Anna Dickinson
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
Conway, Martin Franklin
1866-78 & undatedNew York
27th May, 1866

My Dear Miss D.:
Please accept 
the enclosed luminous 
photograph of your
much obliged and 
obedient friend 
and servant,
M. G. Corr??esly.

I have read your 2
vols. and rejoice that
[Shabelarchs? and Dr
Vigor??] came out right
at last.

Boston , 23rd June 1866.
My Friend : 
I want to see
you much.
I am trying
to get out of the country
for my own good or
the country's - I don't
know which  - perhaps
both.
Maybe you will
help me.
Your brother tells
me you are staying
at Mrs. Hooker's Hartford,
 and I am sure
you will not be displeased 
if I should
drop in on you some
pleasant morning. 
This week on my way 
to New York.
Regards to your 
mother and sister. 
Always cherishing 
a lively recollection, 
&c, I remain
Ever sincerely Your
M. F. Corn[erly?]

Anna E Dickinson


Boston, Monday
23rd July, 1866.

My Friend:
I left you this 
morning with a heavy 
heart, the weather was 
so gloomy. Tost [so] suddenly out 
into the storm from the 
sunshine of your presence, 
I felt much like a man 
overboard - lost in 
the depths of the sea.
I could not consent 
to give up your shawl
after defeat, but clung 
to it as a drowning
man clings to a straw. It 
has admirable virtue as
 a water proof; it kept


it from being soaked 
though and through.
In the bewilderment 
of my departure
 I lost all consciousness - 
that is to say, of 
the fact that I had
 run up an account
 at the the hotel for two 
days board and so 
I left without even
 the politeness of saying
 to the proprietor "by your
 leave." I accordingly
 enclose to you a Greenback, 
which I suppose
 will cover the amount
- to wit: $5: i.e. the Greenback
- and ask you to
do me the kindness to
settle my bill.
I wish I could see

you again before I sail,
but perhaps it is as well
I should not. I am going 
to France You Know,
which is a very seductive
country. I may see  ?????
people those who will
please me exceedingly.
If so, I will inform
you by mail.
I would like to take
your shawl with me to 
France. Please let me
know if I may. I will
find some rare jewel
or other in Paris or Rome -
[??] some "darling
gem" - which I will
send to you to make up
for it. I want it for 
its very superior quality
as a water-proof. If
our vessel should founder
 [at sea], I will gather
its folds around me, and 
inspired by a sweet memory
 , sink quietly to rest
in the bosom of the
deep. As a water-proof, 
it will keep me from
being too much saturate
into the salt water,
which, I take it, is the 
chief objection to being
drowned at sea.
I doubt if I get 
away from the country
before about the 16th of 
Aug. In the meantime,
my address will be at
the Hotel St. Denis, New 
York, where I shall hope  to
remain forever your friend parting
word: Adieu! God bless you! M. F. [Conway?]Washington.
23, Aug., 1869

Dear Miss Dickinson:
I have been watching
the newspapers very closely 
since my return to the United
States to find where you
were spending the hot
season, but cannot
detect your name
among the celebrities
either at Long Branch
or Newport or Saratoga ,
or any other fashionable
 watering place.
Where are you?
  If I knew that you
were at your house in
Philadelphia I would do
myself the real pleasure
of stopping in that city.on my way through, and
paying my respects to you
your mothers and sister.
I still have two books
[of yours, which you] you may
remember to have loaned
 me in days gone by, to
wit: "Wuthering Heights"
and "Held in Bondage"
which I must return to 
you some time.
Perhaps you will
favor me with a line
telling me if you are
at home.
My address is Washington
City
Yours reminiscently
M. F. Conway,

Miss Anna Dickinson
Philadelphia.Washington,
17th Oct. , 1869

Dear Miss Dickinson:
I shall
be going through Philadelphia
Wednesday, or Thurs
day, and would like to
do myself the pleasure
of calling upon you,
should you be at home.
Will you?
I have prepared a
Lecture which I should
like to deliver; but I do
not know if it will
do. It is on a foreign
subject, and historical. It
may not considered
sufficiently alive. I wouldlike to get your opinions
as to its quality and
availability.
I wrote to Mr. Tilton
and to Redpath. The
former did not answer,
the latter has the subject 
under advisement
I am pressed for
money having lingered
on the other side of
the water until both
[my] money and credit.
are exhausted.
If I could get
into the lecture field
it might afford me
something; as I am
told you have already
made a fortune of a
hundred thousand
dollars!

