P. S. Remember I don’t call this a _letter_, so no lectures on that
head.
Jamaica, October 6, 1805.
I am delighted, my Dear Octavia, to hear you are so finely, and the
more so as I hear it from _yourself_. I did not so soon expect such
fine effects from the new system of living; I am sure all will be well
now. A wedding I suppose next, for I conclude from the melancholy
pathos with which you say, you shall “neither have the independence of
a married woman, nor of a single,” that you don’t mean to try the
half-way being. However, let the man teaze if he will; do not think of
being married until your health is perfectly confirmed,—I would not
for the world. ’Tis so late in the season, ’tis not possible I can
come to see you this fall, even tho’ there should be two weddings in
November. And so you talk of spending the winter with me,—how you love
to tantalize!—and wish me to give you the pleasure of refusing me. You
know I should be delighted to have you, but you know you never mean to
visit New York as Miss Southgate again. Somebody would put on a graver
face than he did last fall on a like occasion, and as he had _as much
influence_ then as to counteract my wishes, I won’t subject myself to
the mortification of another defeat now I know his power to be much
greater. However I won’t ask, tho’ I shall be very happy to have you
with me. As for news, you give me more than I can you. We have left
Rockaway more than a week ago, still exiled from our home by this
dreadful calamity. We are at lodgings in Jamaica, where we shall
probably remain until ’tis safe removing to the City. Uncle and
Aunt,—Mr. and Mrs. Bogert,[73] have gone about 30 miles down the
Island, sporting for _Grouse_, and return to Jamaica until we can all
go in town. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers (Cruger that was) have taken a house
in Jamaica during the fever; the next door to this I lodge in. Mr. and
Mrs. Hayward[74] are with them, but leave here for Charleston this
week. I am in there half of my time. We make a snug little party at
_Brag_ in the evening frequently, and work together mornings. Mr.
Bowne goes to Greenwich, where all the business is transacted, on
Mondays and Thursdays, but returns the same night, so I am but little
alone. As to news—Miss Charlotte Manden Heard was married last week to
a _gentleman_ from _Demarara_, whom nobody knew she was engaged to
until he came a few weeks since and they were married. John Murray, I
believe, is at last really in love, tho’ ’tis not yet determined
whether the lady smiles or not. A Miss Rogers from Baltimore, whom he
met at the Springs,—a sweet interesting girl, ’tis said. Wolsey
Rogers[75] and Harriet Clarke[76] were talked of as a match at the
Springs. Mrs. Kane[77] staid at the Springs till she was so late she
could not venture to ride to Providence with her Mother, and the fever
kept her from New York, so was obliged to stop at Mrs. Gilbert
Livingstone’s[78]—Mr. Kane’s sister—at Red Hook, until able to resume
her journey home, which will probably be in November. Mrs. Fish[79]
has a daughter; great joy on the occasion. Give my love to Cousin
Pauline,[80] and tell her I congratulate her on the birth of her son.
What do Mary[81] and Paulina call their boys—Nathaniel and Enoch? I
hope not, never keep up such ugly names. Mr. B. says you must spend
the winter with us,—he will come under bonds to somebody to return you
safe. Give my best love to Sister Boyd, Horatio, and all the family at
home. Has any progress been made in the new house? I am sorry to say I
fear not—’tis pity,—I had almost said ’tis wrong. I am half mortified
when I hear of any of my acquaintance visiting Portland,—’tis true, I
declare,—tho’ Husband would scold me for saying so. Pappa is an
affectionate Father, yet therein he acts not up to his character. I
must check my pen—I am too much interested in this subject. Adieu;
make my compliments to all acquaintances and write me again soon. Love
to Miranda—tell her Mrs. Bogert talks much of her, and remind her from
me of Aunt’s sleeves; are they finished?—if they are, I hope she will
send them by Mrs. McKersen. I am working me a beautiful dress,—it will
be when ’tis done. By-the-by, any purchases for the coming occasion
will be executed with pleasure. Give my best love to (sister I had
almost said) Nabby,[82] and tell her I shall feel myself flattered by
any commission she will give me either in clothes or furniture; do
away her modesty in this thing, if you think I can be of any service
in that way, for I assure you ’twill gratify me. Tell Horatio[82] I am
impatient to thank him for giving so pleasant an acquisition to our
family, but I could do it more heartily in person in New York, if so I
might be indulged. Since you won’t be honest and tell the truth, I
won’t tell you what I’ll say to you. Do ask Papa if he could send us 6
or 8 barrels of potatoes, there is like to be a great scarcity in New
York; put them in the hold of the vessel or anywhere. Col. Barclay has
sent to Nova Scotia for a vessel load,—a housekeeper—
What a romantic conclusion.
Yours, E. B.
New York, Nov. 10, 1805.
Horatio is really married then; and we not married; and I suppose the
next account your ladyship will be added to the list. How swimmingly
you all go on! What a tremendous _marrying_ place Portland is. New
Yorkers don’t marry—sad sett of them. I am half angry to think you are
marrying in such an out-of-the-way season, that ’tis impossible any
one can come to see you. However, I hope to come early in the summer,
if nothing happens to prevent, and spend 3 or 4 months. I shall have
so many new relations that ’twill be necessary to come often to keep
an account. Robert Murray[83] came home quite delighted with his
eastern visit, but disappointed at seeing so little of Miranda. What
has been the matter with her, any thing more than a heavy cold? I wish
she was here with all my heart. I am quite alone and require a
companion more than ever, but I suppose Mamma could not hear of that.
