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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to Lydia Allen Dorr: |
Letter
Nov. 12. '44. . -
Dear M.
Yours of the 4th was received in course of the mule; and I write a short
reply, not precisely knowing when another opportunity for transmitting will occur.
I am not so weak & foolish as to call people gloomy, who write on relig-
ious subjects. The really religious are the only persons in this world, who have a
right to be always cheerful. In referring to the expressions of your letter, I had in my
mind those in which you speak of the affairs of this state, with present appre-
hension of trouble, and with gloomy forebodings. But perhaps all will come right
in a strict way. The result of the Presidential election, which all the signs here & on the outside in-
dicate to have gone in favor of Polk & Dallas, as the democrats expected, will perhaps
exert a wholesome influence on the Algerine mind and temper. There is a wonder-
ful softening down on the inside. Something has come over the mind of
the warden; and I find in one of the officers (of the county jail), who comes into the prison
occasionally, a sudden & most remarkable solicitude respecting the state of my
health!! Alas poor human nature! How many turnings and windings it has!
I should be a fool not to have learned something in the last 3 years! I believe
I must write a book, and give the results of my experience! Some of them would
hardly be credited.
Will you ascertain who it was that updated me as reading a
newspaper in my cell? What the person saw was a copy of the rules (of considerable
length) pasted on coarse paper, and held up as a screen against intrusive eyes,
whether of friends of enemies. I know not, peeking through the “hole for observation.” The an-
noyance was obviated more completely by keeping down the “cricket” of the inner door
(at the outset of the visiting I was not in the shop). I have an invincible repug-
nance to being peeked at in this way, except by very particular friends. The person
who told the story above might have done me a great deal of mischief.
I owe much gratitude to the goodwill of the suffrage ladies to which
you allude. Had they taken up the cudgels in 1842, and left the men at home to do
the chores, affairs might have evolved differently.
I did not intend to call in question the kindness of Mr A. in making his visits
here; but I also tho’t he was gratifying you in so doing. I should have most
cheerfully done the same to him, under a reverse of the circumstances.
I did not say or suppose that Henry had accepted the nomination; but pulsed
a hope that he had been frank; and had declined on the ground that he is no
democrat; which I fear is the case. You will not think any the worse of him on that
account.
Mrs W. must have been
mistaken in supposing that she had an oppor-
tunity to send me a letter. None has been received. Visitors must be very cautious
how they attempt to drop anything into the cell for me, or they may get me into dif-
ficulty, and redouble the vigilance of my police.
Who finds the money for beautifying your church as you
describe? Is it not getting to be fine out of proportion to the “candle of the Lord”,
(the minister) who is set up in it?
My undershirts are thick enough for the winter; and I need nothing
more in that line. In examining the Physician’s book Dr
Cl. has found an
order made in June last, and which has been overlooked, directing that I should
have some fresh meat “occasionally.” Dr C. seemed please to find it,
and is acting upon it. Here is something to my advantage; as it requires
more activity than I possess to dispose of a salt meat diet.
My regards to F. Adieu – T. W. Dorr.