I should like to return
to Europe in some public
capacity -- but I believe that
I am not in favor.
I gave $75 in greenbacks
to the fund for Grant's
canvass, and now he
will not even speak to
me. I suppose he
thinks I have nothing
more to give.
Please let me hear
from you.
Very Sincerely Yours,
M. F. Conway

Miss Anna E. Dickenson
Philadelphia.Washington
25 Jan. 1870

Dear Miss Dickinson:
I have
written to Mr. Greeley
asking him to give me
something to do in the
Tribune office. As he 
is a strong friend of
yours it has occurred to
me to solicit your kind
interest in my behalf.
I am sure you will not
refuse to extend a hand
to a fallen brother, to 
help him from his "degradation." 
Let the memory
of other days, which has 
always been to me a greenspot distinguishable from the
intervening waste, plead 
for me.
Remember, the glory
is not in never falling,
but in rising every time
you fall.
Come! friend of my
better days! "To the rescue!"
Once yours,
Now nobody's: 
None so poor as do him
reverence:
M. F. Conway.

Miss Anna Dickinson
Philadelphia.

If this letter is an impertinence,
burn it, nobody
but the two of us will ever
know that it was written.

My position is not understood.
I have been always misrepresented.
Whatever you may think, the
union dissolved - the
separation is as complete,
final, and irrevocable
as death. Mr Sumner is
simply trying to make a new
Union; but - can [he?] do it?
It is hard to unite incompatible 
elements.Washington, 27 Dec., 1870.

Miss Anna Dickinson:
Madmoiselle:

As a lady with
whom I had the honor of a casual
acquaintance some years ago, in this
city, I beg to dedicate to you a
book, to sail: Gulliver's Travels.
Having gone abroad "strange
countries for to see, see, see," it
was my intention to write my own
travels, and to inscribe the volume
with your honored name as a
testimonial of my high appreciation,
etc.; but, falling in with the narrative
of Gulliver, and finding
his experiences so strikingly like
my own, I have reconsidered my
original purpose, and instead of 
wasting myself upon expression, have
substituted his recital and hereby dedicate it
to you, most excellent lady, with mybest respects.
You will find in it a faithful
picture of life and manners among
the several sorts of people, with whom
during my Consular life, I had the
felicity to have an acquaintance of 
one kind or another.
I would call your particular
attention to the account of The Lilliputians
a people so remarkable for their
diminutivness, and yet so capable
of tying down a strong man,
by taking him while asleep, and 
remaining over him after he is 
bound.
I would also mention the
tribe of the Brobdignagians,
whose habit of climbing up
a tree, and making themselves
offensive to any one who may
happen to be beneath, is so [offensive]
peculiar. This latter kind of
people I had the misfortune to be

much annoyed by -- as I was
compelled for a time to inhabit
a house in  [in whi] over which
spread The branches of a great tree
from which they [animals] were
enabled to exercise a species of
surveillance over me.
So This is The merry Christmas
time, and my heart is overflowing
with kindly reminiscences and
goodly wishes, I have thought of
our casual acquaintance several
years ago in Washington, and
have desired to let you know, in
some way, That I still bear you 
in remembrance! I now have it!
I will give you a word of advice!
Prenez garde! Go slow! Put
money in thy purse! Be warned
by my example against The dangers
which beset one who [wanders]
ventures into unknown regions,
where he may fall a victim toThe machinations of The Lilliputians,
and The unseemly practices of
The Brobdignagians! unless
indeed, [you] he be well protected
by a coat of mail; which,
however, must be of gold,
as experiences has demonstrated
that no material of less temper or
fineness is capable of warding
off their attacks.
Wishing you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year, and
Trusting That The book of Gulliver,
as well as The inscription and advice
may be agreeable to you, I remain
Serenely, Yours,
M. F. Conway
No. 389 3rd Street,
Corner of Indiana avenue,
Washington,
D. C.
formerly, Rue Sylvabelle 100, a Marseille.
Voila!St. Elizabeth's
near Washington, D.C.
30th October, 1878

