BLACKWELL FAMILY

BLACKWELL FAMILY
ELIZABETH BLACKWELL

BLACKWELL, MARIANOct-10-1845.
My dear Marian &c
I send on Anna's letter as she requests. I received it yesterday
and was quite interested in its contents-only think of her whisking about in tunic and turkish
trousers-I am really sorry she left a place which seemed to suit her so well.  The letter
I guess was addressed to Mr Channing, though it seems to have been going the rounds-I will
copy her note to me in which she enclosed the letter, for if her communications to Cincinnati
are as brief as those to Asheville, any news will be acceptable. "Jersey City-Sep 28.
There was too much doubt about the Phalanstery being done in time, to allow of their promising
a place for Emily, and therefore I left not choosing to have her away among strangers just
now. I am now seeking a situation both for her and for me.  She is well and has been
almost all this time at the kind Dummers.  Her eyes are weak however, and give me
great uneasiness: an inflammation of the lids which she had before she left [New York] the
West, and which the best medical advice has not been able to subdue.  I send my
"long letter" which you will please forward home.  The Brook Farmers are a noble
set, and I hope some time to be with them; but at present must toil for the "root."  I shall
send you some medical works of Dr Sherwood, whose wonderful discourses seem to promise
a great revolution in medicine.  He says he will take you as a student "and jump at the
chance", have you board in the house, at $3,00 a week, furnish all the books you need
gratis, and take you at once into the practise of medicine under his own eye,-you
will want about $300.00 for attending lectures during 3 years, and something for your
[?] nothing more. He says a thorough lady doctress would succeed admirably in
[New York?].  Dr S. is an old man of immense research, a complete bookworm, and
I believe, a benevolent, honest, & somewhat eccentric man.  He has undertaken
to cure me, which "Heaven grant!" - With regard to this last -if the Doctors
character is irreproachable, and he is no quack, the opportunity is precisely what I want,
and I should hail it, as a rare blessing-and as soon as ever I've gathered together the
thousand dollars, I will  journey at once to the Master-but Anna's judgements, unfortunately
I cannot rely on, and if you can find out all about him, it will be a necessary
service-but as my present purpose is firm, not to stir from these parts till I am
a little independent in the money way-I shall have abundance of time to make
all useful enquiries.  Your letter dear M-interested me deeply, and deserves a
more thoughtful answer, than it can receive in this scrap-so I will not enter on
the principal topics-but simply express my great pleasure at the [good] more cheerful
spirit of humanity which seems at present to ensphere our family-To my
lazy little brother, I will certainly speedily write, though I fear the power of
any words will evaporate on that mountain journey-I am well & becoming quite
a favorite here-Mrs Dickson holds me up as a model of cleanly neatness! and thinks
I have a particular gift, for amusing children!! Yrs ever E.

[*Anna says she has sent a let from our new cousin Harriet which you must forward to me.*]Over 1/2 oz 20
[*Asheville Oct 12 N.C.*]
Miss Blackwell 
Cincinnati
Ohio
[*Asheville /45
Oct 12
Dr Sherwood*]
reference to Brook Farm