Catharine Maria Sedgwick to Eliza Cabot Follen Transcribed by Patricia KalayjianTranscribed on Primary Source Cooperative2024

Online version 1.

Available under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-SA Attribution--NonCommercial--ShareAlike. CMSOLPatricia Kalayjian, Lucinda Damon-Bach, Deborah Gussman 22 Apr 1826sedgwick-catharine follen-eliza Catharine Maria Sedgwick to Eliza Cabot Follen Massachusetts Historical Society Catharine Maria Sedgwick Papers I

Hold this space for succinct statements about editorial principles here and/or link to the website with more detailed editorial descriptions.

 Social Life and Networks Urban Life Arts, Visual and Performing Leisure Activities Authorship Publication Religion Education Charity Class Friendship Literature and History Reform Movements Self-reflection Gender Roles Work
NewYork 22' April -- 1826 --

Mrs Channing's sudden departure has taken me dear Eliza as I fear every other great event will, quite unprepared -- We are grieved to have her visit so snapped off -- and as there is no room for any sorrowful feeling in the event that recalls her, there is nothing to temper our disappointment -- I hope she will never regret her visit among us, & that she will bear away with her some light and bright recollections to cheer her path of stern duty -- -- --

Our City never had before so many Lions to show to strangers -- The opera is really an elegant amusement and as I am neither ranter nor enthusiast about music you may take my word for it -- It is perfectly pure from all the disgusting grossness of theatrical performance -- and you can sit and see it all without one twinge of conscience -- which is no small advantage -- The little Signorina though she does not make a very deep impression, is a bright little gem -- You must stay in NYork long enough to see her Eliza -- Jane says you must stay 2 & make us a visit -- and when I tell her that you are to have your brother with you and I am sure will not stay she replies with her emphatic conciseness "she is a goose" -- -- This certainly doesnot appear to be very flattering testimony, but with her tone of impatience and disappointment it conveys, certainly, much more than meets the ear -- --

I am very glad that your domestic arrangements are restored to their primitive simplicity -- any complication of a machine is apt to embarrass its movement, -- Dear Eliza I sympathize perfectly in your self gratulation that 'it was easy to be good' -- Alas! alas! difficult goodness is too near the impossible for me -- --

I didnot see your pretty Sister -- It rained the day she was here, without any relenting from morning till night -- Your brother called for a moment -- his countenance interests me extremely, for he has a touch of you all, even before I read your beautiful letter about him -- I wish when he comes after your his wife you would make him come and see us -- and get acquainted with us --

You will see your stanzas in Bryant's 3 April number 1 -- When I gave it them to him I said what I would have said for myself, that I begged he would look them over carefully, as I was sure you had not had a thought of their publication -- and make any alterations he should deem proper -- He did so -- and since, well knowing from his own consciousness what 'kittle cattle' 2 authors are, he has made many apologies -- Between you and I, I think there is more of the reviewer than the Poet in some of his alterations particularly in the last verse -- But I daresay you will think it is all right, and if you dont it will not give one single turn to the corners of your sweet mouth which have that upward inclination that proves you are in goodhumor with all your fellow creatures -- Bryant is giving a course of Lectures at the Athenaeum on poetry -- I laughed at him last evening about his magnifying his art without modesty -- He said he was determined to humble his purse-proud audience -- -- He was certainly as purse proud as any of them of his peculiar riches -- 4

What a return this stupid letter is for your last Eliza, which as Mad de Stael says of religion was a hymn from beginning to end 3-- I had rather be stupid to you than almost any body -- because your own light is so bright that you illuminate the darkest substance or rather you can by your marvellous science elicit light where all is darkness to a regular observer --

Now dear you will have to light a candle for me at least -- My love to the girls -- I hope I shall see them this summer -- remember me to your Brother C 4 -- and beleive me dearest

yrs trulyCMS

G Pomeroy hopes you will accept his gratitude unfeigned for your remembrances

Pray tell me something about your Sunday School -- I am convinced that from experience in our School that there is a great field for laborers among the children -- and the sheaves are golden

Letter

Massachusetts Historical Society

Catharine Maria Sedgwick Papers I

Wax blot and tears; second PS is written crosswise along the left side of page 1.

Miss E L Cabot/Boston/Mrs Channing --

In April of 1826, William Cullen Bryant was the editor of the New-York Review, and Atheneum Magazine.

"(people who or animals which are) capricious, rash, or erratic in behavior; (things which are) difficult to use or deal with" (OED).

We have been unable to identify the exact source of this reference.

Eliza Cabot Follen had five brothers, of whom only one, Samuel, is fairly clearly identified in this letter by distinction of his being married at this point in time. While none of Eliza Cabot Follen's four other brothers has a name that begins with C, the middle name of her her youngest brother, Richard, is Clarke.

A A