Name/Title
Love Letter from Hyman Bush to Mary ShawEntry/Object ID
002923Tags
Hyman Bush, Mary ShawDescription
Bloomingburgh Dec
Dear Madam I am again Resolved to trouble you
with reading an ill framed letter I expected long ago to have
had the pleasure of reading one from thy dear hand but as you
observed that you would expect one from me before I should
expect that privilege I am therefore resolved to expose my ignorance
again Dear Mary I am at a loss how to excuse myself
for breaking the promise of sending a letter to you by it
@ Mr Coles though indeed I have a sufficient reason to
justify myself for such neglect I must inform you that I
was in New York with my brother I had not an opportunity
of writing after I returned untill Mr Coles had left Sha-
gunk I had an opportunity of sending a postcript in Lewis
Wilsons letter but as there was a number of persons president I should have exposed myself to satire & methought I
should have exposed myself to your sharper indignation for
thus exposing so publicly our intimacy I therefore beg your excuse for my neglect and sincerely hope that you will think
it reasonable During my visit to the City I heard of your
being there by Miss Cramse whom I accidently met one afternoon She said that you were in company with your Aunt
but could not inform me where your Aunt resided I was
therefore under the necessity of being altogether silent as I
had forgotten the name of your aunt and Miss Cramse sailed
in the evening after I saw her though when she told me I was
in hopes that providence would have favoured me with an
interview but perhaps my feelings would have exposed my
excessive regard for you and then I should have been purion of my powers and faculties. During our stay in N York
I visited the Museum State Prison, Theatre & I heard Mr.
J Summerfield, Mr. Cox Dr Milldoller and several other
noted preachers We made an excursion on Long Island
in order to view the U States Navy-Yard and to see the
Country which I found as I had heard remarkably pleasant
though dear Madam I must inform you that My pleasure
was somewhat Marred by the reflection that My enjoyments
have Might have been so much greater were I so happy as to enjoy thy society but Alas! It was an enjoyment that I knew not how to procure as Miss Cranse told me you were to leave the city the following day and when I saw Miss Cranse I was on my way to Mr. Powers where I had appointed to spend the evening, In the morning I had forgotten the name of your friends and could not determine where to expect the desired directions, you may therefore represent to yourself my perplexities, however I soon tired of travelling and returned to my retreat in Bloomingburgh where I have since secluded myself by hiring entertainment near the school and holding no intercourse with society that I may give my whole time to study. While my Schollars are dismissed, In order to facilitate my progress in study I accompanied my brother to the City for the purpose of obtaining suitable Books therefor and also to be a guide to one who had never visited the City. But to return to my present enjoyments I must inform you that though they are the enjoyments of health, and the apparent blessings of God, Yet I am deprived of the pleasing society of one whom if ever I shall have the enjoyment of her society I shall esteem as Heaven’s best gift. And Dear Madam I think that you are assured that the person of whom I speak is write yourself, though I suppose by this time I have not the least part in your affections but am discarded as one unworthy your esteem though perhaps while I was importuning you that you were willing to sometimes gratify my Vanity by feeding it with faint expressions of regard, or perhaps if you once had some regard for the writer of these lines yet perhaps by this time you may have received the address of one that meets your real approbation and sincere regard & consequently your old acquaintance though a sincere Friend may be laid aside as the refuse chaff, If this be the case dear Madam I must satisfy myself with the pleasures of solitude to which believe me I am not altogether a stranger for I believe that that person
Page 2 (Right Column)
Who dare meet his naked heart alone and examine with impartiality and candour its virtues and imperfections and also that can hold secret converse with his Maker and plead for a forgiveness of its faults and follies and for Grace to renew and to love our follies answers the purposes for which his Creator intended him, and enjoys a peace of mind to which the Votaries of Fashion are perfect strangers, Yet Dear Mary I think Virtuous Society and Communion is the greatest Earthly enjoyment as you have heard me often contend, yet I think Viscious Company is worse than none, I am therefore determined unless I can enjoy Virtuous society to spend my time except in the common occurrences of life spend my hours in constant solitude. If you will peruse Livingstones choice of friends you will find my sentiments fully expressed In the choice of a female companion in one place he thus expresses his Ideas Within her soul let moral beauties shine, In these lines I can trace the Supurnal Grace and purity of nature perfections of thy principles Averse to idle pomp and outward show Dear Madam but when this the flatring coxcomb and fantastic beau Poet comes to describe the, the fops impertinence she should despise regard that the lady ought though sorely wounded by her radiant eyes to experience towards her But pay due reverence to the exalted mind Lover I do not expect he By learning polished and by wit refined there describes your feel- Who all her virtues without guile commendsings towards me if this And all her faults as freely reprehends is the case it is certain love Soft Hymen’s rites her passion should approve or or at least you Madam And in her bosom Glow the flames of love cannot expect real enjoy- To me her Soul by sacred friendship turnment is the constant And I for her with equal friendship burn importunities of one for Partake my joys and sympathize my grief whom you have not these sentiments of tenderness which is so necessary for our enjoyment of social Reciprocal, & Mutual happiness I must conclude my tedious epistle by observing that I sincerely beg your forgiveness of past offences that I have never hesitated believing you the female of my choice; And that if our lives are spared that it shall be (if Agreeable to yourself) my constant aim to make you happy through life, But if not agreeable to your will may a train of happy providences bring you happily through a long and pleasant life and may you never regret the object
of your choice, but while you live single may you remember the
path of virtue is alone the path of peace, and remember that
we have no earthly friend that will compare with that
of Heaven & if we ensure his favour we need not fear the
malice or secret fraud of all our earthly foes, please
to answer these lines by the first mail and relieve the
anxieties of thy sincere friend and faithful lover
Hyman Bush
To Miss Mary Shaw P.S. the friends are all
enjoying health Adieu!.
[The following text appears upside down and across the folded panels of the outer address leaf:]
Bloomingburgh N Y
Dec 23
Miss Mary Shaw
Cortlandt Town
Westchester Co
New York