Madam:
For ten years past,
 I have been cut off from all
 participation in public affairs 
by political and social combinations
 here -- i.e. in Washington
 -- and in other parts of the 
country, who have managed 
to keep me deprived of means,
 and finally to have me trepanned, 
and for these last two 
years, confined at this place
 as an insane person. I am 
held at present, however, it is 
said only because I have no 
other support, and to this decision
 of the Superintendent
 I am compelled to submit,as if a Government Institution
like this could be turned into
a [free] compulsory boarding house free of expense at the
dictation of a Superintendent,
or a Secretary, or any other
authority, less than an act of 
Congress.
The case is, beyond doubt,
one of the most extraordinary 
uses enacted in this or any other
county, being nothing less than
an attempt to commit a murder
by indirect means, on the part
of men in high position, for a 
political object. Whatever other
explanation may be offered of 
it -  this is the true one. I have
repeatedly written to the President,
to Heads of Departments, and to 
various members of Congress,
but without avail. Such as
outrage ought certainly to awaken

an indignation over the land
that would cause the People to 
rise in their right, and hand
from power, and even put to 
death, the brutal and imprincipled 
perpetrators.
Cannot something be done?
Cannot the People of Kansas
- who knew me in times past -,
and whom I served as their first
Representative in Congress, and
in other public capacities -
do something to restore me to
liberty?
Kansas is described by a
British writer in the London
Athenaeum as "the middle Spot
of North America, being
equally distant from the Atlantic, 
the Pacific, the Gulf Stream,
and Hudson's Bay; having
open communications withthe seas in every direction, and 
lying across the highway between
two vast oceans, it is naturally
regarded as a future center of 
industry, commerce, and political 
power."
The inhabitants of this region organized
as a state and admitted
into the Union, will soon
be required to elect a Senator
of the "United States. My health
is good - or rather, capable
of being made good - not-withstanding
all that has been
done against me. My principles 
- as exemplified in the early
history of Kansas and in my
course in Congress - that is to 
say, opposition to slavery and
to the ascendancy of either the
North or the South, as a political 
Section - remain unchanged,

and I have never cast a vote
in any other State, except the
first of my life [in] for Franklin
Pearce - in my native State of 
Maryland.
Mr. Everts is reported to have
recently said that "the South
need not any longer be feared
as a political power." Whether
it need be feared or not depends
upon circumstances;
and is a matter of opinion, -
But the question is whether
there is not in the South an interest
sufficient to unite its people
(white) in their political action 
against the North. The answer
to this is so obvious as that it
needs scarcely to be stated,
The negro is just such an
interest. The negro looks to the 
North for protection; the SouthernPeople affiliate together. This
makes a "Solid South" in
spite of all kinds of political
machinations. But to this 
true statesman it is sufficient 
to know that the South is the 
South and the North is the North; 
That is to say that there is a 
natural differences between 
them - that their climates are 
not the same - that, in short, 
simply, there is the cotton 
plantation the the one and the 
cotton factory in the other. 
This cause is permanent and
entirely independent of the effect
wrought by the late war in 
solidifying the [South] two Sections into belligerent
powers. This last
may be overcome by times;
but the other never. They
are radical, and will constitute

the North and South
rivals for political power as
long as this Government endures.
Cannot something then be
done for me?
Cannot something
be done to rescue me 
from the grasp of Hell?
Would it not be becoming
in the People of Kansas, under
these circumstances, to take
some action in my behalf - 
in behalf of one whose only
crime has been as unselfish
devotion to others and to the
best interests of this country?
They at least have an opportunity
to do so, and while
such actions would (as I
cannot but believe) be signally
to their credit, it might also
redound greatly to their advantagehereafter.
It is perhaps needless
in me to say that should my
old friends and former constituency
see fit to place the
seal of their approval upon
me, and I thereby be enabled
again to enter the National
Congress, I would lead myself,
as I have always, tried to do
with fearless independence - 
ever ready to battle for the
Right - "Dieu et mon droit" - 
against either personal assailants
or public aggressor.
I have addressed a copy of 
this letter to Mrs. General James H. 
Lane, of Kansas, and I send its
duplicate to you, in the hope that
something may thusly be done to promote
the object which it has in view.
Very truly yours,
[*M. F. Conway
To Miss Anna E. Dickinson
Philadelphia*]



