Margaret_Bayard_Smith_to_Anna_Maria_Thornton, 26 March 1830

"When Death has made a void in our affections, by robbing us of some beloved object, never can happiness be restored, untill that void is filled." Winter in Washn.

In some cases it cannot be filled.

To Mrs Thornton from Mrs S. Harrison Smith--Sydney Authoress of "A Winter in Washington" "What is Gentility"--Allegories, Tracts &c

26 March 1830

Entirely my dear friend can I understand the feelings you describe & circumstances as you are, they are natural- there is sufficient cause for the effect--But in a thousand cases I have known, & my own among the number,--the continual craving of the heart for some thing unpossessed & the, as, continual dissatisfaction with what is possessed, is unaccountable, if we confine our views solely to this life. Every other animal but Man, finds on earth whatever is necessary to satisfy its desires & wants--every thing necessary for its reaching the perfection of its being.--For the animal portion of his nature, man, too, finds are equally abundant provision for all his wants & desires--But his intellectual part, is every seeking, craving, longing for a something it can never find.--Objects which at a distance appear large & substantial enough to fill his heart & mind--which seem endued with every principle necessary for enjoyment, are, on attainment found to be as incapable of satisfying the desires of the soul, as

as the picture of a dish of meat would be to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Made up as we are of two natures, we should in our search after happiness, (or engagement rather) attend to wants of such of these natures, & not expect to accumulating all that is necessary for one, to satisfy the other--But this is generally done--Our time, our thoughts--our inventor are all at work to collect all these things which promote our physical comfort & enjoyment--It is to please our Sense, that we seek for savory viands, beautiful clothes & furniture--agreeable sounds & air--these are valuable things as far as they go & wealth therefore & health too, one just & reasonable objects of desire--The error is in stopping at this point-

The pleasures derived from our affections are of a higher class than those derived from sense--but alas far less at our command & in their greatest perfection--far less perfect!- Sympathy, pure--perfect sympathy, or (fellow feeling) is absolutely necessary--this is seldom or ever found--the pleasure derived f rom the affection, is in exact proportion

to the sympathy which exists between us & the objects of our affection.- Neither consanguinity, or legal connections have the power of producing sympathy. Our nearest connections & dearest relations, may be so deficient in these qualities which constitute this mysterious principle of sympathy, that no assimilation, no identification of feelings can take place & consequently none of that happiness, which results from pure & ardent affection--The affinities which chemists have found in matter--exist also in mind--Elective Affinities--which act without--nay beyond, the control of circumstance or choice. Things of equal purity & excellence may have no affinity- wime is good--& oil is good, yet they will not blend do what you will- it is the same with minds, tempers, & affections--What there is to be done--Why do with one, as the other--leave them in a state of rest, then, tho' not blended--they are bright & Pure--but agitate them & the become perturbed & loose their transparency & purity:--Nature so wise in all her provisions, supplies the absence of this principle of affinity, by one equaly strong, (tho' certainly not as pleasureable) that of instinct--a principle which tho' it cannot identify, strongly unites, the objects of which it acts--Social connections, have not the indemnifying