Transcription
Cassilis, June 22d. 1853.
My dear Sarah,
I write merely to keep you informed of my movements, for I am in no mood for pen exercise this warm weather, and the letter I scrawled to Kate a day or two since gave me a weariness of the brain.
Mr John Kennedy and myself left Ellicotts Mills yesterday (Monday) morning, in the train which passed at nine Oclock. I left〈that〉the hospitable nest of Mr Gray with great reluctance, having passed a most delightful time there; but I left it with the consolation that I should return there after my excursion among the mountains. We had an extremely hot drive of about a hundred miles, but through lovely scenery. The rail road
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follows up the course of the Patapsco to its head springs–and a romantic stream it is throughout. The road then crosses some fine open fertile country on the summit of Elk ridge and〈then down〉descends along the course of Reynolds Creek and the Monocasy to the Potomac all beautiful; At Harpers Ferry we changed cars and pushed on to Charleston, where we found Mr Andrew Kennedy waiting for us with his carriage–A drive of about a mile and half brought us to his Seat whence this letter is dated. Here I am in the centre of the Magnificent Valley of the Shenandoah–the great valley of Virginia. and a glorious Valley it is–equal to the promised land for fertility; far superior to it for beauty and inhabited by infinitely superior people–choice though not chosen. Mr Kennedy inhabits a fine spacious
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stone mansion, standing on a rising ground among noble forest trees and commanding extensive prospects over the wide varied region comprised in this valley. Here I am made completely at home, as I am every where–in this family connexion. Mr Kennedy was with us for a time last Winter at Washington, so that I met him as an old acquaintance. His daughter Mary Kennedy, who supplied the place of a niece to me at Washington was at home, and I find her still more amiable and charming in her own home than she was when gracing her uncles establishment at the Capitol. The weather is excessively hot–but we manage to get on pleasantly by keeping within doors until evening. And as there is good company, cheerful and intelligent conversation–and occasionally a little music time slips away〈with〉delightfully. Tomorrow I expect to go in company with the two Mr Kennedys on a visit to Mr G Washington Lewis, who has a noble estate about twelve
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miles off, where we shall remain until the next day.〈Mr Lewis has some〉
I have several places to visit in this vicinity connected with the history of Washington, after which we shall push on to the mountains where we shall find a cooler temperature. Notwithstanding the heat of the weather my excursion hitherto has been one of constant enjoyment; how could it be otherwise surrounded as I continually am by hospitable and most agreeable people and in the midst of glorious scenery.
Give my love to all bodies
Your affectionate Uncle
Washington Irving
Miss Sarah Irving
This is a sad scrawl but I cannot write a better one–I find my head will not bear work of this kind.
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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. 413-414.
