Transcription
Baltimore Jan’y 17 1853
My dear Kate
In a letter to Sarah (which I suppose / as usual she [shewed] to all the family) I gave / an account of my where about and what abouts / while in New York last week, where I was / detained beyond my intended time by a snow / storm. I was rather in a hum drum mood / during my sojourn, and, although I had big dinners, gay balls, Italian Operas and [Barwards?] Giovanna to entertain me, I would willingly / have stolen back to my “native plains” and / given up the “gay world” and all terrestrial / joys. The last evening of my detention however / the weather and my [dull] humour cleared up; the latter doubtless under the influence of [??tags?] cheer-[??] ; who in the “Daughter of the [Regiment?]” / looked, played and sang divinely.
The next morning proving bright and fair I broke / of my encampment and got down to the foot of / [canalland?] street in time for the ferry boat which / took over passengers for the express train. I looked / forward to a dull [exciting?] journey and laid in / a stock of newspapers to while away time, but in / the gentleman’s cabin of the ferry boat whom should / I see but Thackery. We greeted each other
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Cordially. He was on his way to Philadelphia / to deliver a course of lectures. We took seats / beside each other in the cars and the moring / passed off delightfully. He seems still to enjoy / his visit to the U States exceedingly; and enters / into our social like with great relish. He had / made a pleasant visit to Boston; seen much of / Prescott (whom he speaks highly of) Ticknor, Long / fellow, +c - said the Bostonians had ?? published / a smashing criticism on him - which however / did [^ does] not seem to have ruffled his temper, as I understand / he cut it out of the newspaper and enclosed it in a / letter to a female friend in New York. We had been / at a ball a ??right? - two to at Mr. [Ker??-haus] / where he saw some of my family - a niece (Sarah / Clarke) who was engaged to be married - he addressed / her - gave her his blessing, and was pleased with / the young man her intended. One of my nieces (I resume Henrietta) was overcome by the heat of / the Room and fainted. –
I parted with Thackery at Philadelphia after / which I should have felt rather lonely but I was / consoled by the sight of an uncommonly handsome / [^ and genteel] young couple, who were travelling in company with / others, but seemed to be especially devoted to each / other and happy in each others society. I set them / down for lovers and hope it will be a match, - for / they seemed especially suited to each other. I
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Took considerable interest also in another young / couple; brother and sister; who from the names on their trunks, I found to be Gamble of Virginia / I set them down for children or grand cildrenb of / a young fellow of Richmond, whom I knew in Paris / about nearly fifty years since, and whom with / whom I had many joyous scenes. The young lady / was very handsome with large dark eyes, and / arched eyebrows, but appeared to be in delicate health, / having a bad cough. I hope it was only from a / transient cold. Just before our departure from / New York I had seen her hanging on the arm of / a tall elegant young man, who had apparently / come to the ferry to see her off - I hope it is some / love affair that may bring her back to New York. / I should like to see her dark [passive?] eyes again / and to find her Recovered from her cough.
By the end of noticing these young couples and / weaving with [historiettes] about them I managed / to while away time throughout the rest of the / journey; until I arrive after dark in Baltimore
I had to enquire my way to Mr Kennedy’s; or / rather Mr Gray’s, as Mr K shares the house of his / brother in law in Baltimore. The door was / opened by Mr Gray’s old [factotum] and [Valey] / [de] [sha??]. Phil on old negro who [formed?] a / great friendship with me at Saratoga last summer
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And, I am told, rather values himself on our / intimacy. The moment he recognized me he / seized me by the hand with such exclamations / of joy that he brought out old Mr Gray and then / Miss Gray [??] the hall, and then a scene / took place; worthy of being [forming?] a companion / piece to the Return of the prodigal son. In a / moment I felt myself in my paternal home; / and have ever since been a favored child of the / house. To be sure there was no fatted calf / Killed, but there was a glorious tea table spread / with broiled oysters and other substantial ac- / -cessaries, worthy of a travellers appetite.
[There?] there I am delightfully find, in this most / hospitable spacious, comfortable mansion _ with / Kennedys library and study at my command / where I am scribbling this letter _ and with my / friend Phil [?illegible] at hand to take care of me / and attend to all my wants and wishes.
How long I shall tarry in Baltimore I cannot say / [^ probably] not above a day or two. My charming [friend] Mrs / [Stunard?] of Richmonf, also has been on a visit to Mrs / Kennedy, will be in Baltimore tomorrow, to consult her / Physician, being [out] of health. I look forward with / pleasure to meeti ngher and should be delighted to / have her for a fellow traveller in the rail road cars / to Washington - Give my love to all bodies and let / me have the news of the cottage
Your affectionate uncle
Washington Irving
(write to me care of the Hon [J P] Kennedy / Washington)Transcriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
