Archive:Letter, Clarissa Whitney to Sarah Whitney, 1818
Archives > Archive:Old Letters > Letter, Clarissa Whitney to Sarah Whitney, 1818
The transcript of this letter is supplied by Samantha Ferris of the Riversdale Historical Society, Riverdale Park, MD, and is reproduced here with permission. The author Clarissa7 Whitney and addressee Sarah7 Whitney were daughters of Major Abel6 and Clarissa (Dwight) Whitney of Northampton, MA.
If anyone can shed light on how and why Sarah Whitney came to be a governess to the children of George and Rosalie (Stier) Calvert of Riversdale, a manor in Maryland, and why she stopped and returned to Northampton, MA, we would like to know about it.
Mifs Sarah Whitney
Care, George Calvert Esq.
Riversdale \...
Near Bladensburgh, Maryland
Northampton, Feb. 2, 1818 Monday eve. I fancy, my dear Sarah, that you are now arrived at your journeys end, and are now looking about upon those faces and that home with which you are to be daily conversant, but while taking this view I trust you will not forget that home, and those faces with which you have been recently conversant. Your thoughts I have no doubt will be often in the midst of our domestic circle, and perhaps sometimes in imagination you will take a seat by our fireside. I assure you it would be very grateful to me could I imagine you here. I have indeed felt very solitary since you left us, I have tried to be cheerful but could not always succeed. You may perhaps realize something of the lonelinefs I feel. The first day I really felt quite sick, but I determined it would not do to indulge my feelings and the next day felt more composed. Thursday I drank tea with Rachel, the reading[?] party met there in the evening and you may well believe the diminution of our numbers was not at all calculated to enliven my spirits. Elizabeth, S. Williams, Betsy Nooker and yourself out of town, Mr. F. and Mifs [?] detained by friends from out of town, our numbers consisted of Mr. L. Strong and wife, Mr. Leavet, Mr. Chauncy Clarke, Mifs M. W. [?], L. & Gettel and myself. I could not enjoy it. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were extremely cold with us, we thought much of you. I fear you suffered much with the cold but hope you had got into a little warmer climate. I shall hope now every mail to have a line from you, I trust you will not forget how anxious we are to hear from you. You see how faithful I am to write you before I know you have arrived. I hope we shall both be punctual. But I will proceed with my journal. Friday we had the party which we have so long talked of. It consisted of Mrs. Judge Lyman, Mrs. Fowler of Westfield, who came that day, Mifs Bancroft, Mr. and Mrs. Fowle, P. and M. Fowle, Mifs S. Lyman, Mrs. Storrs, Mifs Blake, Mr. Bryant and Dwight Lyman, although it was so cold we got through the day very comfortably, our room was very warm, and everything was very pleasant, we spoke often of you. Saturday we were very busy but nothing occurred with noticing. Sabbath day we went to meeting, Cousin David took the vows of God upon him. I sincerely hope he may be enabled to walk agreeably to his profession. I think he is sincere. Today Cousin George with Mr. Packard and Worthy came up here, our two cousins dined with us. George told us that you called to see them and that you were in good spirits. I was rejoiced that you could keep up so good spirits as you did till you left us. I expected after you got away and had leisure to reflect you would suffer your spirits to droop, but I hope you found Mr. M. so good company you would find no time to be low spirited. Cousin Josiah has this afternoon brought up Elizabeth, and Sally. Isabella Sheldon spent the Sabbath here, she drank tea at Uncle Dwight's this afternoon, probably Josiah will carry her down tomorrow. I forgot to mention in its order that Mrs. J. N. Lyman was yesterday put to bed with a fine boy weighing 12 pounds & 'l2. This we think is doing pretty well. Mifs Blake says Mrs. Mills is very well for the time never was better. Mrs. Bingham has had a letter from Mrs. Barrell, she writes they are all well. Mr. and Mrs. W have been to the South of France. Dwight expects to start in the stage tomorrow morn for Boston with Mr. Bryant of Henshaw & Elizabeth [loss of paper], it is
much more mild than it was or they would have a very cold ride. I have today been writing to Griswold and have a letter to write to Frank before tomorrow's mail, so that I must be busy. I must tell you what, Elizabeth said to Mr. Packard respecting his gown which you know was by the Education [loss of paper] made into a bed quilt for some of the [students?-loss of paper]. She told him of it designation, and now [? covered by stamp] she, Mr. Packard are you not afraid it will grow orthodox? Doct Flint and Uncle D. have both been in here and and [written twice] sat some time so that I have been much interrupted. I think however I have written a pretty long letter but will leave it till morning perhaps I shall then add more. Dwight says, give my love to Sarah, tell her I suppose that just as I am packing up to go, she is unpacking. Mother also sends love. Uncle D. left his love for you. I do not believe you can send me so much love. I hope you will see Mrs. Ashmun, & c. before they return. I hope you will send a good packet of letters by them. Good night. Marietta last week had a letter from Salisbury. They are all well. Polly has another son about two months old. Maria expects to go to Russia to Doct Lears, thinks of making it home there, hopes to get a school next summer. Mr. Leavet says he thinks you will likely to fail in the treatment of slaves in any thing, he says if you treat them in the same manner we do domestics how it may have an unpleasant effect upon them an upon your pupils. You will I hope be guarded and will soon learn to use authority in speaking to them. I hope you will not commit any great error. Yours affectionately Clarissa
Copyright © 2010, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group
