Transcription
Washington Feb. 16t. 1853
My dear Sarah,
I began a letter to you three days since, in reply to yours of the 10th., but was interrupted and had to throw it aside; and have been too much hurried and worried by society to resume it now. I was glad to find by your letter that Angeline was better, but sorry to learn that she was not at the cottage; where she would be much more comfortable than at her mothers. Get her there as soon as possible and take care of her until the Spring is advanced and the weather settled and pleasant; but I know I need not counsel you in any matter of kindness your own nature inclining you to everything that is kind and considerate.
I have nearly got rid of the cold which ↑has↓ hung about me for eight or ten days and
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which at one time was rather troublesome. I have avoided evening parties as much as possible, though occasionally I have to dip into them, the dinner parties, however, are of almost daily occurrence and are sometimes very tedious being so large that there is no general conversation. I however have generally been fortunately placed between agreeable neighbors. Some of the dinners have been very elegant; especially two at My Corcorancs and Mr Riggs–wealthy bankers. I have three dinners to eat through, this week–the last at the Presidents–after which I mean to decline further invitations. I wish, before I set my face homeward, to make another visit to Mount Vernon, having an invitation from Mr Augustine Washington to 〈come〉pass a day or two there. I set
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off for the purpose last week, accompanied by Miss Mary Kennedy, who is an intimate friend of Mrs Washington; but by a mistake in the hour, we were too late for the Steam boat.
Tell Kate I have become acquainted with the darkeyed belle whom I saw in the railroad car, as I came on the Washington She turns out to be the daughter of Colonel Gamble formerly of〈Florida〉Virginia now of Florida; whom I knew in Paris in my youthful days, when we were both about twenty two years of age. Her name is Miss Letty Gamble; and she is one of the most elegant girls I have seen at Washington and appears to be extremely amiable. I am happy to add that she has no longer the cough which when I first saw her made me think her in a critical state of health She appears to stand the dissipation of Washington admirably, and to be in the full career of conquest.
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Tell your father that I have seen William and his little family repeatedly. I am happy to find that he has acquitted himself with great ability in the Census department and has a staunch friend in the Mr Kennedy who has charge of that department. (who is not related to the Mr Kennedy with whom I am staying) It will be some months before the business of the department can be wound up; during which time Williams services cannot be dispensed with. Mr Kennedy promises to use all his influence to promote his interests either in that or some other department. The more I see of Williams wife the more I am pleased with her. She appears to have good sense 〈and〉kind feelings and an excellent disposition and wins general favor wherever she is known–William has nice children. His little daughter Kate is quite a beauty, with remarkably fine eyes,
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and I am told is a very intelligent child apt and quick at learning. The children are quite engaging in their manners.
You are all very good in not getting out of patience at my prolonged absence. I sometimes get out of patience with it myself and now and then yearn after dear little Sunnyside–but I must 〈f〉 accomplish the object of my visit before I set out for home–and when I do set out I shall have to stop a day or two at Baltimore where I find Mrs Tiffany (Sally McLane) insists on my paying her a visit.
I presume this letter will find Helen Pierre with you. Tell her she must make a good long visit–By Mr Joseph Grinnell who has just arrived in Washington I am sorry to learn that Mr M Grinnels health is not fully restored but that he is still troubled with remains of the Vertigo. He tells me that
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the excursion to the south is fully determined on. The sooner he sets off on it the better.
None of your letters of late have spoken of Marys health; from which I infer that she is doing well. I hope the doctor pays frequent visits
With love to all bodies
Your affectionate Uncle
Washington 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. 372-374.
