folder 11: January–May 1852

[1851-1852]

Wednesday night

My dear child

You will see by Mr Bourkes letter to Wm that poor Martha died last monday evening — Alex McIntosh came from Brunswick today & says the body came out in the Gaston last night — he also says Mr Joe Dubignons Mother died last night — I do not know who is the greatest object of commiseration the Kings or poor Mrs Joe Dubignon. Deeply do I sympathize with all of them.

I send you a note which I received by the Mail from De Wilt & Morgan — Did the Gaston land the parcel at Frederica?

I thank Almighty God! that our beloved ones in California & New Haven were well when those letters were written We have much much to be grateful for. I wish I could have heard also from the girls. I had a very long & most affectionate letter from dear Mrs Hall. I will It was written before my last letter could have reached N.Y. If the weather is such that you cannot come over tomorrow evening I will try & spare Neptune to drive me over. I want you to read your dear Fathers & Butlers letters — & Mrs Halls also for she does write very affectionately — How is my dear little Willie I hope & trust he feels no bad effect from that marble

Tip has not been well today — I think he over exerted him self on Monday last & I did not know his clothes were so wet. M I will add a line in the morning — Good night — Your Mother

Thursday Morning — It seems that Charles has to go first to drive oxen to New field — I have no one else by whom I could send this package. Do let me know if you can come over this evening — I would rather you would come here than

Mrs Wm A Couper

for me to leave home. Oh! I do hope to hear you are all well. Mrs Gale is again complaining. Kiss the dear babies your Mother A M K

New Haven Jan. 15th 1852

My dearly beloved Sister

May God make us thankful for His divine mercy, and teach us to be devoutly grateful for His protection in preserving you, your dear husband and little children from the awful fate which lately you so narrowly escaped!

Since Monday last I have been in a state of the most agonizing suspense & fear, dreading lest you or some of your loved family had been victims in the terrible catastrophy which occurred on Friday to the Magnolia. On Monday when I went to tea I saw in a New Haven paper of that evening a telegraphic dispatch from

[left and top margin] I then for the first time told dear Mallery of the Magnolias explosion— he was deeply moved—but thankful—I then telegraphed to dear Eirly in Philadelphia— I am yet looking anxiously for more information— in a day or two I trust all will be clear and again I will smile.

God bless us all dear Sister & protect us! abundant love & Kisses to dearest Mother & love to your husband & the children.

Your most affectionate brother H.S.P. King

Savannah mearly stating, that the Magnolia had exploded at St Simons, that the Capt, & 13 others were killed but that the cabin passengers (45) had been saved. I immediately thought that you were going on to Sav. in that boat, and the fearful suspicion seized me that some of you had been sacrificed! I went to the office and telegraphed to Capt Bourke, inquiring if you had been injured, knowing that he would know if you were.

The next day I saw fuller dispatches giving me some comfort and also making me more unhappy— one was that those besides the killed 10 or 12 were injured— making it more probable that you had suffered & making me more miserable, but I was somewhat consoled by a statement that the killed belonged to the boat and also that she exploded forward,

and I know that you all would most likely be aft— besides, I thought that the boat perhaps exploded just before or about the time when you all were getting on board, & then the danger had lessened by the explosion being forward. I scarcely thought that the Magnolia Hea had exploded at Frederica where her stop is so short and so accustomed, and I have came to the opinion that as there were so many of you to get on board and having much baggage, and too, knowing that our adored Mother would delay you with affectionate farewells, the probability was that by the Steamer's being thus detained the explosion had occurred at Hamilton. This I imagine would have been fortunate because of the eas great assistance from and easy access to the shore, but then I knew that Mother would be at the landing and Oh! what would be