Transcription
Ellicotts Mills June 19th. 1853
My dear Kate,
Hitherto my excursion has been every thing that heart could wish. I am getting on delightfully at the hospitable mansion of my worthy old friend Mr Gray, on the backs of the beautiful Patapsco, in the midst of a happy circle;〈for〉The house is always full for the old gentleman has the knack of surrounding himself with agreeable people and putting them all at their ease. 〈Dur〉We have had some hot days, but I have weathered them very pleasantly, by keeping within doors until evening, reading or gossiping with the ladies or listening to the music of our little pet prima donna Miss Andrews, who plays mornings and
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evenings for us and is an excellent musician. I have had some delightful rides and drives about the neighborhood, along the banks of the Patapsco and through〈the〉woods and romantic ravines. This is a capital country for horseback exercise and I have been well mounted upon Mrs Kennedys favorite horse Douce Davie, who well deserves his name, a quite pleasanter horse I never rode–I wish I could transfer him to the banks of the Hudson.
Tell Mr Grinnell that I have paid a visit to the country seat of Mr Lorman which he talks about so often. He has only seen it in the Winter time. He should see it at this season
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when the vast magnificent prospect which it commands is in all its beauty. Mrs Lorman is a superb looking woman–worthy to preside over such an establishment.
Tomorrow morning I set off at nine Oclock ↑With Mr John Kennedy↓ on the train for his brother Andrews, near Harpers Ferry–nearly a hundred miles from this.〈There I shall see my[?]〉↑Thence I shall visit↓ Mr Washington Lewis; and afterwards make excursions among the mountains visiting some of the old Virginia families[.] I anticipate a very interesting and delightful excursion having such a capital travelling companion.
I am scrawling this in great haste just to keep you acquainted with my whereabouts. Direct to me care of Edward Gray Esqr Ellicotts Mills Maryland.
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Give my love to your father and all the household at both houses.
Your affectionate Uncle
Washington Irving
Miss Catharine A. Irving
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Marisa CalderioLanguage
EnglishNotes
Washington Irving. Letters. Volume IV, 1846-1859. Aderman, Ralph M., Kleinfield, Herbert L. and Jenifer S. Banks. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1982, pp. 412-413.
