Letter from Charlotte to Samuel Cowles, 1835 August 10.

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    Farmington Monday Morn Aug 10th 1835.


    My Dear Brother,


    I suppose you will of course expect a long letter from me, and you certainly would have it, if I could possibly find time to write it. I purposed to have spent Saturday afternoon in writing to you, but I had an invitation to a boat ride, and went; for Mr Clark had been at great trouble to get a pleasure-boat and wished to have us all go. All the young ladies in his school were of the party, also Elizabeth and Maria Porter, and Anna Dulles of Philadelphia. Mr Dulles’ family are all here, boarding at Mrs Mix’s, including himself and lady, six children and two servants. Two more boys board at Dr Porter’s. They appear to be a very pleasant family, particularly Anna. If you please, I will go back to our sail. We went in a one-horse-boat down to the feeder-barn, which, you know, is a very picturesque spot. There we found flowers and black-berries in abundance. We met the John Gilpin of Westfield; - the men did not perceive us till they were too near to stop: one of them reached out from the end of the boat and unhooked our rope, so that when the boats struck, ours glided off one side. There was quite a crash, I assure you, and the men said that if the rope had been left fastened, nothing could have saved us from capsizing. As it was, however, it supplied us with matter for sport- the rest of the way- while I was gone, Cousins Ann and Julia were at our house to tea, though I, of course, did not know it till I returned.



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    Last evening father and I went down to aunt Emmeline’s and saw Ann. Julia went to Britain Saturday, after tea, and Ann is going today. Uncle E[than] came there Friday from Washington, and will be over here this week. Aunt Lucy is coming down when the girls go home. So you see it is a lively time here- Mr John Norton is boarding at Mr Phelps with his wife and mother. His lady is a very elegant woman indeed. The story is that Mr. Kirk of Albany came down to Hartford this summer for Miss Elizabeth Cogswell, a younger sister of Mrs Norton, but could not get her. Mr N[orton]’s palace is expected to be finished this fall. Mr Delavan is here with his wife and daughter; he has a son at Mr Harts. This young gentleman’s Institute, or whatever you call it, makes the town much pleasanter by bringing here many families of distinction to see their “dear boys” and so on. By the way, Mr Hart’s boys have got a little cabinet of insects. They pin them down and pour alcohol on them. But how do you think they got the pins? They hit upon a novel experiment. All agreed to collect what animals they could, and set up a menagerie. Some got frogs, of which they had one for an alligator, another for a kangaroo, &c. They had kittens for lions, and other things in proportion. They had Dulles and Delavan for musicians and John Norton for door keeper. Price of admittance sixteen pins, children half price. Mr Hart would not let them take money. Mr Norton’s family, the Delevan’s, Philadelphians, &c went to see the sight. You will excuse all this—I was not aware how much I had written on one subject, but a children’s sports seem to be about all that is going on here, I thought it best for you to know what these were. Father and Mother went to Mr Goodman’s a few w eeks since- this school is doing very well. He has eight boarders, and Dr Hudson fourteen. Twenty was the limited number, but he concluded to take two more. Today I commence studying at home, only going to recite. I think it will be more pleasant. I will write you a longer letter soon. I did not think of finishing the first page when I began. You must make allow-



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    ance for mistakes, for I have written as fast as I could. I suppose Catharine told you about the fair. Mother wants to know what part of December we may expect you. Goodbye.


    Yours Very Affectionately


    For the rest of the Farmington news, you must Charlotte L. C.


    ask Aunt Polly. I received your letter before


    you did mine. I did not mean to reproach


    you, but only to make you a little more


    punctual. Good morning.



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    To


    Mr. Samuel S. Cowles


    Windsor,


    Vt.


    Per Mr. [illegible] Cowles


    [annotation by Samuel Cowles: Aug. 10, 1835]


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