Transcription
CATALOG NUMBER S 1020
OBJECT NAME Letter
DATE June 8, 1809
AUTHOR William Sawyer (brother-in-law)
RECIPIENT Philip J. Schuyler & Mary Anna Sawyer Schuyler
MEDIUM Paper, ink
PEOPLE Mr Parv[ians?], Mr Morton, David Erskine, “most extraordinary
man that has yet appeared” ??, “young” Mr. Jones, Kate ??, “my dear little boy” [Thomas Schuyler Jr.?, William Sawyer Schuyler?], Mr & Mrs R.L. Livingston, Hon’l Mr. Jones, Mr [Prynsett?], Genl & Mrs A–?,
PLACES Rhinebeck, Dover, London, Rhinebeck, “the Continent”,
Washington DC, ports of Holland, France, England, New York City, Holland, Paris,
KEYWORDS travel to Europe, “disavowal of Erskine’s arrangement”, Embargo
against England, political temperature of France, is traveling
safe?, “coup d’oeil”, Hobby Horse, “advice on Matrimony”, marriage, the “Eastward”,
58 Dean St Soho / London June 8th 1809
Dear Schuyler My last to you and m.a. was off Dover / in a Post Script of the 8th ult_ the day I landed . I hope my / letters by that vessel (the Fair Amer.) with the little box by Mr Parv[ians?] / may have reached Rhinebeck in Safety . I had great Satisfaction / in learning your welfare by Mr Morton who had received a / letter from you as late as Apr’l. He is now gone to the Cont’t / of which he has doubtless informed you. We are curious to know / how the disavowal of [Erskines] arrangement will be received / by the wise heads at Wash’tn . I cannot but think that an / amicable adjustment will take place, by which probably the Ports / of Holl’d as well as France will remain blockaded . No conclusive / opinion however can be formed what is to be our relative fituation / with the two great Powers . [Nat’t?] is too busy to think much / of us at this moment , but if our Merch’ts are so eager at / to profit of the present juncture [^as] to enter again a few millions / into the Ports subject to his control he will not then think the Subject / unworthy of his attention . As an individual I would not like the Risk. / He will certainly view our relations with G.B. with a jealous eye, / an adjustment will nearly break up his coercive System with respect /
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to her, a System he has sworn in wrath he will not depart from / You will have get frequent accounts by the opening of the Intercourse / and learn the Rapid & astonishing events on the Cont’t . As an / individual aloof from Politics of or State affairs a Residence in / France is perfectly Secure_ Some of my friends have exprefsed a / little inquietude _ but I think there is no cause for it. In that / country of course one insensibly cools on [^the] Politics and party / subjects of his fellow countrymen _and comes to reflect only / on their general comparative happinefs with the people and / countries around him . What a contrast would to Heaven it could / be realised _ _ how much clamour and difsension would cease . _ I / shall probably pafs at least three months longer in England _ it is / little enough to take a coup d’oeil of the wealth institutions & power / of this singular people_ To whom however we may feel disposed as countrymen / we must attain the credit of managing Single handed_ this immense / combination of Power wielded by the most extra’y man that has yet appeared. / If I were to pafs another winter abroad which at present I do not / expect _ I should much prefer the climate of France, the great / difference in the expence of living in the two countries in corresponding situations / becomes also an object for men of moderate means. ~
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I traveled last year with a young Mr Jones - he is quite a good / fellow and thinks of establishing himself at N.Y. if he concludes upon / it I may perhaps give him a line to you - he is about 23 -- and / I think I could recommend him to Kate . _ [^Kiss for me] ?? my dear / little boy_ I hope the Hobby Horse will now go out from Holland. We were obliged to leave the Rockers they were to bulky . _ Do not / fail to remember me to Mr & Mrs R.L. Livingston - also to [^the] Hon’l Mr Jones / [page torn]-- you my dear fellow a thousand times for all I th- [wax seal] / [page torn] good advice on Matrimony and other Subjects you your-[page torn] / have given me what is better a good example . God grant / you may long enjoy its pleasures, _ unmixed ._ . at Paris / I made the acquaintance of Mr [Prynsett?] who it Seems is to be your / neighbor he is an interesting man and will be an acquisition to your / neighborhood _ During my residence at Paris I found Genl & Mrs A. / hospitable and friendly _ and whether you may pronounce it / heresy or no_ I thought him a spirited & independent minister_ / I shall not write to the East’d perhaps by this occasion - but my / dear M.A. will make known to them my welfare and constant Remembrances. / After two or three weeks I shall be considerably in the country on / excursions one way & another _I embrace you dear Sister _& Brothr /
W.S.~
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[ADDRESS]
Philip J. Schuyler Esq’r
Rhinebeck
State of New York.
U.S.A.
[POSTMARK 1]
SHIP
[POSTMARK 2 - red, circle]
NEW YORK
AUG
4
[POSTAL NOTATION]
14 ½
[LABEL]
Letter from London
June 1st 1809Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
