Letter from Charlotte to Samuel Cowles, 1838 May 31.

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    Farmington May 31st ’38.


    My Dear Brother,


    I do not doubt that you was very much edified by the crazy-looking letter I sent you yesterday. However, it would I thought, be better than nothing, and I was afraid Uncle and Jane would not call on you unless they had some such inducement. They must have had a sad time coming home. It rained nearly all the afternoon here. Our ride home was most delightful, with the exception of that one shower and that did not hurt us at all. The china all arrived perfectly safe, and so did the paper and books. The latter are very much admired, especially Mary’s little one. I read the “Life-Preserver” the first evening. It is an account of the loss of the “Home,” and very well told; but it is not to be compared with “Nancy le Baron,” or “Kitty Grafton.” Lucius thinks Moses Roper is a very entertaining book, but that it is only a “nigger story.” Almira is perfectly delighted with hers; she has shown it to all her friends, and thinks it is “worth more than a piece of gold.”


    Mr Benson came here yesterday, in the New Haven stage. He says it seems like home to get back here again; and that he really thought Brooklyn was a beautiful place, until he came here.



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    He has been four weeks in New Haven, and is heartily tired [of] it. Our garden is full of tulips now, the lilacs and many other trees are in blossom, and the maple leaves are almost fully grown. I love to have people come here when it looks so pleasant. I have been up to Mrs Norton’s this morning. She is expecting her son and daughter home to dinner. – Have you ever seen Stephens’ Travels in the Holy Land? She offered to lend it to me, as soon as it came home from Mr. Gay’s. She then spoke of Lamartine’s book, which she admires very much, and in which she is more interested from the circumstance that she is somewhat acquainted with a nephew of his, name Burke, or something like that. I believe Lamartine’s wife is an English lady, and this young gentleman is one of her relatives. He was travelling in this country, and during his stay in Albany, was frequently at Mr Norton’s. He was very elegant and accomplished, & a most enthusiastic admirer of his uncle. Now all this is tedious enough to you, I dare say. Pray excuse me, for I cannot get it out of my mind at all. Does it not seem like bringing the “ends of the earth” very near each other, to send you thoughts from Balbeck and Palmyra and the Bedouin Arabs to Albany? I do want to have you read this book, and if you are not likely ever to find time to learn French, there is an English edition.


    I believe enough has been said about that matter for the



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    present, and we will have the Bedouins to take care of themselves and their beautiful horses, and come nearer home. I have no doubt that Mary has told you all the news, important and unimportant. She omitted to mention, however, that she has not been very well for a day or two, having the ear-ache, but is better than she was yesterday.


    The shoots on the grape-vines are growing finely; yours in the garden has been trained to the frame, and Mr John Stewart, of New York, has sent us, by the hand of his father the Hon. Adam Stewart, some seeds of a new or rare grape, so that we shall probably have something wonderful by and by.


    I have been reading Mr Gillet’s speech. I think he would make as good a figure in Congress as the Hon. Orrin Holt. By the way, Mr Benson received an insulting letter about the [same] time that father did. His was dated at New York, and contained a piece of newspaper from the same column as father’s, only a little above. He thinks they are some of Gen. Holt’s own handiwork.


    I hope you will certainly come home Saturday. A very large number are to join the church on Sunday, and it will be an uncommonly interesting occasion. Among the number are John Hooker, Miss Hurlbut, Mr Samuel Deming and wife, Mr William Gay, Margaret Cowles, John Cowles and Henry Martyn, Edward Norton, Mrs George D. Cowles, Mrs Starr, Mrs Nevins, Mrs James Cowles, our cousins Edward and Jane, and a great many others whom you know and have always known. I should be very sorry not to have you here. Do write us whenever you can.


    Yours as ever, C.L.C.



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    Mr. Samuel S. Cowles


    Hartford.


    Politeness of Mr. Burgess


    [annotated by Samuel Cowles:


    Charlotte


    May 31, 1838]


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