I wish Arixene and Mary could have found a good opportunity to come
this fall, and we could take them home in the summer,—but I suppose I
must be content. We have been in town since the 31st of October, the
day your letter was dated; it has been a long time in coming. I got it
only last evening. Mr. Bowne had found out Capt. Libby, and we were
preparing to send the sheeting and diaper by him; he sails the last of
the week; the other things you wish we will send as many as can be
procured before the vessel sails, but ’twill be impossible to get any
_plate made_ to send for several weeks,—we will order it immediately,
and as it will not be bulky, there will probably be no difficulty in
finding a conveyance. We made a sketch of the articles you wished and
of the pieces, which cannot be very incorrect, as I took them all from
our own furniture book, and we calculated that the whole of Mamma’s
plate and another suit of curtains for Nabby included would come at
about 400 dollars. Mr. B. has 340 in his hands of Pappa’s, about the
sum that would buy all the things but Mamma’s plate and Nabby’s
curtains; however, that makes not the least difference to Mr. Bowne,
as he desires me to say he shall execute the commissions with great
pleasure, and ’twill be no inconvenience to him to purchase the other
articles, and I merely mentioned it as I did not know that you knew
the real sum in Mr. Bowne’s hands. ’Tis very lucky there is so direct
an opportunity to Scarborough; we shall endeavor to send as many
things as possible. Shopping at present is a prohibited pleasure to
me, but as all the things can be better procured at wholesale stores,
and my husband has both a great deal of taste and judgment in those
things, and makes better bargains than I do, you will be no sufferer
by the loss of my services in that,—and I can have anything sent to me
to look at, and therefore ’tis quite as well as if I went for them. I
don’t mean you shall understand because I don’t go shopping that I am
confined to the house. On the contrary, I am much better than could be
expected and hope with care to do very well. I shall go out very
little until the middle or last of the winter, when I hope, if I
continue well, to be most as smart as other people. My husband does
not allow me to go into a shop. I laugh at him and tell him I don’t
believe but the health of his _purse_ is _one-half_ his concern—a fine
excuse. Mrs. Bogert is in expectation of seeing Lucia Wadsworth when
the General comes on. I have been confined to the house with a severe
cold since Thursday,—Friday and Saturday was quite sick, and to-day
feel unfit for anything almost but my bed. Adieu; my best love to all
the family. You mentioned nothing of the Cypher on the Plate: O. S. or
B.—or your crest, or William’s crest, if you can find them out,—I
suppose we could here,—or what? Mamma’s I suppose will be S. only. I
have a great mind to tell you what a saucy thing my husband said on
your anxiety—that the bowls and edges of the spoons should not be
sharp; but I leave you to guess, or if you can’t, perhaps William may
help you to an explanation.
Adieu. Yours ever,
E. S. BOWNE.
Miss Octavia Southgate.
November 14, 1805.
Capt. Libby sails to-morrow; we have got as many things as possible.
There is not a piece of embossed Buff in New York, nor of plain
either, there is not more than 2 pair alike, therefore I have done
nothing about the trimmings. I fancy Boston is a better place for
those things than New York. The most fashionable beds have draperies
the same as my dimity window curtains. However, if you think best I
will look farther, and perhaps there will be something new open in a
week or two. There is but one barrel urn in the city. Mr. B. was two
days in pursuit of one; he purchased this and sent it back: ’twas
brown, and no plate on it except the nose. I can get you one like mine
for $25. Let me know immediately respecting these things. Yesterday
the Silversmith came for instructions respecting the plate, and bro’t
patterns for me to look at. I ordered a set of tea-things for Mamma
the same as mine; I think them handsomer than any I see. The man is to
send me some patterns to look at which he thinks are similar to your
description. On the next page I will make a list of the goods and
pieces copied from the bills.
1 piece Irish sheeting, 48 yards, at 5 $30.00
1 piece Irish sheeting, 55 yards, at 6/6 44.69
6 yards Fine Linen, at 7/6 5.62
12 Damask Napkins, at 8 12.00
1 piece fine Diaper 27 yards, at 5/6 18.56
2 Breakfast Cloths, at 14 3.50
1 plated Castor best kind, 12.00
1 plated Cake Basket silver rims, 18.00
2 Pearl tea-pots, 2.25; 1 Trunk, 2.50 4.75
———————
$149.12
The sheeting is quite as cheap as mine, the fine I like very much and
think it quite a bargain. The Diaper is not quite so cheap as mine,
but it has risen; the tablecloths are cheap, the linen is high I
think. The Cake Basket is very cheap, $2 cheaper than mine, and rather
handsomer I think. I could get no crimson marking, but send you a few
skeins of cotton which I procured with much difficulty. The napkins
are not the kind I wished, but there was none of those excepting at 2
places, and they were 18/–22/ a piece. I thought these pretty and
would answer your purpose. I enclose the marking cotton and the key of
the trunk. Adieu.
Yours ever, E. S. BOWNE.
P. S. The bills are in Miranda’s book in the trunk.
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