BLACKWELL FAMILY ELIZABETH BLACKWELL DIARY 18361836 Private Journal. Elizabeth [*7836*]May 1836 1st Sunday. A very warm day we walked in the verandah after dinner. Mr. Thompson drank tea with us, a splendid moonlight night. 2nd Monday. Mr Cassedy turned out to great joy. 3rd Tuesday. A most oppressively hot & close day. In the afternoon about 5 the Mays came, they look just as usual, Caroline does not seem to have lost her excellent spirit. 4th Wednesday. Henry's birthday, gave him Brambletye Houses. spent the evening in the drawing room playing & singing, cut for the ring. 5th Thursday. Caroline played to me a long time, how very nicely she plays. Anna & Marianne went with Papa to working society to meet Gerret Smith Ove. I read Patronage to Caroline, while she woked. Emily & Ellen set their room on fire, soon put out. 6th Friday. In the evening we all went over the way to tea, we danced part of the time. I did not join in much. 7th Saturday What an amusing companion. W. May is it is delightful always to have someone in the house who is so hurfal. 8th Sunday I went to Mr Lusk's with Caro Capo[??] Mr May heard Mr Neo[??]a missionary to China. Mrs May related an anecdote of George 4th He had appointed a day to receive the sacrament, his chaplain came did not come till two hours after the given time. George much provoked demanded the reason of the delay & was told that his page had named that hour. The page was called & upon affirming that he had done so, there sir said the king never let me see your face again & desired the chap to proceed as he was ready. Your Majesty is not ready replied the chaplain. Same sir proceed. Your majesty is not ready, at the same time steadily looking at him, the king hesitated then said [I believe] you are right we will defer the rite till tomorrow. 9th Monday. Went to help Mr Clenachary today & was graciously received. 10th Tuesday H in this morning to our Anti-Slavery anniversary had a seat close to the platform & watched several a liberated abolitionist conveye after meeting. Mr Garrison came & spoke to us. Anna & Marrianne dined at M. Rankin's. 11th Wednesday Held our fair, this evening at Broadway hall Anna & Marrianne sold. Anna told W Stewart of my having seen him at Olveston so he came & shook hands with me. Garrison, Judge Jay & W G Smith were all there it was very delightful to see them talking together so friendly, I think Mr Smith has the finest countenance I ever saw. To our great you Mr. Garrison came home & slept at our house partly to see the [??] coming over in the boat he quoted poetry very sweetly. 12th Thursday. W G left us directly after breakfast, Mr May went in the afternoon much to my sorrow for he is a very pleasant companion. 13th Friday Anna came home in the afternoon she slept at Mrs Cox's which I do not think is very polite to our visitors. 14th Saturday This evening we sat and talked French to the dress maker. Caroline read a speech of Mrs Bethune's & spoke to me in a very rude & impolite manner on the subject. 15th Sunday went in the afternoon to Mr Lurk's to hear Dr Ferry. 16th Monday went to school as usual. 17th Tuesday had a chill today so bad that I was obliged to come from school, this afternoon Mrs Crdwife & Mr Abiel called no one but the Mays saw them. 18th Wednesday had a heavy storm a delightful circumstance when the weather is so oppressively hot. 9th Thursday spent the evening at Uncle's [Uncle Charles Lane] Mr Gower there they joked [??} about him, how silly.[*two of the Blackwell aunts. -- Aunt Barbara was a good milliner. (ASR)*] 20th Friday Called on Aunt's new store in Canal St. they have moved much for the better. 21st Saturday. Mr Gower & a Mr Chris--topher or tophers or some such name spent the evening here. Jersey City seems quite attractive now. 22nd Sunday. I went with the Mays to Mr. Lusk's. Read the wife for a missionary 23rd Monday The Mays went to N Brunswick to visit Mr. Abeel. 24th Tuesday. Nothing out of the common occurred. 25th Wednesday We received a box of feather flowers from Papa & Mr Gower. Anna & the two Marriannes went to Harriet Phelp's wedding enjoyed themselves very much. Marrianne May saw a Mr Huntingdon & was pretty considerably pleased with him. 26th Thursday Mamma, Caroline, Anna, & Marianne spent the evening at Mrs Cox's. Caroline muched pleased with them. 27th Friday We all spent the evening at Uncles, Mr Gower there. Caroline and Anna as usual very merry. at tea Caro began to repeat, Anna's "Monarch or thy throne" so I shouted out "How charming to live" which soon stopped her. 28th Saturday The Mays dined at Mrs Codwisie's & drank at the Schuyler's, I think sometimes they might ask Anna & Marrianne to go out with them. 29th Sunday rain'd all day so that we could not go to church. 30th Monday A disagreeable rainy day, went to school notwithstanding. 31st Tuesday Mr Gower spent the evening with us. The wind blew most tremendously tonight. June 1st Wednesday. All busy writing in the drawing room after tea. I copied "Constancy." Today we have had a glimpse of the sun which as not been the case for the last week, though it is June we still have a fire. 2nd Thursday. Such a pouring day that could not go to school. I began to copy the Culprit Fay. Anna read the 3 cutters to us while we worked. 3rd Friday Still too wet to go to school Anna read Eunice to us. 4th Saturday Still dull & cloudy & obliged to have a fire. 5th Sunday Went with Caro to hear Mr Lusk in the afternoon. we all had a fine walk in the hall & verandah. 