Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

[Letterhead] American Tract Society, Instituted at Boston in 1814. William A. Booth, Esq., of New York, President. Rev. John W. Alvord, Secretary. New York Agency and Depository, at No. 13 Bible House, Astor Place, New York. Where all the Publications of the Society may be obtained the same as in Boston, by addressing John G. Broughton. Communications relating to the operations of the Society and donations, may be sent to Rev. John W. Alvord, Secretary, at the same place. New York,

[Handwritten] Jan 6th 1864

My Dear

Your letter of 2^d only came this A. M. I had been wondering you did not write, & hasten to reply. Have been to New Jersey again, & am doing what I can, but it is very hard starting our work here in such times as these. I get a chance to preach about half the time. My health, I think, suffers some from confinement at the office, but have been taking medicine & hope to be better. At Brooklyn they are well as usual. Though have not seen them since Christmas day. John the boy brings me the news. I did not go out any where on New Years. As to

[letterhead] American Tract Society, (Instituted at Boston, in 1814,) NEW-YORK DEPOSITORY, No. 13 BIBLE HOUSE, ASTOR PLACE, NEW-YORK WILLIAM A. BOOTH, Esq., of New-York, President. Rev. JOHN W. ALVORD, Secretary. JOHN G. BROUGHTON, Depositary. Communications relating to the operations of the Society, and donations, may be sent to REV. JOHN W. ALVORD. All orders and remittances for the publications of the Society may be obtained by addressing JOHN G. BROUGHTON. New York,

[in pencil] St Augustine Fa. 1865

My Dears You had a line from me as I left. I came safely, with some suffering, to H. H^d. Jacksonville & here, & go tonight to Fernandina & Savannah—Am better now. Will be home D.V. soon after 1^st Augt—You will I suppose return to the house on the 1^st, or then abouts—This, prob-ably is the best plan, unless Anna M. has a house for you in B.lyn—Mr Coles said a man would take the house off our hands on 1st Augt if we wished—Do as you think best. If you are not to be in J City by 1^st of the month, please drop a line to Mr Cole saying he must wait a few days until I get home for the rent.

As to money I forgot it for you. Tell Chas. to advance you some, & I will pay him interest on it, ie. if you have no oppor-tunity of sending to N.Yk.

Love & c In health Yours as ever J. W. A

home, but should we not starve? 2. I could shut up to the pavements ^{of N.York.,} & cold shouldering, & cringing hat in hand to pastors for their pulpits. I could be a beggar all my lifetime for many to ^be used in Boston (dont know how long I sh. live)—This would keep me somewhat at home say half the time—To be complained of however for not building up the Soc. as I might. But this I could bear, as at Boston they would have the night to complain. My duty would be quietness & harder work.

(Do you know that no pastor in NYk. or Brooklyn, with the exception of one or two Congregational houses, ever ask me to their pulpits. Did I ever tell you that from 3000 Circulars ^{(sealed letter)} with a personal note with ⁱⁿ my name appended directed to Presbyterians—Baptists Episcopalians—Lutherans ^&c on the N. Yk field only one or two individuals even responded in any ^{way. Such is the general indifference to the Soc.} & they were all sealed letters) Shall I work more broadly? is the question.

This absence from home is as painful to me as to you—more so, for I am the special sufferer. I have looked all over Washington more than once to see if we could not live here—And yet if the present indications of Providence are followed & you are properly supported it seems as if I must

come home often at least, & travel more or less.

You cannot consent to this I see. Could you if living in Brooklyn? Or will you try it here? Or, will ^you advise me to give up all this great work for Freedmen & the country, & be Agent in N.Yk?

But I have written enough for one letter—I am sweating with only shirt & trousers on as I write. We will talk ^it all over when I come—Gen.l Howard says he is very homesick grubbing along as he does also—with his family away

Yesterday went to Baltimore on special business—Bounty moneys of which Freedmen had been defrauded—Brought back information on which there will be a thorough investigation. But I had a very hard day in the heat—Write me once more—before I come

Yours as ever J. W. Alvord

P.S. What good men told you I was acting very strangely?

Philadelphia Oct 9. 1861

My Dears

I am so far on & well_ Am obliged to stop, as you see all along for business purposes, & on the whole am quite successful. Reached here last evening & leave for Baltimore this evenin at 10/2 ^oC. It is cooler to day & do not suffer from the [illegible] as I did for a number of days. Masketoes here are so thick that I prefer going on in the night to going to bed. Thick too they were in Brooklyn. Am sorry Father & George should have gone off so abruptly. I thought to be sure they would stay on till I come back. So I fixed it with George_ but I suppose father was away & then his [cow]! I am wondering how you get along with the new girl. I am much more content than if I had left you with Annie. Shall be at home soon as possible next week, but not likely till the latter part. Do not be concerned for me nor afraid for your selves—we shall all be taken care of. I am in a nice Hotels— better than the one we had when you were here /Washington House/ & have every comfort. Shall hear from you at Washington, D.C./Washington all in Brooklyn send love

Truly yours J.W. [Alvord]