leave in the cars to-morrow morning and reach home on Monday evening; so you must do as I know you will under the circumstances: willingly dispense with my visit. I will write you about coming home. Your affectionate father, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. DICKINSON. HOWARD HOTEL, New York, October 19, 1843. MY DEAR LYDIA-I returned here last evening and found yours of Monday, and this morning I received yours and Virginia's, which greatly relieved my fears in regard to Manco. I laid aside all intentions to remain on the Island, and came here, as soon as I could leave with the least propriety, because I was so anxious to hear from him. I staid the first night (Monday) with Col. Brown, one of the Governor's Aids, and the next with Mr. Youngs. There was a very large assemblage to hear me speak, and everything went off in a very gratifying manner. I have just been to the American Institute, and am urged to stay and make a speech to-morrow, but shall decline for want of time. I should like to stay, but must go up the river this evening to Albany, and expect to be at home on the 25th. I have been so very much engaged that I have not made, and shall not be able to make, a single call here. I feel very much relieved to hear from Manco, I have had so much anxiety about him. Tell the dear boy how anxious I am, not only for his health but for his welfare in every respect. How desirous I am to minister to his happiness and safety; how much I wish to see him what he can so easily be, an ornament to the family and the pride of all his friends. He has had, in this afflictive illness, an earnest of what parental kindness and solicitude are, and it should teach him never to undervalue them. I desire that all the children may learn to cultivate a spirit of quiet usefulness, industry, and economy, which will contribute much to their own happiness and the happiness of all around them. A constant appetite for something new in sights, or sounds, or movements, is a species of intemperance which brings no solid or abiding enjoyment. A "contented mind is a continual feast; "and when one has so many blessings as we do to enjoy, it is both wicked and ungrateful not to be contented and measurably happy. My love to all the children, and tell little Mary I will not go again "'out" taking her. Yours affectionately, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. VAN BUREN TO MR. DICKINSON. LINDELWALD, February 2, 1844. MY DEAR SIR-I return you your namesake's letter with my best thanks for its perusal. He is evidently a fine fellow, and certainly actuated by an honest zeal in the cause. Our prospects in Ohio are exceedingly flattering, and if they will, in season, form a democratic association in every township in the State, and through their instrumentality prevent the Whigs from treating them as they did in '40, our friends will certainly succeed. I hope to be with you in about ten days, and to find your daughter (to whom and her mother, please to remember me kindly) still at Albany. We have had the worst weather possible. Very truly your friend, MARTIN VAN BUREN. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. DICKINSON. ALBANY, February 5, 1844, MY DEAREST LYDIA-We received yours Saturday, and again last evening. I wrote one in reply, but lost the mail, and did not, of course, send it. I have just had Mr. Birdsall's of Sunday morning, speaking rather more favorably of our dear and cherished one's health, and promising to let me know if she was worse. Virginia has not only appeared but behaved exceedingly well, and has given me very great pleasure. Were it not for her I would start for home to-morrow. She has been at the hardship and fatigue of the journey, and the expense of preparing for society here, and I thought it would not be best to rob her of some of the anticipated pleasure and advantages. We shall certainly come very soon unless we hear that Mary is very decidedly better. If we hear she is worse, we shall come as soon as we hear the intelligence. It has been a very severe trial indeed to be from her and you. The Sage of Lindenwald sends his respects to you and Virgie. Kiss my dearly-loved Mary; tell her that we will soon Love to little Lydia and Manco. come. Yours affectionately, D. S. DICKINSON. MISS DIX TO MR. DICKINSON. UTICA, February 27, 1844. DEAR SIR-I reached this place this P. M., much exhausted from the fatigues of the past fortnight; and, contrary to my purpose, decide to delay a few days for rest; but I only satisfy myself in this self-regard, by asking you to send me a line by the next mail, if, in your judgment, my coming directly to Albany will avail anything for the best good of the cause I have so much at heart. My convictions daily gain strength respecting the great disadvantage of enlarging the hospital at Utica, and the necessity of establishing institutions for the insane in such situations as can readily be reached by all who need the care they supply. I perceive that Judge S. has reported in favor of Utica, and against Western New York; his opinions formed, I imagine, upon a one-sided view of the question. If the minority report against this, and have not already done so, is it of any importance that I come on directly and give them what information I possess? I offer no apology for this repeated appeal to your judgment in this matter, believing that none is needed where your opinion, thus solicited, is appreciated and will govern action. Respectfully, D. L. DIX. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. DICKINSON. BALTIMORE, May 27, 1844. MY DEAR LYDIA-We arrived here Saturday afternoon after a fatiguing journey, and are well. Miss Thomas tired out and almost sick. Her brother came this morning, and I went to see her with him, and was quite moved with their affectionate meeting. They leave to-morrow for Queen Anne, about forty miles distant from this place. Manco has been a very good boy, and I think has learned much of the value of home that he never before appreciated. He says home is the best place, that he is tired of being away, and wants to return the earliest possible moment. At the earnest solicitation of Judge Fine, I let him go to Washington to-day, to return to-morrow. Judge Fine has taken quite an interest in him, and I trust he will remember his kindly attentions and advice. I have seen something of crowds and hot weather, but this beats all my former experience in both. The streets, and the house at Barnum's, night and day are crowded full of people, and talking, laughing, sporting, &c., continue all the time; and there is no such thing as eating, sleeping, thinking, or resting, in any decent form whatever. I am thankful that you and Virgie did not come with me. At this moment it is as hot as Belshazzar's furnace, and a Mississippi roarer, whose voice is as harsh as the rough edge of thunder, is speaking right behind me, nearly deafening me. As to the Convention, no one can foretell the result. The question is under discussion, whether a majority or two thirds shall nominate. We shall resist the two-third rule, as it is called, but I think, from what I see, shall be beaten, and then it is very uncertain who will be nominated. We shall probably nominate to-morrow. But I cannot well write-it is difficult to tell whether the applauders or the hissers have it, and besides there are two roarers speaking on the stairs. Love to the children. Yours affectionately, Mrs. D. S. DICKINSON. VOL. II.-24 D. S. DICKINSON. MR. FOSTER TO MR. DICKINSON. NEW YORK, June 19, 1844. MY DEAR SIR-I have endeavored as well as I could to uphold the dignity of the chair, sustained by the hope that the great effort would soon be relieved by your much-desired presence. I am, however, getting rather overtaxed; and if you do not soon make your appearance, I shall abdicate in favor of some radical and leave for Texas-for my accidental honors are really too much for me to bear with any remnant of meekness. Seriously, however, your presence here is very much desired by all your friends; and I hope you will come down for a few days at least, even though you are not able to remain. Some of our friends are soon to leave, and are desirous of having a consultation before they go, and we can do nothing without you. Now do come down at once, and at least show yourself. I have heard, by-the-by, that you thought of not be ing a candidate again; but the more I think of it, the worse I think of it, unless something better is in your mind, for I think we should have the same rallying-cry as in 1842. The truth is, the time has come when we should have an understanding, and all pull at the same end of the rope. Give my compliments to Mrs. D. and daughter. I think the Governor made a good impression here, and I wish you could have been with him. Yours truly, HENRY A. FOSTER. P. S. We have just resolved to adjourn on the 5th July, to meet again at Buffalo on the 3d of August at 12 o'clock at noon. MR. WRIGHT TO MR. DICKINSON. CANTON, October 9, 1844. MY DEAR SIR-Your kind favor of the 1st inst. came to me two days ago, but a day of rather ill-health, which is a thing rather unusual for me, prevented my giving you an answer yesterday. |