James Gould to George Abbot, 6 July 1842
[From James Gould in Baltimore, Maryland, to his wife Eliza's cousin George Abbot in Beverly, Massachusetts. He says he is disappointed in not seeing him when he (George) was in Baltimore; says they can't afford to visit Beverly; and reminisces about a western trip (as far as Louisville) 22 years earlier.]
Baltimore July 6th 1842
Dear Cousin,
We are this day in receipt of your letter of the 26 [__?__] from St. Louis and thank you for it, and are glad that you are in health &c. But we feel much dissapointed in not seeing you again in Baltimore as we have been hoping for the pleasure of your society for for a week with us at least. However business before friends and in these times particularly.
You mention having written us previously by a Mr. Carlisle. He has probably not yet arrived as no such letter has come to hand.
I have never been at St. Louis. It was Louisville on the Ohio, that was the limit of my western trip now 22 years since. The growth of the whole great west however since that time has been wonderful indeed, and I should like much to have a tour thru it now, the facilities of traveling being so much improved. Only think I was 17 days going from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, and nearly a month in returning from Cincinnati to Balto. Now you talk of being in N. York on the 15 July from St. Louis by a rout longer by a thousand miles & more.
We have had a letter for you for some weeks Post Marked Beverly, and have looked for you every day for sometime past. But "such is life," our hopes of today are often dissapointments of tomorrow.
We thank you for the renewed invitation to visit Beverly, but under present circumstances we cannot afford it. Must wait untill times are better. But we have the earnest desire to see you all, and shall do so when circumstances permit.
Warren1 has returned as you suppose and you will see him in Boston on your return. He wrote me that he called at your house, saw Mrs. A.,2 but the girls were at church. Were all well however.
When again you meet, tender our best regards and let us hope to hear from some of you often. And believe us as ever yours &c &c.
James Gould
I enclose the letter from Beverly and shall send them by private hand.
- Warren Gould (1801-1845), James's brother
- Nancy Stickney (1796-1851), George's wife