William Audley Couper papers

Pages That Need Review

folder 11: January–May 1852

32
Needs Review

the large majority of Democrats there would seem no chance of Fathers election, yet their quarrels & the friendship of many for F. may result in his election.

Georgia wrote me yesterday from Philad & says that they have had the influenza but are now well. Mall & I are in our usual excelent health. There is to be a good concert tonight but I doubt if I go. On Monday night my [gap] Lillie Devereux gives the last revolver before Lent in the shape of a large party which is expected to be fine - the one last Monday was very pleasant - time passes pleasantly & profitably to me now. John King paid me a short visit yesterday afternoon, on his way to New York. I like him very much - I will now stop, hoping soon to get your letter Give much love & many Kisses to Dearest Mother & also to your dear children & F. & C.

Last edit 9 months ago by Jannyp
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Needs Review

San Francisco Cal April 17th 1852

My own dearest Sister First let me thank you for the daguerreotypes of yourself and dear little Anna that I received by the last steamer and then for your long kind letter in which by the way you say the daquerreotype are presents from Mr Couper. oh! how I wish he had sent me his also. Why is it? I wonder that no one of you - can have such flattered likenesses - of yourselves taken as I can - Now nearly every likeness I have ever had taken of myself is twice as good looking as I am. where as yours though I have not one word to say against it does not do you justice. I am truly glad to hear you enjoyed yourself so much in Savannah. now if I only could have been with you. But I am afraid you would have been for passing me off as your elder brother. and then Anna would have had to call you "[Gootin??] Sister" (not Ma) you [old??] people try to cut a swell sometimes -

Last edit 5 months ago by Jannyp
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Needs Review

San Francisco Cal. May 3rd 1852

My own dearest Sister

Your letter of six pages dated "March 15th" came to hand by the last steamer. oh how much I thank you for it. I only wish I had time to write you such a letter - for then I would know I was giving you a pleasure which you could experience over & over again by [??reperusing] it. —

I can't help thinking about your having a child over a year [old] that I never have seen — and thats not all if I stay out here till next Jan: as I now think I shall - their may be another for me to see. Well "increase & multiply - I hear Mrs. Sinclare Wiggins ("My Love" that was) has had bad taste enough to have a baby. I wonder if Rosa wont get married before long. Well let them all go on. I have become callous.

I am surprised that the owners of the Magnolia are so careless as to what becomes of her, tis their own loss though.

Last edit 9 months ago by MaryV
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Needs Review

San Francisco Cal: May 15th 1852

My own dearest Sister

Your last affectionate letter under the date of "April 5" came to hand by the last Steamer. — and as you know very well how glad I was to receive it. I will just go on with this to be hurried letter.

You must indeed have been alarmed when Willie swallowed that marble [gap] generations of our family to be so greedy that they will swallow every thing that they put into their mouths. You remember the twelve & a half bit that Lord took the liberty of sending into his stomach one fine Summers evening. [gap] sucking of marbles. Tell Mr. Wm. Couper that I am "man of the world" enough to wish to the Lord I was back at home "plunking at the middle man from [??]" in a small game of marbles" - with him this minute. - seeing him & Dunham puffing away & swaring they have not to a closen the top button of their pants

Last edit 9 months ago by Jannyp
54
Needs Review

because they have grown fatter - But because the d -d britches always too small for any man. I can see Dunham straighten up and sware it was the way he was standing. Oh for those happy days once more. I am more distressed than I can express at what you tell me of low spirits of our beloved Mother. - the worst of it is I can't do any thing. Please bug her for my sake not is do so. Oh! I don't know what to do. -

I told Mother that Mr. Bouke wrote to me of the death of M[gap] Hull. she seems to be unfortunate from the very day of her marriage she was the best of that family. —

Tell your Venerable Husband that he can't laugh any more at the idea of my owing him a letter. [gap] I wrote to him some three months ago and I expect a personal & long reply. Of course he will write one of the Regatta

I found a [Jr??] church man this morning who for the curiosity of the thing (and to make money) has stamped some .50 cent bits of gold. he sels them at a dollar

Last edit 9 months ago by Jannyp

folder 12: June 1852

1
Needs Review

[written in pencil, in square brackets, top left] Miss Florence B. King c/o Mr. Charles Picot Philadelphia, Pa.

