Letter from Charlotte to Samuel Cowles, 1837 October 24.

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  • Farmington Oct 24th 1837.


    My Dear Brother,


    I could not have believed that in six or seven weeks after your departure from home, I should write to you but once, but so it is. Mr Todd, the Scotch gentleman whom you have doubtless often heard father mention, used to say that “a thousand apologies would not mend the matter”; and he might have added that they make bad worse.


    Your last letter to father was received on his birth-day. Mary and I were up stairs making a wreath for a grand loaf of cake, and although nothing had been saved from the frost except a few violets and some leaves of the Burgundy rose-bush, we were able, with the addition of some bitter-sweet berries, to make a wreath which was very much admired. This cake was presented in the evening, with fruit, and you may be assured that you was not forgotten.


    We are much obliged to you for your minute account of the mobbing of the Montgomery Guards. I observed in the Press of Friday, mention made of Mr George W. Phillips as counsel for one or two of the defendants. He was my Sunday school teacher last


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    winter. Farmington is beginning to shew out its spirit of misrule and disorder again. Mr Tyler came Saturday before last to Dr Porter’s, intending to preach a sermon or two on the Bible argument the next day; but Mr Spring was here in Dr Porter’s place, and Mr Tyler preached in the evening. There was a good deal of noise during the prayer and singing, such as persons coming in and going out, jumping upon the stairs, and throwing down sticks of wood. No notice was taken of it, however, and the sermon began. An egg was then thrown at Mr Tyler, which broke against the window without touching him. Soon after, some small stones were thrown at the window from the outside, which cracked the glass, but did not come through. Mr Tyler then came down and stood by the table and finished his sermon, and no more disturbance was made, except rolling shot upon the floor, and some yelling around the house. As we came out, however, we saw another egg on the floor about half way between the door and table. Every one was astonished that such a thing should have happened, as there have been so many meetings here without any disorder. Mr Tyler was considerably agitated, but the audience, which was pretty large, were very composed and attentive. There is a meeting appointed for next Tuesday, when it is hoped Mr Colon will be present, and an effort is to be made to raise money for the American Society.


    In the Philanthropist which we received yesterday, is a letter from a North Carolina member of Congress to Mr Bailey, which is published “word for word, letter for letter, point for point”. The name, the Editor says is withheld out of compassion.


    It is as follows:--


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    H.R. Sept 16, 1837.


    Sir to you Who, can swallow, the Doctrine of Dr Channing and H. Clay the philanthropist May be Interesting, But to us, in the South the Drs Doctrines are cutthroat, and Clays War, Famine & pestilence Notions are Not Forgotten, your paper Has been R. d “But Read”, and Returned.


    Respectfully yours


    Editor of the Philanthropist o. H.


    I perceive that I made a slight mistake in the date; all the rest is exact. A fine specimen of erudition!


    But I have been running on without giving any account of some matters and things which perhaps might interest you very much more. Mifs Ester Cowles was married at ten this morning to Mr Lord, a gentleman of Hartford whose wife died in May. They will go to Hartford and take the two o’clock [break] to New York for the winter, and Miss and Mrs Francis Cowles have gone for a few months. Miss Sarah Porter has gone to Philadelphia and taken a school by herself, and Elizabeth is going on in a week or two to stay till July.


    I do hope, Samuel, that you will come home at Thanksgiving, if you can possibly do it. It is so long since you have been here at that time. Mary will think I have left a small space for her. Goodbye. Please to give my love to Grace and all the rest. My Dear Brother—It is now vacation. The leaves are all fallen from the trees. We have got those thorns yet, that we got when we rode out to the sheep pasture. I have not had many rides, yet, since you left home, but Father took me yesterday into the Pequabuck meadows, Do come home Thanksgiving. Goodbye


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    Mr. Samuel S. Cowles,


    Boston


    [annotation by Samuel Cowles:


    C.L.Cowles


    Oct. 24, 1837]


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