Transcription
CATALOG NUMBER HF 3024 Ba
OBJECT NAME Letter
DATE (Nov ?) 20th 1839
AUTHOR Ogden Hoffman
RECIPIENT “Dear Sister”
MEDIUM Paper, ink
DESCRIPTION
PEOPLE Ogden Hoffman, Matilda, Emma, Phil Rhinelander, Mary,
Virginia, Mr. Whitman
PLACES New York, New Jersey, Washington
EVENTS Death of Phil Rhinelander, birth of a little boy
KEY WORDS Marions
*Original spelling retained throughout work; content appears exactly as written.
[PAGE 1]
New York Nov 20, 1839
My dear Sister/. /
I admit that I have been/ very negligent, & that my long silence would/ justify a change of want of affection. But/ indeed this is not the case- I have long/ intended to write, but “tomorrow and/ tomorrow have so crept in” that each/ new day has found me sorry for the omissions of the past, & full of good/ determinations for the future- I often/ think of you, & of Matilda & Emma/ & I sincerely wish, that it were in my/ power to show you, by acts rather than/ by professions, that distance & separation/ have not weakened those ties by which/ nature has bound me to you, & them-
It is true, that I have married-!/ and while I thank you for your/ kind opinions of her, whom I have chosen,/
[END OF PAGE 1]
[PAGE 2]
I may say, at least, to you, that “[French phrase]” she deserves all that you say of/ her, and I am sure, that her character/ & amiability would, when you know her,/ commend her to your love & respect-/ [this is [strange], and is a strong proof of/ my past negligence, that the first. letter , which I am writing to you, since/ my marriage, should inform you of a/ birth of a little boy- He is, now three/ months old- & is by common consent a/ firm, fat & remarkable boy. He has/ blue eyes, light hair, high forehead/ & large nose- or in other words, is the/ image of me, & my other children- He/ shuts his eyes when he laughs, & opens/ his mouth when he eats, cries when/ he is in pain, & is contented when he/ is pleased, & upon the while in/ opinion of his mother & Grand Father,/ is a wonderful child-/
[END OF PAGE 2]
[PAGE 3]
You have heard, of course, of the death of/ poor Phil Rhinelander. It was truly an/ afflicting event & Mary suffered much/ from the shock. Virginia saw her, yester-/day, & was rejoiced to find her so/ resigned & composed- He remembered Emma,/ as a sister, in his last moments, and/ left to her, you already know, all the/ property he held in how own right-/
In two days, I leave, again with/ wife & child, for Washington- We are/ to have, I fear, a stormy session- Parties/ will be so nearly divided, that its/ choices of a speaker may depend upon/ the New Jersey members, whom seats are/ contested, and violence is apprehended/ by many- I think, & believe without/ cause. But, be that as it may , at/ all events, each vote will be so im-/
[END OF PAGE 3]
[PAGE 4]
portant, that no member can be long/ absent, and the capitol will be my/ prison house, for the next seven months-/ If during the session, or at any time, I/ can be of service, in any way, to Mr/ Whitman do not let him hesitate in/ calling my attention to his wishes-/ Let me assure him, that he enjoy my/ sincere respect & regards, that it/ will always, afford me great pleasure, to use my little influence in his favor-/
Remember me kindly to him- and/ give my love to Matilda & Emma. Kiss/ the children for me, & believe me, my/ dear sister, whether I write or not-
Your affectionate Brother/
Og. Hoffman/
I forgot, in thinking so much of you/& of myself, to tell you that Ogden/
[END OF PAGE 4]
[END OF 3024 Ba]
[CONTINUED FROM 3024 Ba]
[PAGE 5]
is very well- He is now in his senior- class in our college, & will graduate/ next year- He is boarding in a French Family, &, if he would [?] [?] in-/ -dustry I think will make a fine/ & distinguished man- Charles is/ at Goshen with [?] Wickham(?)/ & is fine engaging boy-/
Virginia insists [?] thank you,/ [?] for your kind remembrances of/ her, & I, again, bid you good night/
Affec[unrecovered] yours/
O Hoffman/
My dearest Nicholas,/
I cannot permit Ogden to close his letter without thanking your for your kind and affectionate mention of me in your last letter./ I wish for his sake that I could lay claim to/ even a small part of the praise. which my par/ tial has bestowed upon me. But a [?]- of love/ [?] alone for all other deficiencies and I beg/
[END OF PAGE 5]
[PAGE 6]
[Mathematics]
60
.15 10
20 13
200
15
20
300 13 12
20 20
260 240
2 41 4
1040 960
[END OF PAGE 6]
[END OF LETTER]Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
