Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

Peterhoff June 20. 1851

My Dear Myrtilla

As the steamer goes tomorrow I must dispatch a line of love to my dearest friend—I am now at this place preparing to leave. The ship is to sail in a day or two. I have enjoyed much in St. Petersburg & my health is better than when I came ashore. I have some head ache when I attempt to read or write & sometimes when I become more weary than I ought by looking about. I have concluded not to go in the ship beyond Elsinore, as the rough sea makes my head so much worse. From thence my present plan is to cut off a part of the route on the continent so that none of my friends willl say that I am imprudent. You will therefore write me at Paris only—& thence at London & Liverpool as agreed upon. I say this because it is so uncertain how far I may venture into Germany in that direction. Write to Paris care of Rev. Louis Bridell so that I can receive it by 1st of August. Do not think by this that I am not enjoying my journey -- or that my health is not as good as possible whatever more pleasures I may sacrifice.

London Sept 5, 1851

My Dear Myrtilla

I arrived in this city last Monday evening safely from Paris & should have written you im-mediately if I had heard from you. My waiting for a letter to which I might reply has caused the delay. As the steamer goes tommorow I will send you a few lines by way of introduction & write again before long. My stay in Paris was pleasant & I was enabled to see the most interesting things in the place. The Louver (sic), Palace of Luxembourg, Thuleries (sic, Versailles, St. Cloud, Hotel Des Invalides, Tomb of Napoleon, Jardin Des Plantes, Pantheon, Hotel Cluny, Old House of Parliament, Chamber of Deputies, Champ de Mars, Champ De Elysees, Barrier D Etoile Column of the 4th, Place Vendome with its column, Place La Concorde, with its column & beautiful fountains, Chapel of St Ferdinand, The Notre Dame, Magdalena & other churches. The other places ^I visited^ are not now in mind, but these are by no means all — how can I describe them. I remained 10 days in all. My journey was quickly made to this place (10 hours) & I have seen the Exhibition, St Pauls, Tower, Tunnel, &c &c—with collections of paintings & statuary but not as many of these last as I saw in Paris. My health is about as when I wrote last—some head ache ^but I enjoy every thing^—Hoping to hear soon I am your affectionate husband

J.W. Alvord

Paris, August 22, 1851

My Dear Myrtilla,

Your good letter of 24th June I found yesterday here in Paris at which place I arrived the night before._ I am very glad know that you are so far recovered from your sickness & that the dear children are so well & happy._ You make quite too many apologies for not writing me often._ I think you have been quite punctual considering your inability. I should have written this before but I wrote to Winsted a letter 2 weeks since which I really intended very much for you, supposing that by the time the it reached its destination you would be there._ I hope they have informed you of hearing from me. All your letters I have received & have been delighted with, [illegible]_ & have no doubt [illegible] that another is by this time awaiting me in London_ So please dismiss all your anxieties about making me happy. I think you have always been a very faithful wife_ & shall never suspect you of wrong intentions or of willing inadvertency. I love you more than ever & hope absence has not diminished your affections._ As you remark I think we shall enjoy each others society very soon [illegible]. / Since I wrote my health has improved very manifestly. I remained at [Elquestery?] 2 weeks & then by the with the doctors consent undertook a tour Southern through the mountains of Switzerland. This has occupied 3 weeks - sometimes on foot, sometimes on horse back, sometimes in a rowboat across little lakes of Switzerland &e &c. The ef-