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y1825
your letter arrived most opportunely -- the kindness fell upon my heart like the pleasant sound of your voice, and the gleam of your tender eye -- -- I had been quite sick for a few days and needed such a refreshing influence -- and I should have answered it before, but I have felt too good for nothing to put pen to paper --
We have had the pleasure this week of seeing Mrs Bell and Margaret 1 who have returned unchanged in their feelings and scarcely touched by time, where Time is most apt to leave his unkind traces -- -- Mrs Bell talks as fast & agreeably as she used to & Margaret is the same good warm hearted woman -- They talked very affectionately of you -- and of all at S -- and seem delighted to be here again -- Mrs Banyer came to town the day before yesterday and is extremely animated by the arrival of her friends -- We hear that you are very busily and happily employed -- This is a millenial age my dear brother when a man gets fame and honor by devoting himself to the good of the people 2 instead of the advancement of a political or selfish aim -- perhaps past experience has made the terms synonimous -- I am rejoiced to think you are in a place where you are not only doing present good but are communicating to other minds those peculiar views and feelings which must impart an influence to the moral elevation and advancement of the age 2 --
We have just received the News of Adams' election and though he is not the man of our hearts, I beleive he is more desirable than his rival Candidates -- Jane in announcing the event to me says -- 'well I am glad of it -- He is a Massachusetts man & an unitarian & tho' I wish he were more worthy the names yet I am glad of it' -- you will smile my dear brother, and if you do not smile with contempt it will be the utmost stretch of your brotherly feeling, at our party triumph -- But so it is -- there is a charm in us and ours which touches common minds and all minds that have not reached the heights of philosophy and magnanimity to which you have attained --
Jeanie's Children are running about my 3 room & chattering at this moment full of health & spirits -- Little Jane considers that she has a prescriptive right to your affections & often boasts that you are the Uncle that loves her best -- We have fine accounts of the Ashburner nüptials 3 -- but I suppose all Stockbridge news will be a thrice told tale to you -- --
I trust you will not dear brother in your public zeal lose all private affection & will ever bear in mind
CMS
If you should chance to see Miss Woodward -- the young lady who carries this letter, I wish you would take particular notice of her -- -- She has been passing a part of the winter here and has wone all our hearts by her sweetness and amiability -- She is a niece of Ticknors, & stays with him 4
Letter
Massachusetts Historical Society
Sedgwick Family Papers VI
Wax blot and tears
Theodore Sedgwick Esqre/Boston --
C. M. Sedgwick/11 Feby/1825
This likely refers to the Mrs. Bell whose school in Albany Sedgwick as well as Theodore's wife Susan attended in 1803. Margaret may be Mrs. Bell's daughter since Sedgwick refers to her only by her first name.
Possibly a reference to Theodore's work writing Hints to My Countrymen, published in 1826.
The nuptials to which Sedgwick refers is the marriage of family friend Luke Asburner to his third wife, Cornelia Whitney, on February 2, 1825, in Stockbridge, MA.