William Audley Couper papers

until his return to Macon. Ask William to tell you about my crop. Do not forget turnip seed - & to send negro measures about September to O Johnson & Co Savannah. the women are all to have bootees - does Dupey still intend to make me cart bodies - William offered to send for the wheels - Dear Tootee how shall I ever be able to pay all these expenses —

I will not close this until tomorrow - G & J have written to you, Sunday noon. Last evening we called at "Maple Cottage" Mrs D- has been been exceedingly attentive - Lillie is quite a Belle - we met several gentlemen there - She looked very pretty - tho' I do not think hers a face which improves on acquaintance. Lord & herself seem to be on good terms. Mrs D- treats him as she would a son. How well he shows in society far better than at home - he is intelligent, entertaining, quite the polished gentleman. We see very little of him. As he has had a great deal to do - Poor Malley calls himself a loafer. he has to give up his room & comes to us - Lord too has to give up his room & stops here Flora Appy & myself had come up & had taken off [illegible] G. was in the drawing room - when Dr Matthews called. G— had to entertain him alone. He came for us to go to church this morning - G. A. T. & myself went to hear Mr Beardsley - who gave us a most excellent sermon this afternoon G & F. will go - to hear a celebrated Preacher from N. Y. What an awful catastrophe was the burning of the Henry Clay & more than 60 bodies have been found - many very highly respectable persons were lost. Some burnt to death others drowned. Amanda and Mr Woolley went up to Albany in that very boat when they went up the Hudson. They were racing it then. By putting this letter in the office this evening you will get it this day week Georgia will defer writing until tomorrow or the next day — So that you may get it the mail after. You must try & put up with the letters I send you - tho I acknowledge they are hard to discipher. If I had leisure to arrange my ideas I could make make out better Kiss over & over again those beloved children for me. Tell them their Mother loves them most dearly & longs to see them again - My love to dear William & say I have never felt easy since he left me. Could he have remained with me it would have been the saving of some Hundreds of dollars — My love to poor old Mrs Gale - Tell all my negros "howde" particularly Papy, Old Jane - Clementine - Maria - Lady - Joney Cupid Quamona Polly dear me I may as well stop or I will be naming them all — I do hope & trust poor Dunham is better present us all kindly to him. Nalley says he intends writing very soon also Appy. Lord when he can find leisure — God! bless you my

own dear child - take care of your own precious self. do not forget that on you depends a [illegible] a share of the happiness of your devoted Mother A M King

[upper-right corner] 3th^rd September 1852

My dearly beloved child

I did not write to you on Wednesday & have been reproaching myself ever since - knowing by experience the pain of suspense. It happened just in this way on Tuesday evening just when I was dresssed to go out & pay some calls Appy came running up to say Uncle Andrew was down stairs. We were soon all down to welcome him. He told us Louisa was at the New Haven Hotel. We all trotted off & found poor Lou up in the 3^rd Story [sic] - dozing away on a comfortable Sopha [sic] - She was not well - but cheered up & consented to come down to spend the evening with us, here we made quite a room full of Kings - only nine 10 - not as many as I muster of my own dear ones when we are all at home They could only stay in N.H. until today - as Andrew really has important business in New York. From that time to 12 oclock today - They have been with us all the time - that is Lou took her dinner & tea with us. We all collected in my room in the 3^rd Story [sic]. / it made Andrew puff & blow to get up so high/ He[re] we talked & laughed - She helping us to sew - directly Andrew would take one of the boys & away he would go - by & bye [sic] he would come back followed by a man the first day - a boy the second bearing a large basket of peaches - for which he each day paid $1.50 - then Rhina would be called to bring plates & knives & crushed sugar - for the peaches are all so sour they cannot be eaten without sugar This was very pleasant past time [sic] for the whole party The second evening Lordy got a carriage in which

