Blackwell Family Henry B. Blackwell UnidentifiedCincinnati March 12. 1856 My dear friend Your kind note, written under such trying circumstances, reached here safely & I must at least thank you for its words of affectionate congratulation. if the love of a very noble and admirable wife is a guarantee of future success & happiness, I surely have it & deserve your words of good cheer. But I have many things to change in my internal & external relations before I can feel at all consistently progressive in my own person. I hope that we shall all more be residents of the East within another year & that we may then be able to tell you in person how much we sympathize with you in your tedious illness of so many months duration & how we prize the lessons of patience & fortitude which you teach us all in your life_ I sincerely hope that you may live long to see Truth struggling with & eventually subduing Error. And if we can in any way aid in that great work, I hope we shall none of us be wanting_ It is late_ Lucy has a right to expect me before midnight & here I am still at the store at 10 P.M. & then miles still to walk_ So, farewell_ & believe me_ very truly your friend Henry B. Blackwell Bay Side E. Greenwich July 1845 My dear Henry, You have long ere this I fear fancied yourself & family forgotten by us all. but this I do assure you is very far from being the case. When I rcd your last dated March 12th I did intend answering immediately but before I got ready the post office rates were under consideration & as I had waited so long concluded I might as well wait until the reduction of the postage being fully confident that my letters could not possibly be worth the postage & not feeling willing to subject you to the tax both ways. As it regards the letter before the last, I told Mr Evans I could not answer it & he promised to do it, but his multiplied duties did not permit I suppose. 'tho he often speaks of you with much interest -- your last was so much more rational that I thought I might venture -- but you know dear Henry it would be folly to even sham to keep up a correspondence when the parties are so utterly disunited on all religious topics & while I considered you so very erratic. Now if you are satisfied with this long preamble I will go on & answer yr letter [*not be respected - that man who truly fears God & keeps his commandments will command the respect of his fellow men -- & do let me entreat you not to forsaken the house of God but let your plans be filled there every Sabbath you*] [*will find yourself in the end [you] great [?] not only openheartly but in your temporal affairs and often chief Justice [?Habs] advice on that subject & may it do you good _* ]Bay Side E. Greenwich July 1845 My dear Henry, You have long ere this I fear fancied yourself & family forged time by us all. but this I do assure you is very far from being the case. When I received your last dated March 12th I did intend answering immediately but before I got ready the post office rates were under consideration & as I had waited so long concluded I might as well wait until the resolution of the postage being fully confident that my letters could mail possibly be worth the postage & not feeling willing to subject you to the tax both ways. As it regards the letter before the last, I told Mr [Evans?] I could not answer it & he promised to do it, but his multiplied duties did not permit I suppose. 'tho he often speaks of you with much interest -- your last was so much more rational that I thought I might venture -- but you know dear Henry it would be folly to even alarm to [?] up a correspondence when the parties are so utterly disunited on all religious topics & while I considered you so very erratic. Now if you are satisfied with this long preamble I will go on & answer yr letter [continued at top of page] not be respected - that man who truly fears God & thinks his commandments will command the respect of his fellow men -- & do let me entreat you not to forsaken the house of God but let your plans be filled there every Sabbath you [continued in left margin] will find yourself in the end [you/great?] [?] not only openheartly but in your thoughtful affairs and often chief Justice [?Habs] advice on that subject & may it do you good -- ]But let me first tell you that the same mail that takes this to you will also take one to Anna to invite her to make us a visit wh I hope she will do. I was amazed on opening your last to find such an improvement in your writing one could not desire to write a more elegant hand than you now do. You speak of Lucy's want of punctuality don't pray blame the [pirr?] child she has all Carolines letters to write & consequently cannot write me half as often as she ought. I think your situation on the "Walnut Hills" must be charming. I am glad to hear that you & Sam are in good situation & have handsome salaries -- [s??i] & sure Henry is better than striving to make money too fast for after all we see that this same thing called money so eagerly sought after does not bring happiness. I know every young man shd. be diligent & strive for a competence, but alas how few are content with that -- You are quite right to give up the idea of a collegiate education situated as you are -- & I am more & more [convinced?] that too much time is thrown away upon many of our young men in the prosecution of [n?ee?] the ancient languages. You mention Elizabeth's qualifications as music teacher and Give our kindest love to your dear mother & all her family. -- how I shd delight to look in upon you & also to have you all here. I trust more of you will surely think of coming east without [s?d??ing] to see us.But let me first tell you that the same mail that takes this to you will also take one to Anna to invite her to make us a visit wh I hope she will do. I was amazed on opening your last to find such an improvement in your writing one could not desire to write a more elegant hand than you now do. You speak of Lucy's want of punctuality don't pray blame the poor child she has all Cavaliers letters to write & consequently cannot write me half as often as she ought. I think your situation on the "Walnut Hills" must be charming. I am glad to hear that you & Sam are in good situation & have handsome salaries. [O??] & sure Henry is better than striving to make money too fast for after all we see that this same thing called money so eagerly sought after does not bring happiness. I know every young man shd. be diligent & strive for a competence, but alas how few are content with that. You are quite right to give up the idea of a collegiate education situated as you are. & I am more & more convinced that too much time is thrown away upon many of our young men in the prosecution of [name] the ancient languages. You mention Elizabeth's qualifications