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[Addressed to William C. Pinkham Bethel Clermont County Ohio] Nantucket July 8th (Harriet's birthday) 1830 My Dear Brother, We received Father's of 28 May, and in due time your agreeable letter, both of which were perused with the usual degree of agreeable excitement. Your name not being mentioned in one of ours was not, my Dear Brother, intentional neglect, and we were highly delighted to find from your writing to us that you would not grasp at a light and trifling omission to respect our affection-lf any member of the family is spoken of the often most, it is you. But when replying to a letter from a correspondent, I think it is a bad plan to copy his own language, and say what he had said already, and without copying yours, or Father's letter, which it must be taken for granted were as agreeable as possible, I will go on to say how we progress— After returning from the Medit r. from where by the bye, I brought more credit than dollars. I began to think and of course Lydia agreed with me that if were possible, we must locate ourselves a house as habitation of our own. I consulted our friends, particularly our Brother Henry Swift, and a house we must have, money or no money! Yet I know where it must come from if I obtained one - After looking at a number for sale at sale for less than half of, their first cost, and suffering much anxiety of mind, I made a bargain for a new one, and with a hope of being able to meet the payments, and am now writing to you under my own roof. If any one is desirous of a place of her own, it is my devoted and affectionate Lydia., and if you would seek information as to the horrors (I can call them no less), of living with young children in another's house, turn Brother to our Beloved Mother who will, or can "a tale unfold" which will justify me in having seen a risk at paying for this house, though I have no fears at present.- The house is two stories high and of the same form and size as the one formerly owned by Aunt Hussey on the beach. Location— It is in the same street as Mr. Swift's Meeting House on the left hand side of the street, and within two houses [cross written text at end]
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of being opposite to what was one Mrs. Baxter's Shop. Parents will understand these bearings, and though it was once all a sand bank, yet the houses are now nearly connected to New Town- Mow for the Price! —But first let me say, it was a well finished house, and intended for Parson Swift. Who had considerable cunn in the internal economy. A small porch; no chimney, a stoop from which we can dip into three water hogsheads. The yard is small and a wood house that will contain yards of wood-Hoping that I might not be ordered to sea for some time, and presuming on a good economy (though our family is still increasing). I thought I might venture to give $1600 for the house, payable in yearly installments of $400. The first payment to be made on moving in, which was done on the 13th of June. Remember that it is without interest: If I can be allowed to remain on shore long enough to have Lydia and the little ones at their own moorings, I shall be happy,-During my last absence it cost so much or nearly so to support me (and I had all the bowlines hauled) as it did to support Lydia and the children. So much for being a gallant Lieutenant!! -Tell parents that the "Peace Offering" is the desk that 'Tom Garner" broke open. Alex bought it off Obed Folger, and has deposited it with us, intending it for his stateroom, when again on board a vessel of war. Lydia has the drawers full of tresses & I occupy the rest with letters &c &c. You will see by the Inquirer that the Clio had arrived and sailed again. It seems to be the Admiral's turn now, for so many base stories were told after the Quebec voyage that he regretted any of them having gone again —the tables are now turned -The persons who were clamorous against the Admiral and Captain Pinkham, now hang their heads, and are mute, while the boys are begging to be permitted to remain in the Service. Whatever the unhappy differences existing amongst us, yet it is a pleasing fact that most of the boys have made rapid improvements. The Admiral in Boston made an excuse not to see them, and said that the Brig was going to a sickly country, and they had better run home.-Though I pretend ignorance here, yet I am certain he does not intend to follow this plan any longer. I was in Boston nearly a week, and according to orders, called upon the Admiral everyday -Verily, he is a rare compound. A man of good talents and first rate accomplishments and yet swears most gracefully. I will give you a specimen —We were alone, he sitting up in bed, with the gout, and speaking of the boys, |
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he said "Look here young fellow, now by God, try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! Why the brig sunk $ 500 on her first cruise, trying to do something for them, and these dam-d , ungrateful young son's of bitches, go home and Blackguard us! God forgive me for |
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Truly it would be highly pleasing to us, and only think of how the distance is shortened by Internal Improvement. How does Father get along with political? —the miserable and disgraceful, and (I had nearly said something worse) acts of the present Administration, must afford Father a heap of ammunition -Some of those chaps, who, 'threw their greasy caps, and cried, Long Live King Richard." must feel rather blank—In my own part, I hear much and read more -. But really I am not a free man. Half the ink now in my pen in the hands or hand of One, and his political opponent might cause Charley-to cry for "pee take" as he calls a piece of cake, in vain therefore, I lay low-.say nothing—Lydia joins me in love to all, and tell Tom, the ring he gave her was [cross written on first page:] not off her finger until one day in June, when it broke, but was promptly mended and replaced. Let us hear soon about the harvest and if Deborah rode in upon the last load. I came near forgetting to say that our Brother Henry Swift, is grandson to the old lady who kept the boarding house in Boston lang syne —They are well and rich. Henry's first wife having been Zenas Coffin's daughter - He owns shipping and keeps a store, and as Jake Ulery would say, as close as the skin to a flint-She is a large handsome woman and he a small sandy haired chap, and when he walks reminds me of one of old Jeffer's yearlings in the month of March stern too— [cross written on second page] Affectionately P.S. I will account for the difference between the date and post mark of this, by saying that I have been laid up for a week with inflammatory rheumatism, in my right foot and knee. I am now better-sulphur and lard made into a poultice is excellent. Tom's box of things must be in Cincinnati by this time as they must have left Baltimore some time ago. I think it will go safe and if [cross written on third page] they are worth the freight I shall be gratified, do not let the time be long before we hear from Home, Affectionately, Reub P.S. If brisk and button are not sold, Lydia begs they may have no other masters than the original ones. [Addressed to William C. Pinkham Bethel Clermont County Ohio] |
