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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to Lydia Allen Dorr: |
Letter
Jan. 1 '45. - noon.
Dear M.
Hoping to have an opportunity today (through F.) of sending
you a few lines, I now sit down to write them; and begin with wishing you
a happy new year, as I did (not a merry, but) a happy Christmas a week ago. And
may the year, on which we have entered, prove to both of us a brighter and more
prosperous one than the last, and find us always more prompt to do what
duty may require than solicitous about consequences. The promise of an open
winter is a blessing to me in this cool place: and here is something good to begin
with. I was not aware until you had gone, 13 days ago, how great a privilege
I had enjoyed in seeing you once more; tho’ your visit was a hurried one, and there
were apprehensions, to check the freedom of conversation, that we were under inspection
at the time. I was happy to find you in such good health; and trust that there
are many blessings yet in store for you & F. whose centering zeal & interest in my behalf
I trust I fully appreciate. And I wish also to do myself the justice of erasing
it, if I have written anything to you, concerning my ever devoted & assiduous friend
W.S. Burges, which might bar the construction of the slightest disparagement of him.
When I asked whether he might not be getting “tired”, I referred to his omission to reply
to some questions I had asked, and to cause some things to be done which I thought
to be advisable. Mr Burges, in the hurry of his business may have overlooked some matters,
and I have no doubt burdened him with others, which I ought not to have expected
him to attend to, as he is not a political writer. All is well with him: he is good &
true; and I love him for the sincerity of his friendship, which is so fresh & strong, while
that of so many, from whom better things might have been expected, is unfruit-
ful, in this the autumn of adversity, and has fallen into the “sere & yellow leaf”.
I could hardly look upon “the war among the ladies” of the suf-
frage side, with any other than a sense of the ludicrous, if some of the “liberators” did
not seem to be bent on mischief, by way of punishing a supposed communication from
me to one of “the other side”! Should they make a disclosure of their supposed
information, they will deeply injure my messenger; and may draw down penalties
on my head. But such a person as Mrs L. (who may be supposed to be actuated by
an irritable vanity –, & by pecuniary considerations (the scrip) would not mind this much
in the pursuit of revenge. The “liberators” were offended because my counsel were
to be admitted, without consulting them; but were comforted by the remark of one
of the men of their clique, that old Mr Dorr was going in first and that “he had
put a flea in his ear”. Mrs W. says she has been terribly abused by them; and that
shameful imputations are cast upon Mr Burges. I have many excellent friends a-
mong the “liberators”; but they have been implored upon; and I must request you
to be very cautious in your communications with such persons as Mrs L. They
quote you against Mrs W., who is a woman of good sense, & has served our cause
well, and is on the right side in this matter. They misrepresent Mrs W. in saying
she had gone over to their side. Your prudence will enable you to moderate
on this occasion, and perhaps to check some act, of folly. – I have sent no writing
to or thro’ Mrs W. of late; as the aspect of things was rather doubtful in that quarter
and the “liberators” had gone so far as to get spies to watch Mrs W.’s house for the messen-
ger! What a curious state of things it is, when a man is obliged to exclaim,
save me from my friends! That Mrs W. is not always the wisest you may infer
from her request to me, in her last note, that I would request the “liberators” (through
Dr. Brownell, or one of the inspectors!) to desist from their attacks upon her! Please to say
to Mrs W. that what I expressed, in my note to her respecting Mrs L. was to herself &
not to be read about. What is to become of one man, lame, bilious & rheumatic,
between two parties of angry women! – The old lady who spoke so kindly, on
the occasion of a visit to you, I presume, was Mrs. Hidden. –
I have read the 25th Psalm, as you suggested; and find it (as I had
before) most beautiful & appropriate. Read also the 27th, which is a fit companion for the
other. The scriptures grow as they are read; are eminently suggestive; and therefore
always new, so that there can be no end to the reading of them.
There is no ≠ messenger for me from Washington yet
as the liberators promised; and probably will not be. The Whigs will hold
on for a time longer; and for how long a time, God only knows. The assembly
will do nothing that does not involve degradation. If they pass any act, it
will be such a one as they know I shall not accept.
I hope my Father will see the propriety of pressing no farther any conditional measure. It would
be dishonorable for me to purchase my discharge from this place by subscribing
to any conditions whatever. I shall do no such thing. My friends will never
have occasion to mourn over any such humiliation as this. – If uncle
P. Allen would accept a nomination from the democrats for governor, he would be
elected and bring matters to a settlement at once. But the mouse within him will
doubtless deter him from acceding to this request.
Yours of the 14th & 17th did not come to hand till after your visit. –
All right. – Mrs W.
says that Mrs L. found the reproach against her, that she
did not start the Treadwill proceedings, as she might have done, and thus, have
had “all the glory”! – Trifles seem to be magnified here into matters of importance!
The warden, who is my principal thermometer, being reserved & distant, indicates
that there is considerable stir & hard talking on the outside among the Whigs.
With affectionate respect, love yours
truly,
T.W.D.