Transcription
Apologetical epistle to he my Troy [Ladie Lane] _ That was nearly two / weeks since and yet no answer, perhaps she intends treating me with silent / contempt; and if I was a young woman I dont know but I should do / the same thing _ if she adopts that course, then [we are?] off =
As to Mary R. the more I think of her and her unexpected meetings, and / contrast my ?? present uncertain unsatisfactory existence, with matrimony and / wealth with her, the more to I regret [?] my want [of] prudence or what is the same / thing not having had you to aid me in my troubles _ From our parting I / think she is still Kindly disposed and as I leave behind me strong [? friends?] I / something may take place yet _ I shall wait a few days longet to hear form / Troy, and if I do not, shall consider that affair as ended _ I shall / then write a few lines to of sympathy to Mrs R and make mention in a / delicate way of my attachment for M - and give her to understand that / it is no fault of mine that things did not go farther _ this will I have / no doubt be shown to M and may lead to something ) it will at least / show them that I consider I have been dis–with discouraged and am / not off out of a spirit of flirting _ As soon as you can with propriety / go ut to Hell gate, do so - and endeavor to find out how the fair one / stands affected towards me, and if you have a chance give her to under - / stand, in a delicate manner, my attachment for her _ I begin to think / I am a sad boy, as you say _ poor Mary with her deep darkdamned black / eyes _ I did not mean to flirt with her, nor did I _ we found each other / very agreeable, rode, walked, talked together, more an eternal friendship / which grew neither warmer or colder in me, though it seems to have been / subject to change in her, for on making myself vastly agreeable to her /
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sister Angelica, she grew jealous, called me a flirt, [pouted] and thereby / evinced a rather stronger feeling than mere friendship _ you will acknowledge / that this was no fault of mine _ I know Uncle W’s opinion of my flirting / as he told me himself _ but as to my flirting to gratify a paltry / sort of vanity I deny it in toto - When I find a [s-illegible-t] young creature, / especially one of those, who ???? pofsefs that blefssed ignorance / of what is called the world and the worlds ways, why my hear warms / towards them _ and when I find they like me, like the rest of mankind / I like them _ don’t you do the same? _ my sad reputation used to trouble / me at one time, but I have got used to it at last and what is more / I do not find that I get on any the worse with the women _ meet with / success in society and escape calumny and you will be a wonder _ _ [page torn] / proof _ he ebing accused of flirting with Mary H _ I made it a p-[page torn] / devote to myself _ at several parties to [Mrs B?] and I soon heard from / all quarters that I was flirting with her _ The only way is to keep the / even tenor of your way, and let the world talk as it d may -
I was perfectly aware of the reason of Uncle’s coldnefs towards me _ had / he acted differently I should have done likewise _ when he saw that I was / discouraged he, instead of increasing, as he should have done, his kindhefs, grew / exceeding distant _ this I could not brook and I mentally swore I / would not speak in the subject to him again _ I knew exactly upon / what tenure my having his friendship rested and that is giving / up my pursuit of M.R. he and I should be twain _ but who would / give a curse for kindnefs which was prompted by such selfish motives / I feel grateful to him for all that he has done, be his motives what they may - / He means well but likes every body now a days has grown worldly _
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His coldnefs towards me was no doubt greeted with [rejoicing] by a certain [Toady] / cousin of ours, of whom you make mention _ she [seemed?] to be jealous of any one / who pofsefsed any of his regard and by dint of syncophancy, seeming ??? / [ilegible] and what not; has [blinded] the [distingusihed?] and this at the price / of losing the esteem of all who knw her, and have [been] disgusted by her conduct / I got so out of conceit of her at last that it was with difficulty I could speak / to her and she observed it _ and Aunt too _ Talking of cousins I would hint / tho’ I do not believe it necessary, that you be particular in your attention to / Helen _ why I speak is, that Sanders has a rough way of speaking to and / behaving towards he, though I know he does not mean any thing and / would not hurt her feelings for the world, but Helen is extremely and un - / =fortunately sensitive and is made more so by her dependant situation and / it was my study to make her forget that and [page torn] if our h- [page torn[ / ?? she is as warm and true hatred a girl as ever breathed, [page torn] / any [sacrafice] to serve those that were dear to her _ she has [page torn] / finger then [S.P.] has in her whole handsome body _
I do wish with you most heartily that - the girls some [g-?] [page torn] / situation to make the girls entirely independent of relations _ though I do not see / but they are _ they dont require favours from any one while our dear good / father lives, and when he is taken away, I will [tell?] myself but they / shall be independent _ But it is time to put an end to this long / gofsipping letter _ the fact is we were together [too short?] a time that I had / not begun to tell you any thing and you must expect me occasionally / to write lengthy letters _ as to speculation [here] I have not much / to say _ you are aware of the purchases I [have] made, since which / property has been pretty much at a stand _ prices are frim and no / one doubts there will be a considerable rise _ some say next month, others / not ‘till July _ of course my success all depends upon that _ I could make
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Some capital investments elsewhere, but shall do nothing until I have effected / a sale of what we sold _ There was great [firing?] of [finesfires?[ +c on the [??-ing] / the [p-??] + the [bank?] [charter?] _ I have not [soon?] to giv eyou note / of my late movements to [Eab??] +c but shall soon write again - / what the devil is the commodore to do at Toledo? Send me my
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Shirts _ I will p[persecute?] you till you do _ [taillefs, bosomlefs, ripped riven] / rotten shirts are not decent to cover the bosom or backside _ Had I the / charge by me I would say the postage of this double letter, as it is you / will have the pleasure of paying for what you read _ I am glad to / learn you have a situation _ [dont] [give] out, the wait will be soon over / and you will not have such [damn] hard times as you anticipate
Yours
T.I.
Reply speedily -
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Double only
[POSTAGE MARK]
34 [½]
[POSTAGE STAMP- red ink, circle]
OSWEGO N.Y.
MAY
23
[ADDRESS]
William Irving Esq
Care of Ebenezer Irving Edq
New York
N.Y.Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