himself Andrew Louisa & myself took a long ride. On our return - we all got up into my room again - but Lord had engaged to Polk [sic] with some young lady over at the Tontine and would have G & uncle Andrew go too - so there they staid [sic] until near 11 - Andrew would never eat with us - he would give me Louisa & take which ever of your brothers who would go with him up to the New Haven & give them a feed there. Very good eating up there - but I find no fault with good Miss Lines' table. What she gives us is good and wholesome. And then that good old lady Miss Dagget - always sits opposite to me & will help me to the best on the table. The only waiter is a big-greesy [sic] faced old nigger - very stupid & very slow - he always helps me first = so you see I am well taken care of. I am glad to say Louisa is very much better - She is getting flesh & regain-ing her good looks - She is a lovely woman - & dear Andrew is so affectionate & kind - I do feel so sad at losing them again so soon. But I know that he has much to occupy him in N.Y. & I could not expect Louisa to stay here without him. They would have Lord go to N.Y. with them - & wished me to let G & F. go also - but I could not spare them yet. If nothing turns up to prevent I have promised to let them go a few weeks hence. Andrew told me - if I required it - he would advance me money - He is making a vast fortinu fortune - but - at this time money is borrow-ed at a 12 per ct. to carry on their improvements. The machinery now building in N.Y. will cost him $40-000 -- -- The one last year was for $30-000. I only mention this to show that he is not at this time flush of money -- -- He is very affectionate in his manner to all of us - Louisa gave me hers & Andrews [sic] Daguerreotypes - very good ones - & I am to have the childrens [sic] taken for her -

We had the happiness to hear from your dear Father & Butler on Monday last up to the 30^th of July - Thank God! both were quite well - dear Butler says "I am so happy to hear you are better I can scarce tell the truth." What a dear good son he is. I know you write to one or the other of them every fortnight - Oh! my Tootee how mercifully we have been dealt with. If we are not rich - still we have the rich wealth of loving hearts to enjoy the little we have & God! mercifully grants us life. By yesterdays [sic] Herald I see the death of Mrs Stephen King coupled with that of Hannah Lords [sic] - as having died in July. How severely they have been visited. Oh! how much do I pity the survivors - How suddenly has that family been broken up. I really fear poor old Steve cannot survive such shocks. Mrs Preston still boards here - She is a very pleasant lady - She seems to feel very much for the Kings - I cannot realize those deaths - I forget all their unkindness in pity to their misfortunes. Oh! that I could drop take one drop from their cup of bitter sorrow I[t] seems perhaps strange that we do not feel more for them. We do feel - but Oh! not as such near relatives should.

I have yet to write my California letters & am trying hard to get this into the office so as to get it taken by the Steamer tomorrow. I find the Land Mails have been delayed by the late storm - I very much fear it extended to our poor little Island.

Dear Tootee how hard dear William has been working to make my poor old House comfortable - He has been a kind son to me - & you my child are blessed in having such a husband - Oh! Tootee I am very stupid - I could say a great deal on this subject could I find words to

express my feelings - you & William both know what I ought to feel & I do feel __________ I long to return to you - & will/God! permitting/ to be with you as soon as it will be safe for me to do so. - Andrew begs me to remember storms as well as fevers - They will not go home before the middle of October. Which is certainly as late as I can be persuaded to stay - I wrote to Messrs Andersons yesterday requesting he would be on the look out for the bale of carpeting & Lords [sic] box of odd ends - & to forward them to Williams [sic] care. I would purchase the negro clothing here if I had the means of so doing - but as I have not - I am indebted to you for suggesting having them out of the way before I return home. I have not time now to make out the list of men women & children - My book or Clementine could show you how many yards will be required - of woollen, flannel & cotton. I do not think the last years [sic] men [sic] cloth was good. If you get the samples as you propose - Select for them as William would for his own - poor things - they must be clothed even if we make no crop has Dunham yet. Please beg Mr. Dunham not to forget their shoes - I wish the women all to have bootees - Rhina is getting Flora to write to Maria & will read your letter to her - If she should be persuaded to turn Davy I will indeed have all confidence in the race. I am more mortified than angry by his ingratitude - poor wretch I hope he may live to repent.

