
obtains for Texas will unquestionably be mine also - and if
he does not come out, I can stand very [DE: very] well by
myself. I have received offers from several of the
leading members of the bar here to enter into partnership
with them - and if that with Mr. J is dissolved, I
may accept some one of them - although if it should be
possible I prefer to stand by myself.
The caution I wish to give to you & José
is to say nothing about Mr. Johnson & your opinions
to Judge W. or any one. I have said nothing myself
and for this reason - that it may & probably is all
a mistake - and I should be especially sorry to suggest
anything in the conduct or character of Mr. J.
which should not prove strictly true - and also necessary
- and it is certainly not necessary.
I wish too you would dismiss your
fears about me - and remember that I am a Yankee,
with some education & common sense, some experience,
some capabilities of managing - and that if I am not
now able to take care of myself, I never shall be
Everything is going on well here - the
climate is far - infinitely less oppressive than in
Richmond & Phila. - the town healthy and pleasant
- and I am in less danger of sickness here than in
the North - If the yellow fever should come, which is
very doubtful - I shall go down the island - at a distance
from the city, [or?] on the shore of Galveston Bay.
I have a promise of very good business
- am rather respected here [etc.?] - and feel at present the
very dignified Office of District Attorney of the United
States for this District - by an arrangement with the [present?]
incumbent, who is dangerously sick. The emoluments will
help me a little.
The autographs which [?] mentions are in my
collection - now at Richmond - I am quite sure he sent
them to me, in exchange - but I will write to him.
I am exceedingly glad that your finances are
so good - Do not think of me - I have only been anxious to
gain enough to send you or Jose some thing - which I hope to
do next winter.
So the Spaniards & the [Russians?] have gone - The
Judge is delighted - and how is the household of the Mar[?]
House flourishing? I shall write to Mrs. Howell soon
about her land matters -
You may expect Charley in about a fortnight
after this letter reaches you - He will not, I think, be
long in Phila - but long enough to tell you every-thing
you want to know.
I am boarding at Mrs. Cooke's. It is a very
pleasant place - and she a pleasant woman. The [cautions?]
about her which Josepha was pleased to give - were rather
[?] - and based upon stories, which very naturally [?]
but which, I think, leave nothing which ought to affect her
character - She has been unfortunate only - perhaps imprudent
but from goodness of heart and some little [desire?] of [admiration?]
- nothing else -
Love & remembrance to everyone - I have
written to Fanny. [?] yours
William G. Hale.
Mrs. Sarah J. Hale
{Care of L.A. Godey Esqr.
Philadelphia -
Penn.