folder 11: January–May 1852

Miss Florence B. King c/o Mr Charles Picot No 15 Washington Square Phhiladelphia P------------a Retreat 26th April 1852

My dearly beloved Florence Your letter of the 11th post marked 19th & dear Georgias & Appys letter of the 19th reached me yesterday. I am very grateful to hear yourself & sisters were in good health. I pray God! this mercy may be continued to you during your absence from me. Hearing that you are well in a great measure reconciles me to this painful separation. I had intended writing you a long letter by this mail but on Saturday our dear Tootee her children & Fanny Fraser spent the day with me. I concluded as yesterday was mail day I would await the arrival of the letter boy before writing to either yourself or brothers. The lazy boy Robert did not get back until two o clock in the afternoon we went over to Hamilton & drank tea there. Last night I could only write to Lord. it was his 21st birthday & I could not let it pass over without telling him how grateful I was to be the giver of all good that he was permitted to see that day. William went to Darien this morning with Fanny & John Fraser. Your dear sister came to me this broke in upon my writing hours. I could barely scratch a hasty letter to dear Mall. Intending to write to you quietly tonight but in the first place it came on to rain soon after dinner & increased so much by dark your sister was prevailed on to send back her carriage & make up her mind to remain the night with me. As her night clothes had to be sent for the children have been kept up until 9 o clock & have just gone to bed. If I put off writing until tomorrow you probably would not hear from me by this mail. So I am trying to make out some thing in the semblance of a letter. I have given you all the reasons why it is not as it may have been had time or eyesight permitted. To tell the truth I am pretty well tired of writing nothing but my duty to you dear about

gives me the strength to persevere & write by every mail to one or the other of you. I must say dear Florence it strikes me as being rather strange that after with Sophs assistance you had made out to write to me you should then have kept the letter 5 days before sending it to the office. You are less attentive than either of your sisters in writing to me. I will not believe that this neglect arises from want of affection. Perhaps the less I say on the subject the better

You will be happy to hear that your dear sister is again as usual. her dear little ones are quite well. Your brothers are in their usual health. Mrs Gale well enough to be able to come down stairs again. The negros are none of them ill but are not all well. Rhina seems to be getting in serious ill health as she was able to be up I sent her to Darien today with Wm to consult Dr. Julian. I hope getting wet this morning may not make her worse. H.P. got a note from William saying he "had managed to keep Rhina pretty dry but that he himself had taken the full benefit of the heavy rain & was thinking all the while how much good it was doing the corn & cotton.

As John & Fanny left Darien for Goshen after dinner no doubt they got the full benefit of that heavy rain. Rebecca was in Darien looking much as usual." Tomorrow Mrs Fraser her daughters & son take passage in the Welalea for s. h on their way to Marietta. It makes me sad this breaking up of old associates. John Demere now speaks of going to Florida as does also Lewis Demere. Fanny & John both requested to be remembered to yourself & sisters. On the 12th of May Mr & Mrs J H Couper Hamilton & Margaret leave the Island for Philadelphia. They will most certainly call at No 15 to see you & I hope you will all take care to appear to the very best advantage. I give you timely

notice you perceive. Tell dear Geo I hope she will be careful to have no holes in her stockings. I have no doubt you miss my darning once a week. In mercys name purchase new stockings if you are to lazy to darn those you carried from home. The Coupers I presume will come to the Island about the 1st of May I shall if possible call to see them & consult with Mr J H about the safety of your returning in July or August. I believe Hamilton is to remain at the North. Mrs'Wylly were expected home on Saturday night last. Mrs Catie not yet. On Saturday William made up a small party to fish down on Long Island as both he & Mr. Dunham offered to take great care of Floyd & Tip (if I would let them go) I consented. The poor little fellows say they enjoyed the days sport exceedingly but they were very wet very cold & very tired when they got back home. The greatest piece of news they brought back was the mishap which befell Mr Brown & Tom Haggard on Friday- you know Mr B. is fond of trying experiments. He took it into his head to try & drive his little marsh tackey "Mepengu" without blinds to the bridle he fix'd them so that he could take them off. they started on a drive & when well on the road the blinds were removed. "Mepengu" looked back & saw that monster of a vehicle coming fast after him. he took fright- ran as fast as his legs could carry him - fortunately the harness gave way. Mr Brown & Tom were thrown out. the former had his face much bruised & his leg hurt. Tom also is lame. It is fortunate it is no worse they ran a narrow chance of being killed. the nondescript of a conveyance will charm your eyes no more. it was broken beyond all hope of repairs Mr Brown will not be able to attend the Convention. Tootee received Adeles long & most affectionate letter yesterday_ and will answer it soon_ I am sorry to perceive from what Adele says expecting your becoming personally

acquainted with D. Stevens is so discouraging. She says - "We are not acquainted with him" (I think those are the words used.) I hope some of your acquaintance may be more fortunate & that you my dear girl may be made personally acquainted with one who is so much admired & respected by your dear Father & good brother Butler. As regards those Daguerreotypes - I am very anxious to receive them - but fear to trust their being sent by Mail. If you can hear of no private opportunity by which they can be sent to Mr. Bourke perhaps the safest way will be to keep them until you come yourselves.

This rain we consider a great blessing - for 3 days the past week we have had a perfect sirocco - the crops much injured. I can but hope this fine rain will prevent the necessity of planting over again. I know it will benefit my pet garden & well as vegi tables. I begin to be nervous about our dear ones in California not having heard from them since their letter of 3d March one month & 23 days this is a longer time than usual. God, grant they may be well. I hope my dear Flora you do not neglect to write to that best of Fathers & kindest of brothers Depend on it my child there is no one who will ever love you & prize you more than your own family do - no one you should love so well. I must now close this scrawl. Kiss your dear sister for me. give my love to dear Adele & Soph - tell the latter I hope one of these days she will allow me an opportuni ty of being personally acquainted with her by visiting old Retreat not in dreams but in reality. My regards to Mrs P & Caro. — I sincerely hope Mr Picot will soon be restored to health & to his family. Your sister - brothers & Mrs Gale send lots of love The servants beg to be remembered. Good night my dearly beloved child. May God! bless & restore you all in health & happiness to your devoted mother A M King

San Francisco Cal. May 3rd 1852

My own dearest Sister

Your letter of six pages dated "March 15th" came to hand by the last steamer. oh how much I thank you for it. I only wish I had time to write you such a letter - for then I would know I was giving you a pleasure which you could experience over & over again by [??reperusing] it. —

I can't help thinking about your having a child over a year [old] that I never have seen — and thats not all if I stay out here till next Jan: as I now think I shall - their may be another for me to see. Well "increase & multiply - I hear Mrs. Sinclare Wiggins ("My Love" that was) has had bad taste enough to have a baby. I wonder if Rosa wont get married before long. Well let them all go on. I have become callous.

I am surprised that the owners of the Magnolia are so careless as to what becomes of her, tis their own loss though.