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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to Lydia Allen Dorr: |
Letter
Feb. 1 '45.
Do not, my Dear M., regret that your letters are not
more agreeable, when they are so acceptable and refreshing
to me. Always add what you know about political matters.
Yours of the 25th was received with much pleas-
ure. The way is, as you say truly, dark & mysterious: how
it will end is only known to God. I hope my bodily
strength will last; but I sometimes feel, like a man
holding upon a ladder with his hands, as if
I must let go my hold & drop; but I am not disposed to give up
my principles. – I rejoice to hear that the health of my Father
has improved.
I am very closely guarded here, so as
to prevent, if possible, any communication from without.
*I am under a mistake. The object is to put in stables & fasten the outer & inner doors together.
The warden has had a bolt taken out today from the
iron door at the entrance, in order to spy the corridor
more effectively. The lamp has been restored, with an
understanding that it is not to be kept burning all night
at any time; but to be lighted when wanted. The warden
has made a rule that no person shall have
more than one book from the library at a time. I have
a dispensation to finish several that I had on hand!
Mayor Burgess, now the weekly visiting inspector, is ex-
tremely polite! Perhaps he is afraid of my word, without
an oath, if I should ever leave this place. There is no
new turn of the screw other than those mentioned. Mayor B.
says, as I can now come out, I shall not probably re-
ceive any more “indulgence” from the inspectors in the
way of visitors. – Col. A. is getting back
on high Algerine ground. He seems to think that the Assem-
bly have been liberal enough. He kept silence, and said
nothing among them about unconditional liberation.
He thinks my friends abroad will very generally be satisfied
with the recent act. – He and the Mayor are very confi-
dent of earning the spring election. – Dr
Cleveland prob-
ably did not like the statement in F's last application to
the Assembly, that he (Dr C.) agreed in my view of my
bodily complaints. Although C. speaks of
Brownell to me
in terms of contempt, yet he does not wish to be quoted
as differing from him; and probably concurred fully
with Brownell in his letter to the committee concerning
my health.
Will F. ask Mr Burgess to obtain copies
of these letters of Brownell & Cleveland, to compare with these
other statements; and also to give me the general idea
of these letters when he writes again. – Cleveland lies for a much larger
consideration than Brownell. Both of these men profess to follow
Christ. Pray for them. –
The disposition of the papers you speak of was
as I could have wished. –
The messenger was not able to call on Mrs
W. the week before last. His visit, -- will probably be-
come less frequent, now that there is so much vigilance.
I received 8 of the apples. The risk is too great to send
any more in that channel. – I see the Her. & occasion-
ally the Gaz.: the journal I do not wish, unless you find it some
thing very special to cut out.
But I must stop, for want of time, & not
of will or kindness. God bless you. My love to F.
Yours as ever,
T. W. D.
Please to fold the letters you send (in the extra
channel) of half the usual letter size. –
If there be a weekly Gazette, a number would occasion-
ally be acceptable, thro’ the ordinary conveyance.