as music teacher I Give our kindest love to your dear mother & all the family. How I shd delight to look in upon you & also to have you all here. I trust more of you will [??] think of coming east with without a way to [??]have a niece who is amply qualified to teach & wd gladly have done so since her fathers death cd she obtain a situation but the fact is there are such changes in our country and so many who were once rich and able to educate their children thoroughly are now poor and have to turn the education of their children to some acc[?] that it is impossible to find places where a sufficient recompense can be attained. John likes his situation as well as ever he is not fond of very hard work and I hope he will never be compelled to it. He will soon be able to manage the farm himself and Robin also is as much engaged as he is and I think will make the most thorough farmer of the two. I think they will never leave the fresh sea breezes and such again a [?] home alas poor therefore it is all come to a stand & it is I feared how could an institution prosper with such men about it-as to [?] Corbin-Minard Penker & Flagard-but its troubled came sooner than I expected & I say most confidently, I believe it certainly that if Mr [Ham?] had been there now & [unm?ed] that institution wd be flourishing now & free from debt-what think you? Mary celebrated her 12th birth day Monday June 28-and had a little gathering & were all very happy. How come you to tell me the day was fixed for Anna's marriage.have a niece who is amply qualified to teach & wd gladly have done so since her fathers death cd she obtain a situation but the fact is there are such changes in our country & so many who were once rich & able to educate their children themselves are now poor & have to turn the education of their children to some account that it is impossible to find places where a sufficient [newspaper?] can be obtained. John likes his situation as well as ever he is not fond of very hard work & I hope he will never be compelled to it. He will soon be able to manage the farm himself, & Robin also is as much engaged as he is & I think will make the most thorough farmer of the two. I think they will never leave the fresh [?] & such again as Western home - Alas [?] therefore it is all come to a stand & is as I feared how into an institution proper with such men about it - as to and Corbin, Min and Peakes & Hagran - but its troubles came sooner than I expected - most confidently, I believe it certainly that if Mr Crane had been there now I [?] that institution wd be flourishing more & free fr Debt - what think you? Mary celebrated her 12th birthday Monday June 28 - we had a little gathering & were all very happy. How come you friend to tell me the day was for Anna's marriage?I think she and Rubby wd both [?] you - Emma Shevun alias Mrs De Côté is coming to make a visit here - S[ ????] mother has moved here & is our next neighbor - Edwin comes down every Saturday & stays until Monday = As to writing about Dorri[??] to him you had better beware how you touch that subject for there are not 6 respectable men in the State that wd not be in your hair at once -remember [pl?] you may not fully understand the merits of that case - he was let out of the prison last week [*M.E.C. to H.B.B. July 1845*] [*PROVIDENCE 10 RI*] [*10*] Mr Henry B. Blackwell Cincinnati Ohio _ with kindest wishes & fervent prayer for your happiness [spiritual] temporal & eternal I remain dear Henry your sincere & attached friend M.E.C.. Mr C. J.M,. & R- send much love I hope to be a less troublesome man - he belongs to a lovely family but he was always a black sheep I know his sisters intimately & love them much he is determined I believe to make himself a great man in R.I. but his day has gone by - he might have done so once - Now my paper is nearly filled & I have only begun to write but I must leave all I have to say more until the next letter - only saying that I hope you will never forget that you have been trained up to love & fear God & that you will never depart fr Him. If you do I can only say you cannt be happy - & you willI think she and Rubby wd both [?] you - Emma Shevun alias Mrs De Côté is coming to make a visit here - S[ ????] mother has moved here & is our next neighbor - Edwin comes down every Saturday & stays until Monday = As to writing about Dorri[??] to him you had better beware how you touch that subject for there are not 6 respectable men in the State that wd not be in your hair at once -remember [pl?] you may not fully understand the merits of that case - he was let out of the prison last week [*M.E.C. to H.B.B. July 1845*] [*PROVIDENCE 10 RI*] [*10*] Mr Henry B. Blackwell Cincinnati Ohio _ with kindest wishes & fervent prayer for your happiness [spiritual] temporal & eternal I remain dear Henry your sincere & attached friend M.E.C.. Mr C. J.M,. & R- send much love I hope to be a less troublesome man - he belongs to a lovely family but he was always a black sheep I know his sisters intimately & love them much he is determined I believe to make himself a great man in R.I. but his day has gone by - he might have done so once - Now my paper is nearly filled & I have only begun to write but I must leave all I have to say more until the next letter - only saying that I hope you will never forget that you have been trained up to love & fear God & that you will never depart fr Him. If you do I can only say you cannt be happy - & you willI think she and Rubby and both [?] you - Emma Shevun alias Mrs De Côté is coming to make a visit here - S[ ????] mother has moved here & is our next neighbor - Edwin comes down every Saturday & stays until Monday = As to writing about Domion to him you had better beware how you touch that subject for there are not 6 respectable men in the State that wd not be in your hair at once -remember please you may not fully understand the merits of that case - he was let out of the prison last week [*M.E.C. to H.B.B. July 1845*] [*PROVIDENCE 10 RI*] [*10*] Mr Henry B. Blackwell Cincinnati Ohio _ with kindest wishes & fervent prayer for your happiness [spiritual] temporal & eternal I remain dear Henry your sincere & attached friend M.E.C.. Mr C. J.M,. & R- send much love I hope to be a less troublesome man - he belongs to a lovely family but he was always a black sheep I know his sisters intimately & love them much he is determined I believe to make himself a great man in R.I. but his day has gone by - he might have done so once - Now my paper is nearly filled & I have only begun to write but I must leave all I have to say more until the next letter - only saying that I hope you will never forget that you have been trained up to love & fear God & that you will never depart fr Him. If you do I can only say you cannt be happy - & you will