In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

15 letter 5  To Margaret Sweat [February 1853] New York City, New York My dear Margaret— I have been married two months, and have concluded since I came here to make a announcement of the marriage in order to avail myself with marital freedom, of Stoddard’s protection during Wilson’s absence.1 My position remains the same for the present, we do not live together2 —I feel nervous just now, hurried & somewhat excited. I have no time to be in love, see very little of my husband. You know my world of friends is here, and Stoddard is so well known too. It is not known here except by one or two that we are affianced—therefore I expect a general surprise—and S. you know is poor and we are—so it is a strange thing. Only two more things, a baby and death. Marriage in a certain & true sense is a humbug. I cannot see why the married should deny this— S. hopes to get a place in the Custom House3 here. At first he wished to go abroad & his friends advised it—but he has many literary relations here, and a mother in delicate health,4 to whom he is devotedly attached. But political favors are not to be counted on. I should write Sarah5 a note had she written me during the last four or five months— I will send her a paper—6 Your letter came yesterday I hope you will be here—be sure to write me. I would give all I possess and sacrifice all else if I could go with Wilson. I am madly in love with him and my heart weeps blood to lose him. Oh life, life! Yours truly, EDBS 16 Thursday 10 Feb. 38 Warren St Tomorrow the announcement is to be made—I shall return to Matta [illegible] with Father—7 Manuscript: Allison-Shelley Collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Pennsylvania State University Libraries notes 1. Wilson sailed for California on February 21, 1853. Here Stoddard is referring to the need for women to be escorted during social engagements by men, especially in urban environments. In marrying, her “protector” shifted from her brother to her husband, Richard. 2. Stoddard lived in a boardinghouse with her brother Wilson until his departure ;inMarch,sheandRichardrentedthesecondfloorofahouseonHenryStreet. On March 14, she writes to Sweat, “I cannot realize the comical fact that I am to sleepwithhimeverynight,dinewithhimeveryday.Doesitgrowtiresome?”Inclosing she asked Sweat to call her “Mrs EDBS,” insisting “I do not like the adoption of the lords initials” (Allison-Shelley Collection, Pennsylvania State University). 3. With the assistance of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Richard was appointed an inspector of customs at the New York Custom House on June 28, 1853. 4. Richard Stoddard’s mother, Sophia Gurney Stoddard Gallon (1804–1870). 5. Sarah Loring Meigs Sweat. See Letter 3, note 17. 6. Prior to postage reductions in 1845, it was much less expensive to send a newspaper through the mail than it was to send a letter. The exchange of newspapers often took the place of or supplemented epistolary contact. By 1852, the priceofpostingaletterhadbeenreducedsodrasticallythatmostAmericanscould afford to participate in exchanges of handwritten letters. Stoddard’s decision to “send [Sarah] a paper” may be a reference to the outdated practice of mailing newspapersratherthanletters,thereforeimplyingthatsuchapoorcorrespondent does not deserve an actual letter. 7. This postscript is written along the right hand margin of the final page of the letter. ...

Share