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MARY  LINCOLN 


A   LETTER   TO    HER    COUSIN 


Elizabeth  Todd  Grimsl^ 


SEPTEMBER  29,  1861 


Privately  Printed,  1917 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

State  of  Indiana  through  the  Indiana  State  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/lettertohercousiOOIinc 


September  29th,  '61 

Executive  Mansion 

My  Dear  Lizzie : 

I  have  been  intending  writing 
you  for  some  days.  I  have  been  quite 
sick  with  chills  for  some  days,  this  is 
my  day  of  rest  so  I  am  sitting  up.  I  am 
beginning  to  feel  very  weak*  If  they 
cannot  be  broken  in  a  few  days,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln wants  me  to  go  North  and  remain 
until  cold  weather.  Where  so  much  is 
demanded  of  me  I  cannot  afford  to  be 
delicate,  if  a  different  climate  will 
restore  my  health.  If  at  the  close  of 
this  week  I  am  still  sick,  I  expect  I 
will  go  up  to  Boston,  take  quarters  at 
the  Revere  House  for  two  or  three  weeks 
and  return  here  in  November.  I  trust 
however,  I  may  not  be  under  the  necessity, 
yet  I  am  feeling  very  far  from  well.  Sep- 
tember &  early  in  October  are  always  con- 
sidered unhealthy  months  here,  my  racked 
frame  certainly  bears  evidence  to  the 


fact.  Have  just  received  a  note  from 
Willis,  with  all  his  weaknesses  he  is 
kind  hearted.  Gov.  Newell  &  Halstead  are 
frequently  here  as  who  is  not?  I  presume 
you  are  aware  your  brother  is  elected  to 
Congress.  I  received  a  letter  from 
Elizabeth  E.  the  other  day.  Very  kind  & 
aff •  yet  very  characteristic*  Said  if 
rents  and  means  permitted,  she  would  like 
to  make  us  a  visit,  I  believe  for  a  sea- 
son. I  am  weary  of  intrigue,  when  she  is 
by  herself  she  can  be  very  agreeable, 
especially  when  her  mind  is  not  dwelling 
on  the  merits  of  fair  daughters  and  a 
talented  son-in-law»  Such  personages 
always  speak  for  themselves.  I  often  re- 
gret E.P.E»  little  weaknesses,  after  all, 
since  my  the  election  she  is  the  only  one 
of  my  sisters  who  has  appeared  to  be 
pleased  with  our  advancement  you  know 
this  to  be  so.  Notwithstanding  Dr» 
Wallace  has  received  his  portion  in  life 
from  the  Administration,  yet  Frances 
always  remains  quiet.  E»  in  her  letter 
said  Frances  often  spoke  of  Mr.  L's  kind- 
ness in  giving  him  his  place.  She  little 
knows  what  a  hard  battle  I  had  for  it,  and 
how  near  he  came  getting  nothing. 


Poor  unfortnnate  Ann,  inasmuch  as  she 
possesees  such  a  miserable  disposition 
and  so  false  a  tongue.   How  far  dear 
Lizzie  are  we  removed  from  such  a  person. 
Even  if  Smith  succeeds  in  being  a  rich 
man,  what  advantage  will  it  be  to  him, 
who  has  gained  it  in  some  cases  most 
unjustly,  and  with  such  a  woman,  whom  no 
one  respects,  whose  tongue  for  so  many 
years,  has  been  considered  "no  slander" 
and  as  a  child  and  young  girl  could  not 
be  outdone  in  falsehood,  "Truly  the 
Leopard  cannot  change  his  spots".  She  is 
so  seldom  in  my  thoughts®  I  rave  so  much 
more,  that  is  attractive,  both  in  bodily 
presence,  and  my  minds  eye,  to  interesc 
me.  I  grieve  for  those  who  have  to  come 
in  contact  with  her  malice,  yet  even  that 
is  so  well  understood,  the  object  of  her 
wrath,  generally  rises,  with  good  people, 
in  proportion  to  her  vindictiveness. 
What  will  you  name  the  hill  on  which  I 
must  be  placed.  Her,  putting  it  on  that 
ground  with  Mrs.  Brown,  was  only  to  hide 
her  envious  feeling  toward  you»  Tell  Ann 
for  me,  to  quote  her  own  expression.   She 
is  becoming  still  further  removed  from 
"Queen  Victoria's  Court" 


How  foolish  between  us  to  be  discussing, 
such  a  person.  Yet  really  it  is  amusing, 
in  how  many  forms,  human  nature  can  ap- 
pear before  us»  Nicolay  told  me,  that 
Caleb  Smith,  said  to  him,  a  few  days  since 
that  he  had  just  received  a  letter  from 
Kellogg,  of  Cin.  that  he  did  not  know  why 
he  had  not  received  his  appointment  as 
Consul.  Is  not  the  idea  preposterous? 
Did  I  tell  you  that  **Hollis»*  has  been 
here,  came  to  see  me  frequently,  and 
always  enquired  with  much  interest,  after 
you.  The  **Cap**  also  dined  here  a  few 
days  since,  still  as  refined  and  elegant 
as  ever.  I  have  so  much  to.  tell  you,  I 
do  not  know,  what  first  to  write  about. 
Wykoff,  the  '* Chevalier, *  *  enlightened  me 
about  Baker's  and  Julia's  proceedings  in 
New  York  in  Feb.  Looked  a  little 
quizzical,  about  her  not  remaining  in  W. 
as  she  expected  a  long  stay  and  much 
gayety.  Did  you  say,  she  only  numbered _5 
months.  I  thought  she  had  gently  insin- 
uated, when  she  was  here.  Hill  Lamon,  I 
believe  is  now  in  111.  mustering  recruits. 
I  know  you  will  be  sorry  to  hear,  that 
our  colored  Mantuamaker,  Elizabeth,  lost 
her  only  son  and  child  in  the  battle  of 


Lex»,  Mo»  She  is  heart  broken.  She  is  a 
very  remarkable  woman  herself.  The 
weather  is  so  beautiful,  why  is  it,  that 
we  cannot  feel  well.  The  air  feels  very 
much  like  the  early  days  when  I  used  to 
have  chills  in  Ill»,  those  days  have 
passed,  and  I  know  I  have  no  cause  to 
grieve  over  my  lot.  If  the  country  was 
only  peaceful,  all  would  be  well.  If  I 
thought,  sending  your  Father,  a  pass, 
would  bring  him  here,  I  would  do  so  with 
pleasure.  Give  my  best  love  to  them  both. 
Mrs.  Don  Piatt,  calls  here  in  an  hour's 
time.  I  must  mount  my  white  Cachemere 
and  receive  her.  We  now  occupy  the 
stately  guest  room.  She  spoke  last  winter 
of  the  miserably  furnished  rooms.  I  think 
she  will  be  astonished  at  the  change.  I 
am  not  well  enough  to  go  down.  Write 
very  soon  and  very  often  to, 

your  attached  Cousin, 

Mary  Lincoln 

P.  S.  William  has  given  me  |3.00  to  hand 
you.  I  will  have  it  in  bill  shape,  to 
send  you  in  a  few  days,  when  I  write  next. 
Strange  he  called  upon  you. 


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