Name/Title
LetterEntry/Object ID
JJA.1938.406Description
This is a handwritten letter by Lucy Audubon to her son, Victor Gifford Audubon. She writes about her other son, John or "Johnny," seeing a doctor whom practices homeopathy, her granddaughters, Harriet and Lucy (Lulu), and asks about Eliza's health among other things. The second side is a very small contribution to this letter in John James Audubon's hand. Transcription is as follows:
"Sunday March 23, 1841
My Beloved Child,
It was with heartfelt pleasure I read yours of the 12th. & 13th. in which you say Dear Eliza feels unusually well, may Heaven continue the feeling and grant you both under the same roof with us to enjoy, and talk and laugh, and prove our love for each other by our actions for many, many years to come; it if sometimes think almost useless writing except on law or business so very apt are we all almost to misconstrue a word or line that shoots off wide of the intention still we all try to convey what we mean and would not be content at all without hearing on the contrary we have fretted that we heard so seldom and I am inclined to say you have not half our letters or we yours but soon this will pass away and we shall look to hearing and seeing you. The last few weeks we seem to have been rather in a bustle, and I do not remember all the persons we have seen, but the most prominent in my recollection is Mr. Shattuck who speaks calmly and sensibly upon the subjects he speaks of at all, we made him many questions and he so completely came up to my preconceived opinions that of course I think him right amongst other things he helped us to a Physician whom he has known for years and who is what he calls "a hard working, thinking, practical physician and John who has had a pain in his side for a long time, went to him and he soon convinced dear Johnny it was rheumatism we asked or I without our naming our consulting Dr. Van and his Bretheren in general, he said that when in Paris he attended the lectures of the foundation of the Homeopathie Drs. and with the Monsieur himself conversed repeatedly his French name I cannot remember and the result of months of examination and study end in the conviction that the receiver and practiser of the Homeopathie System is either a man, a fool or a madman or all of them. I hope if Dear Eliza requires a Dr. you will both abandon Dr. V. but I will say no more only hope all good for you. I am sending to Charleston next week in the box of numbers some nice flannel chemises for Lizzy and some jackets for you, if the chemises do not suit Eliza they can be worn till she can have others and they will just come in for me next autumn when I shall want some. I shall put in some candy for Mrs. Bachman and Eliza and if any dresses can be got ready for her or purchased let me know as I have acquired a better notion of goods from Mr. & Mrs. Lang while they were here than I had before though I was determined to wear my bombazine until the last of March, many a mending it has required and I find we did not get the kind either best or handsomest - the weather has been delightful this week, for two days the thermometer in our room with a little fire in the morning made a near 70. The little ones walked out every day, today Harriet walked to the park, round it and half way home without being carried or stopping, Lulu goes to market with me, about 10 days ago she had a bilious fit but in two days we mastered it and Harriet is getting her mouth full of teeth double and single - you will I am sure find them very interesting and I hope we shall not humour them too much for a spoiled child is what everybody dislikes - tomorrow I rather expect Mr. & Mrs. W. . and chickens to stay with us while the house is painted at least so W. C. told Papa yesterday, and as Mr. Hall gives up his house on the first of April I have promised a bedroom and as much as I can to them till they sail in the Queen I give always your messages to them and in return get everything kind from them to you all! Little Martha Britton is here on a visit, she is much more gentle than when here last. Papa and John still wish to try the country next year by taking a place for a year. Mr. Wheelright wants to sell his house to us indeed there is plenty to buy just now and yet the bells of Broadway seem gayer than ever and there are many new kinds of goods to be seen in the shops - we have had Ellen quite ill with a bilious attack and the cook ill but now we are all pretty well again. I will now leave the rest of the paper for the dear Papa and Johnny and with every good wish to you and every affectionate regard I remain your mother, my dear Son, L. Audubon
(second side is a very small contribution to this letter in John James Audubon's hand)
We have sent to the care of Mess. (nephew) Picard __________ 2 parcels with Nos. up to 26 for Mr. _________ and our good friend __________ by the Hele___ as well as letters to you and I hope that you will hear of whole before you've departed from Cuba. I am glad indeed that you have no other names there. We have delivered No. 26 Eastwardly and as far as Baltimore and at Washington and Richmond only we (this portion of the letter is cut away) Charleston Mr. Hart_______"Collection
L. S. Tyler CollectionMade/Created
Manufacturer
Audubon, Lucy BakewellDate made
1841 - 1841Notes
Date: March 23, 1841Lexicon
Search Terms
* Communication Artifacts, Correspondence, Letters, Children & adultsDimensions
Height
11 inWidth
17-5/8 in