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Letters from 1804
4th July, 1804
Dearest Sister,
This afternoon Mother and I were At Home to callers. The news had spread of our belated arrival , and half of our aunts and uncles called today. Uncle John brought with him a hound puppy, only two months old, which was born with one blue eye and so is being raised for the house. It was greatly infuriated by the hem of my gown and attacked with much ferocity and intrepidity. Our uncle Michael is yet devoted to his avocation as a dilettante of literature; he has, of late, been occupied in the cataloguing of his extensive library, which, he declares, now fills an entire wing of his house. Somedayweek I must accept his offer to sample its glories!
Our Uncle Richard had with him a newly acquired kalydoscope, a clever contrivance of mirrors and glass which used a revolving display of pressed flowers to make patterns brilliant as fireworks.
Mrs. B--- reminded us that this is the date which the Americans celebrate with fireworks, much as we do fifth November, in remembrance of their Independence Day. There was much speculation as to whether the Colonies' experiment had quite finished its course –- that backcountry, radical Republican demagogue will almost certainly be elected their President again, despite that he was never properly elected the first time, & he seems yet determined to run the fledgling nation & its high ideals into the ground in the name of freedom, security, & sovereignty. He is attempting to have even his own vice-president hung for treason -– can you imagine? I understand that that bombastic little Corsican who has usurped the French republic has us all worried, but I cannot but fear that the Americans bid fair to go the same way.
But I am informed that it is improper and unattractive for a young lady to show an active interest in politics, so I will conclude by offering my fondest thoughts to you. Our Uncle Paul has gifted me with a fleece of finest Angora wool from his own prize animals in hopes that I might make use of it to improve my needlecraft. Uncle Richard has invited us to visit his park, where he continues to establish an elaborate wilderness in the French fashion. If we are free for an afternoon perhaps we shall walk there.
Love & etc,
Your affectionate sister,
Sara C-----
Dearest Sister,
This afternoon Mother and I were At Home to callers. The news had spread of our belated arrival , and half of our aunts and uncles called today. Uncle John brought with him a hound puppy, only two months old, which was born with one blue eye and so is being raised for the house. It was greatly infuriated by the hem of my gown and attacked with much ferocity and intrepidity. Our uncle Michael is yet devoted to his avocation as a dilettante of literature; he has, of late, been occupied in the cataloguing of his extensive library, which, he declares, now fills an entire wing of his house. Some
Our Uncle Richard had with him a newly acquired kalydoscope, a clever contrivance of mirrors and glass which used a revolving display of pressed flowers to make patterns brilliant as fireworks.
Mrs. B--- reminded us that this is the date which the Americans celebrate with fireworks, much as we do fifth November, in remembrance of their Independence Day. There was much speculation as to whether the Colonies' experiment had quite finished its course –- that backcountry, radical Republican demagogue will almost certainly be elected their President again, despite that he was never properly elected the first time, & he seems yet determined to run the fledgling nation & its high ideals into the ground in the name of freedom, security, & sovereignty. He is attempting to have even his own vice-president hung for treason -– can you imagine? I understand that that bombastic little Corsican who has usurped the French republic has us all worried, but I cannot but fear that the Americans bid fair to go the same way.
But I am informed that it is improper and unattractive for a young lady to show an active interest in politics, so I will conclude by offering my fondest thoughts to you. Our Uncle Paul has gifted me with a fleece of finest Angora wool from his own prize animals in hopes that I might make use of it to improve my needlecraft. Uncle Richard has invited us to visit his park, where he continues to establish an elaborate wilderness in the French fashion. If we are free for an afternoon perhaps we shall walk there.
Love & etc,
Your affectionate sister,
Sara C-----