6th Monday rain rain rain. 7th Tuesday rain rain we spent the evening at uncle's & danced 8th Wednesday. The last day the Mays will spend us. we had a dance in the upper hall. Mr. Gower danced. 9th Thursday The finest day we have had for a long time. The Mays went to the boat, & we thought they were gone when Marianne Mays returned, it seems. W Schuyler[ville] would not go that day & while Caro& W Schuyler[ville] were taking out their boxes & Miss May was in the ferry house waiting for them the boat went off with Cox & Mr. S who however landed at the first opportunity and returned. 10th Friday The Mays really went today I watched the steamboat out of sight from the top of our house and sung "My faith looks," all the time. When I went to see them off I caught a glimpse of Ruth Schuyler [ville]. A splendid day. 11th Saturday Read about China in my new Penny Magazin. it is a very interesting account. 12th Sunday. I sung some hymns on the piano. A most brilliant day. 13th Monday. Went to school. A beautiful day. 14th Tuesday. Sat for some time up by the trap door reading "Life in the wild," & enjoying the splendid prospect. 15th Wednesday. Bought a pair of shoes, & a slate, how delightful the sail was. Took a note from Miss Pyke to Lucy Huntingdon. 16th Thursday Sam's leg that he cut while bathing Tuesday is rather better he can bear being lifted out of bed. Mr. Goran came to tea. 17th Friday a very fine day. 18th Saturday Busy making a frock I left off several times from the excessive heat. I was literally almost melted. 19th Sunday. Terribly hot at church they sung one of the "spiritual songs." had a heavy storm of rain with thunder & lightning. 20th Monday. This is the queerest weather I ever saw, it is cloudy rainy and cold today, and notwithstanding the, cold, a violent storm of rain thunder & lightning. 21st Tuesday Anna's birthday, Marianne & I gave her the Sketch book this is midsummer day and we have a fire. 22nd Wednesday Dr. Cox drank tea with us. Poor Howard hurt his foot by letting a flat iron fall on it. 23rd Thursday. The little Cox's came. 24th Friday. Played "drops of brandy" till I was tired to Mary & Libby. 25th Saturday. Very busy making a cape & reading Rienzi. 26th Sunday. The rain prevented us from going to church. Queer weather. 27th Monday. Went to school as usual. 28th Tuesday. Played tunes to the children till I was quite tired. 29th Wednesday People at Anderson's hotel let off some rockets. 30th Thursday. Papa brought home some beautiful prints and an edition of Cowper quite a treat:July 1st Friday school as usual. 2nd Saturday Dr. Cox took his little girls home. 3rd Sunday Went with Anna to St John's. 4th Monday. Woke to the noise of cannons and, in the interval of firing annoyed by squibs. Formed a plan to go to Staten Island, but owing to rain &c did not [go] start till 4. The view from the top of the Quarentinc hotel looks lovely as ever, we walked over the hill and gathered flowers, but one enjoyment was spoiled by the crowds of common people, indeed I beleive it will be our first & last independence excursion. 7th Thursday Marianne's birthday we gave her the Crayon Miscellany. 9th Saturday Mr Gower spent the evening with us, gave us an account of waterspouts which he saw in the Mediterranean, they drop suddenly from the clouds and form a sort of conical pillar with the base upward, between the sea and the [river] cloud whirling round and moving about with great swiftness, they last about 10 minutes and often swamp small vessels. 10th Sunday heard Mr Brown deliver an excellent sermon. This afternoon was really delightful, with a delicious breeze, sitting in the drawing room we enjoyed the splendid prospect, the noble Hudson smooth and tranquil, the city glowing in the sun, and the lovely hills on the banks higher up gradually fading in the distance and forming a dark background which showed to advantage the sweet little vessels with their snowy sails lying at anchor. 12th Tuesday having been disappointed in our visit to the frigate yesterday by the rain we went today. We sailed from the battery in a wherry and were very politely received on board by the officers the captain being absent, we walked on the different decks admired the cleanliness of the vessel & the brightness of the brass, we looked at the cannons & the 1st lieutenant primed the gun, (I think that is the term) & Mariannefired it by pulling a string. We sat in the captain's cabin and in the little observatory in one side, we went into one of the officer's cabins and played on the piano, then offered us some wine and the 1st lieutenant mixed me some sugar & water which I could not drink, we then went into the kitchen and ammunition room and departed. The two officers were very polite men, Anna talked French to them like a veteran, but though I understood a good deal I could not speak, I'll see if I cant when I'm 20. 14th Thursday I did not go to school in the morning because of the rain I went up in the afternoon to writing, many of the awnings presented a curious appearance sending up a complete cloud of steam owing to the heat of the sun, I suppose we shall have some more rain soon as, "what is so quickly evaporated as quickly condenses and falls again in the form of rain." 16th Saturday This morning was so exceedingly lovely that Aunt Mary, Anna & I had a steam before breakfast from 25 minutes after 6 to 25 minutes after 7 & [this] is the first time but I hope not the last, it was really delightful, not a cloud to be seen & the most refreshing breeze, Oh such a morning does one good it makes you feel so lively & cheerful as if you could jump up to the skies through an overabundance of animal spirits. 