Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Georgiana Abbot to her brother George William Abbot, 18 August 1845

[From Georgiana Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts, to her brother George William Abbot at sea on the ship Tonquin in Canton, China. She tells him about the activities of his friends in Beverly; talks about their brother John's new boat; mentions attending the last session of the dancing school as a spectator; describes an encounter with "Boyden"; describes an injury to Israel Whitney; and talks about the activities of various family members and friends.

Addressed to "Mr. George W. Abbot, On board American Ship Tonquin, Canton, China."]

Beverly August 18th, 1845

My dear brother George,

I thought it ridiculous that I should write you at so late a date as my last one. How much more so is it that I should now. I would like to have you get this letter if you are in Canton, but hope that when the Loo choo arrives you will be one fourth of the way home at least.

We are all well and getting along finely. E.¹ writes us often. She wants to know if I wouldn't like to have you both here, she to crow, you to "We[__?__]" me, and I sing and act [__?__]. Wouldn't I, yes that I would. I just long to see you, and now, as this is my last opportunity, let me say to you, dress up nice and clean before you come down to Beverly. The girls will all be looking out sharp, and you looked so spruce before you went away that they'll expect it. First impressions go a great way with such giddy headed girls as you'll have to deal with.

When I sit down to write you, somehow or other I think the girls, their doings, &c, will interest you most, therefore I begin my letters with accounts of them. Last Sunday there were six from Boston, William Safford² and a friend, a Mr. Kent; Theodore who has been here a week and his friend, Chapin; Benjamin; and a widower with three children, who is mightily pleased with Sarah Augusta, tho I think he can't come it over her while there are so many younger suitors. I have told you before how the girls treat her. They really insult her to her face. Why it is I don't know. But all these fellows are determined to resent their neglect by paying her more attention than they do any of the others. They all called upon her Sunday eve and met there together, so they had quite a levee.

Poor Israel³ couldn't join them. He has been quite sick for a fortnight. Went to Boston for the first time today. He told me to give his love to you, and say that he kept an eye to windward. You know what he means better than I do, probably.

I called up to see Sarah Augusta a few evenings ago. She appeared very well. She and her mother and father too feel the girls neglect very much.

Charlotte⁴ is pretty well now. She has been quite sick with a severe cold. She plays and sings finely. M. E. Masury,⁵ Lucy Baker,⁶ & Charlotte take private lessons in singing. They have improved much. I am going to join them now to see what I can do, then you will be bound to hear me when you come home, won't you. I'll promise not to refuse.

E.¹ is married and the busy time is over.

Sarah Ellen⁷ is in Hingham.

I ought to have told you of the ride that these Boston gents gave the girls. Theodore called to see me with Mr. Chapin and invited me to ride or rather go a berrying at five o'clock Monday morn, be gone about two hours, and get back in season for the gents to go to Boston in the seven o'clock train. I told him it was impossible, and refused, little thinking he would get any one to go, but I do believe those girls will go anywhere for the sake of the frolic. They went in three carryalls, and when they got a little ways it began to rain. It didn't shorten their ride however. Theodore plays on his guitar. He brought it in here to play to me. He says it is just like a wife to him, he can't be without it long. He is very flourishy, and extremely polite.

I presume you will see William Edward⁸ in Canton. You can say to him that his family are well, and his mother⁹ has broken up housekeeping and boards in Andover with Louisa¹⁰ and Nancy.¹¹

John¹² commenced going to school today after a fortnight's vacation. Did I tell you that he had a boat. At first he sailed every day, morning, noon, and night, but he has had boat enough for once, and hasn't been out once this vacation. He, John Endicott,¹³ and Franklin¹⁴ always go out together, so they have been styled the "crew of the Dart." He master, John E. mate, Franklin cook steward, and all hands. John tells me to tell you that he has oiled your gun over. He don't frighten me with firing as you used too. What a torment you have been in your day, do you know it?

Hannah Conant¹⁵ has got just such a bunch on the side of her face as you had on your chin. She has had it two months, and it don't begin to grow any better. You think it is all right that she should have it I suppose. Such things were made for women, not for men, that.

James Stone¹⁶ is spending a week here. He hasn't spent so much time here before for a great while. He says that he felt relieved when the separation was completed. Only think of it, don't you think it a singular speech for an engaged person to make?

John¹⁷ is no better. He walks about just so, and looks paler than death.

I went to ride with Israel³ Saturday in a new fashioned vehicle called a "Rockaway." Your friend Sam Foster¹⁸ got home last week. How is Bridges, and does he like. Capt. Very¹⁹ arrived in Salem with his wife²⁰ a few weeks ago, think he has made her faint any yet?

The iron steamer Great Britain arrived in New York last week. I should think she was a huge one from the description.²¹

There has been a terrible fire in N. York lately,²² and several attempts to have one in Boston. Mr. Ellingwood's son has attempted to burn Beverly up twice recently, but happily they were discovered before making much progress.

The other afternoon at the close of the dancing school, several of the old scholars went as spectators, others also. I was among the number. Mr. Parks insisted upon our forming a cotillion, which we did, tho not prepared for dancing. Charles Robertson and the other gentlemen danced with boots on. It would have made a nice evening frolic, but I felt rather cheap as it was in broad daylight.

Capt. Meacom²³ met with a disaster a few days out of Boston. Abba²⁴ has had letters from him.

Capt. Rogers²⁵ died in Singapore in March.

Write and tell me how you like Frank,²⁶ and what he says about matters and things.

Elizabeth¹ has been a journey. She travelled in a buggy, with the wheels clogged up with mud, and a horse that behaved like the one that Sarah²⁷ and you rode with last winter. She don't get so many rides now. She hasn't been down here for over two months. I don't know what the is nor don't care.

E. Woodberry²⁸ has got home. Mr. Story²⁹ spends a good deal of his time here with her.

Boyden³⁰ is here, tis his vacation in Cambridge. Do you remember the day that he carried his bandbox down, when he came in and wanted one good hearty shake. I met him the other eve. When I came away he came to the door, put both hands into his pocket, and kept saying, "Well Miss Georgiana, I'm very glad I happened to meet you this evening," "Tis very pleasant to meet you miss G, &c," instead of putting his hat on and coming home with me, which I was praying he wouldn't do all the time.

Beverly is full of strangers who board here, for the purpose of being near the water.

Capt. Israel Whitney³¹ lives up in the Babson house. He was passing a cellar in Boston where they were throwing up bricks and rubbish, when one shovel full came with great force against his knee, lameing him seriously. He hasn't walked for a fortnight, and the Dr. thinks it may be three months before he is well.

I shall have to close this rather abruptly as it is going in the next train to Boston. Pa³² and Ma³³ send love to you. We all want to see you much. Excuse the writing and believe me ever your affectionate sister,

Georgiana

 

Copyright Charles Towne. Usage of this work is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0
Compiler: Charles Towne

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