[top right] 1st June 1852

My own beloved Florence

I doubt much this letter finding you in Philadelphia - as in my last letter I requested you if possible to leave No 15 before Mr Picot took his departure for France. I have written to your Aunt Mary today on the subject of your remaining at least for a while under her care. Oh! my own dear Flora it does seem as if the sick-ness on this place is never to be done. Poor Sukey died this morning. Liddy & Linda are yet in a very precarious state. I have great dread lest the death of their mother will have a serious effect on them. We attribute poor Sukeys [sic] death to her grief for Mily. She seemed to bear Emolines [sic] death as well as we could expect, but when Mily died she seemed plunged into a state of apathy from which nothing could rouse her, on Saturday her fever returned & we could do nothing to save her. We were thrown into great alarm on Tuesday last by a singu-lar turn in Franks [sic] case. Dr Wilson had prescribed for Frank then he was 4 days under Dr Dunham & considered by him as well as by Cousin A. and Mr Woolly [sic] to be out of danger. When all at once he began to bleed from the inner part of his cheeks — his gums — black spots appear-ed all over his body - William Couper pronounced it to be "ship fever". We had him carried into the old cotton barn — and as Pussy had been his nurse all along she had to go there too. We sent for Dr Wilson — who never came until one oclock that night — & greatly re-

Last edit 8 months ago by Laura Hart
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Needs Review

lieved us by saying that all their alarming symptoms had been occasioned by some disorganization of his blood vessels, that all those black spots were the opening of veins in the skin & that he was bleeding as much internally as he was from his mouth. That it was not contagious was a great relief. And we felt content to part with poor Frank if with him this awful complaint would cease. Thou throughout the whole the poor boy is composed quiet & uncomplaining — all he seems to care for is some thing to eat. We let him have whatever he fancies & strange to say he is not only alive but the bleeding is less. What I should have done had I been alone all this time I know not. My dear Cousin & her good hus-band are devoted to my sick - Mr. Woolley leaves me tomorrow but our dear Cousin will remain a short time longer with me. They had intended starting for the North by the 1st of July. May God! bless & reward them for their devotion to my poor suffering negros [sic] —

Your dear little brothers are quite well - poor little fellows they have had a long holiday now, for of course I have no time to attend to their lessons —

I am distressed at not having heard from either of you by the last mail - you must not neglect to write to my me my darlings - for I need all the comfort your letters can give me. I cannot bear the idea of bringing you home in July, or August. I must try & find the means of keeping you all at the North until it will be safe for you to return home - This is my present feeling—Oh! my Florence if you were here you would

Last edit 8 months ago by Laura Hart
3
Needs Review

feel how wrong it is that any one should trifle with good health. It is a blessing not to be slighted. I do hope & trust you beloved girls will be careful of your health - I would I could give you one of my long letters, but I could not write today - & I wish to get Mr Woolley to take these letters & have them mailed in B for me. As Charles is our only boy & Mr Dunham being sick I do not like to take him Charles from him.

Your little brothers are quite well — Willie had a little fever last Saturday but William was here yesterday & said he was quite well again. Dear Tootee & the rest are in good health. My health of body is perfectly good. Mrs Gale is better than I have seen her for some months. Kiss over & over again my precious Georgia & Appy for me & tell them to kiss you as many times Your Brothers - Cousins & Mrs. Gale send much love to you all. Never since or before I heard of the illness of your dear Father in 1849 have I suffered in mind what I have endured the last three weeks. But God! is good — is merciful — as yet I am enabled to bear my trials, great as they are — they can be far worse.

Do you my beloved children try & be a comfort to your devoted mother. And may the God! of mercies permit us all to meet again in happiness is the constant prayer of your devoted Mother.

AM King

Last edit 8 months ago by Laura Hart
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Needs Review

[top right] Hamilton 5th June 1852 —

My beloved Father,

I have but a few moments but hasten to write a few lines to tell you of my dear Mother -- She wrote you yesterday and told you all that has passed within the last two months at Retreat -- Her health has suffered severely and Dr Curtis says there is no remedy for her present state of nervous derangement except either change of scene and climate and after much entreaty and feeling herself that neither mind or body can long stand such nervousness — she has consented very reluctantly to do as he advises and as we anxiously beg first she thought of going alone with Mrs & Mr Woolley who I know would do all that is kind and in their power to take care of her and the dear boys — But my dear father I think you would prefer that my husband your son in law - should be her escort — so as he thinks the same and my dear Mother only refuses as she fears

Last edit 8 months ago by Laura Hart
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Needs Review

my being left alone — I insist that he shall go - And dear Father you may be sure that he will take all care of her - Pray dear Father with Mother approving of this move for she has taken it into her nervous head that you Father dear may not like it — I know my Father that if your voice could be heard from that far off land it would be loud in your wish for her to go — as indeed I and Dr C — & all of us think that if she remains here there is no telling how long we may have her with us — It will benefit her so much — It is a sad tryal [sic] to me but I never think of that and shall do all I can to look after and arrange her house till [sic] she comes home — & shall write her often — She will be so happy to rejoin her three girls and who so fit a protector for them as our beloved Mother - Floyd & Tip too will be much improved by a quarters [sic] schooling — Then Dear Lord & Mal will soon be able to go and remain with her so she will have 7 of her children to comfort her in this new place and your long absence — Oh how delightful to me when they come

Last edit about 1 year ago by Cursivefancier
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