17th Sunday The facsimile of yesterday, the water looked most inviting, such a beautiful sea green covered with white ripples, it quite tempted one to spring in, pay the mermaids a visit, & explore the caves & "rocks of coral". And then the evening setting in so calmly and peacefully, the sea smooth as a mirror, & the last rays of the sun gilding the tops of the trees & houses, & now while I am writing one of the sweetest little pleasure boats with its snowy sail is gliding before me Oh it is inexpressibly lovely. 21st Thursday yesterday a queer misunderstanding took place. Papa had not been very merry all the eveningI went to ask if he was going across to night thinking he was asleep I asked Mama who put up her finger & made faces at me to my utter astonishment the next day I received a long lecture for calling Papa cross before his face, we all laughed heartily. 23rd Saturday this week has passed much as other weeks I have been to school regularly. 24th Sunday. The minister who preached to day had a most peculiar manner he completely chanted his prayer. 28th Thursday. Breaking up day, saw the premiums given out. i think I should like to go to school for one year more, for then I should be able to pursue my studies by myself in a proper manner & I should most likely get a premium. I begged Miss Owen to write to me & I took Miss Chapter's direction so as not entirely to lose sight of them during the holidays. 30th Saturday Mama bought me a new bonnet to day quite an [c?] in my life & a pair of shoes. August 1st Monday we had a perfect whirlwind of dust, there came on all of a sudden a complete hurricane Papa was crossing the river at the time he said they were all covered with dust. 2nd Tuesday Uncle & Eliza drank with us, their last night, how much I wish I was going with them. 3rd Wednesday They left at 10 o'clock for Philadelphia their house looks most dismal all the shutters closed & every thing so still about it. 4th Thursday Mrs Cox came to day to spend some time with us, in the afternoon the Dr & Mr & Mrs Luther came & drank tea & returned so quickly that I saw very little of them, There is a great resemblance between the Dr & Mrs Luther. 9th Tuesday We went out with Mrs Cox to show her the lions of Jersey City we had a very pleasant ramble.10th Wednesday Dr. Cox took Anna to see some lots that he had purchased near Brooklyn, he is quite eloquent about it, he generally has his head full of some scheme when I see him. Mrs. Cox returned with the children. 13th Saturday Papa brought home a great quantity of fruit, peaches, pears, apples, and nuts to my great delight. 14th Sunday Murray Sr. being shut up, we went in the morning to Dr. Phillips, a stranger preached whom I did not much admire. It is a very handsome church, all the seats lined with blue damask stuffed, and topped with polished mahogany. I went with Anna to Trinity in the afternoon, heard a very good sermon. 15th Monday Marianne Uncle & Eliza set off for Schuylerville at 7 o'clock, which obliged Marianne to get up 2 hours earlier than usual, a sacrifice I should think almost enough to counterbalance the pleasure of the excursion. 16th Tuesday disappointed by rain in a project of going to Brooklyn. Anna and I called on Miss Smith on AS concerns & we then walked in the Battery, they have just erected a liberty pole there, the place is growing quite vulgar in the same manner as Hoboken. 17th Wednesday Anna Henry & I went to Brooklyn, wandered over it, passed the Button's house and saw some of them on the steps, bought some buns like English ones, & returned home. 18th Thursday We went to New Brighton to day, admired the beautiful prospect & pretty houses, ate our prog under [the] a tree, visited the pavilion & spent 2 or 3 hours on top of it, walked on the shore,and finally embarked without accident except that Mamma and Anna burnt their faces and I my neck, as brown as gipsies. 21st Sunday Walking down Broadway to the tabernacle I met Grace Browne only had time to bow, it is quite cheering to catch a glimpse of her. The tabernacle is a fine building, but neither the place or minister would suit me. 22nd Monday Called with Anna and Sam on Mrs. Cox, I love her more and more every time I see her, she is quite full of the Ladies American AS society. I should think it would be an excellent plan giving to all their proceedings so much more force as coming from all the AS society in the United States, and it would unite the societies making them feel like one great body. 24th Wednesday Uncle and Eliza came home early this morning from Schuylerville. 25th Thursday this morning the brother of the lady who wants to buy Fanny came to our house and recognized Fanny so in the afternoon Dr. Cox came with his gig and took her away to some place near Orange. 27th Saturday I walked out with Anna, on our way we called on Aunts and took tea with them. 28th Sunday Went in the afternoon to Trinity church. 29th Monday This afternoon Mama proposed that we should go to N Brighton, and greatly against my will, I went too. We went in the steamer as far as Muserove's ferry, and recognised the ancient spots. 30th Tuesday I intended to go to Mrs. Cox's, but staid to go and see the conjuror, but Uncle altered his mind and so we were disappointed. Mama told me she thought of going to Schuylerville with Sam to fetch Marianne, it being Papa's wish, I think it is very strange that I should be left so entirely out of sight.