New York
Thursday morning.

My Friend:
   I am disappointed 
in mot being
able to see you at
present.
   I have just received
information to
be in Washington
immediately and
must go out in
the next train.
   Shall try to see you
   pretty soon.
   Truly yours
  M.F. Conway"St. Elizabeth,"
District of Columbia,
Miss Anna E. Dickinson,
Philadelphia:
I have
been seeking diversion of 
late in writing to the numerous
friends and acquaintances of 
my past years, and I [am]
[constrained] venture to class you among
the latter, if not the former.
I am not allowed to go out
and see any one, nor will
any body call upon me,
I am allowed pen and paper,
however, and this admits of 
my expressing a little of my
mind to whomsoever I may
be able to indite a letter to 
with propriety. I do not
write of course, to propose
an engagement of marriage,Being "non compus mentus"
I could not contract even for
a pair of shoes much less
for so sacred an affair as
a wife.  And then I am already
mortgaged.  It is time,
a mortgage may be released.
But I am not as yet notified
that the mortgage No I in my case is
cancelled.

I have been confined
in this Institution now for
two years and ten months,
and I cannot see that I will
ever be set at liberty unless
the People come to the
rescue and lead me to
the Presidency!  Indeed, that
was my destiny in the first
place, but I have never set
much store by it - rather [have]
tried to get away from it.

About the time I went to 
Kansas - Kansas Continental
I shall call it - the London
Athenaeum described [it] that state as
follows:  "The middle spot of
North America, being equally
distant from the Atlantic, the
Pacific, the Gulf Stream, and
Hudson's Bay; it has open
communications with the sea
in every direction, and being
across the highway between
two vast oceans is regarded 
naturally, as a future centre
of industry, commerce, and
political power."

If I had reflected more
at that period, I would have
foreseen that it was not
only the central route across
the Continent to the Pacific,
but, also the central routeto the Presidency and that
a man of pose like myself
who should win distinction
on that field, would find
himself in danger of being
halted by the Lincolns and
Sewards, and Grants and Hayes,
and things like those, who
would want to remove him
from their own way. I had
no conception of the length
to which political scoundrelism
would go.
Though I should be very
reluctant to accept the Presidency
after what has happened.
 I am free to say that in order
to effect certain reforms dear
to my heart, and obtain a
suitable habitat in the
grande monde if the
People should tender it

[*to me I would not decline it.
I have endeavored to obtain an appointment
abroad but I suppose this
President fells happier to think that I am
at "St. Elizabeth" than at the idea of sending
me to the Court of St. James.
As you are a "Tribune of the People",
I make this appeal to you.
We can remove Mr. Hayes -  that is
to say you, myself, and the People can -
and post me in his place - and then
I can send you to the Court of St. James!
Your Ob'dt &c. M F. Conway*]A Winged Arrow,

A dove, becoming, by some 
mischance, bespattered with
muck, was upbraided by
a crow. For answer, this 
dove flitted to the edge of 
a sparkling fountain, and,
from its spray, soon
emerged renovated and
radiant. It then said to
the crow: I may be soiled,
but a few dew drops will
restore my purity;
whilst not all the water
of the Atlantic Ocean
can wash you white.

(over)Will Mr. Reed be kind
enough to stow the enclosed
little feeble (not [?]
Esop) in a corner 
of the Tribune,
and oblige.

Very Truly,
M. F. ConwayWhat does this
mean?
WR
Woodhull? - 
or Himself?
Tis beyond me.
A. E. D.