I must bring this scrawl to a close - I have not room or time to say all I wish - you must kiss over & over again those little darlings for me & their dear papa too. I never pass a child toy shop but I wish I could just transport it to Hamilton b for those little darlings. The girls & boys all send much love, to yourselves & Mrs Gale - Rhina begs to be remembered - Say all you think will gratify my negros [sic] for me - God! bless you my own darling child - Your devoted Mother A M King

[centered] New Haven September 5^th, 1852 -

My darling Tootee-

Many thanks for your dear welcome letter received some days ago - I read your sweet letter with real delight. The last time I got a letter one from you was whilst I was so at what ever to be hated, never to be forgotten "No [Number] 15" ! I commenced a letter to you last Sunday but did not finish it - - I should like to know for a matter of curiosity when it will be safe for us to go home - I am becoming very impatient - Tho' I have many very dear friends at the North - "there is no place like home"- especially such a sweet happy home as mine. How amused you must be, dearest Tootee, at Miss Cater & her beau!! I hope they won't get married before I return - Is he handsome? Mother I suppose will tell you all about Aunt Lou's & uncle Andrew's visit to us - I love them dearly - & it is pleasant to know they love us more than they do anyone else - Father wanted me to go to New York this winter to school - but Mother has asked uncle Andrew to engage M^rs Lara for us - so I will remain at dear dear old Retreat - M^rs Lara will be with us in December - I expect we will all love her dearly - I suppose, dearest Tootee, Mother

[written lengthwise, across top of page]

or to burn it - Anderson thinks as his lime is old fresh shells it will be better than from dead shells - If the Caterpillars later may cross it will be hard for me to find the $100. As the season advances I am more & more anxious about you my own darling. May Gods [sic] mercy protect - you all.

I will write you tomorrow or the next day - this must go now or you will have no letter next Sunday -- -- Rhina has written to Maria directed to Mr Dunham

love & kisses to all

Your devoted Mother, A.M. King

told you she had got us a german to give us lessons on the Piano whilst we remain here - Prof Stechels, a little ugly monkey - he plays splendidly - but he talks so badly that it makes me mad - I must tell you the other day - I almost laughed out - the poor devil wanted me to use the Peddle [sic] - so he called it "Piddle" - I dislike him - he always plasters his pate with some nasty smelling stuff - I think you asked sometime ago for Adele Picot's direction, when you write direct care of Hector Bopange - No. 25 Quai Voltaire Paris - I love Adele very much - old Madame is a rowdy - I wish you could see her in a rage - it is a perfect curiosity - To-morrow we are going to see a Balloon go up - the largest that has ever been made in America, it is 100 feet high - & more than 70 through - Six persons have engaged their passage at 50 dollars each - Dearest Tootee it does my heart so much good to abuse the Picots - no one but those who were so unfortunate as to be a boarder at No. 15 - can understand what cruelty we suffered - never mind when we get once more on S^t Simons - then I will have my tongue free & can tell you many things that will astonish & disgust you - I cannot understand my darling Tootee, what you mean by telling us to write the Floyds - I have written Coral

fine long letters since she has written me - I am very much distressed to hear of dear Fannie's ill health, Oh! Tootee do tell me all you hear of her - I suppose you have heard the distressing news of M^rs Stephen King's death - poor woman how I do pity her family - Appy dreamed the other night she saw King & Bobby - that Bob was too fat to sleep in the bed with anyone - & that King was perfectly beautiful - little darlings - I can scarcely realize in two months if nothing happens I will see all the loved ones of S^t Simons - I believe that brother William of ours has forgotten me - he never has the manners even to send his love - what a kind noble fellow he is! I love him as dearly as I do my own brothers - How proud we are of him - If I can muster enough brass, I will call him brother when I go home. Why did you ask me, dearest Tootee about M^r Gibson? he is nothing to me, He went home in the vacation but will soon return - I love his sister dearly - she & I are very intimate - she went to school with us - Darling Tootee, this a wonderfully stupid letter - but when the writer is so stupid what can you expect but a dull letter - Did mother tell you of the Tableaux we had at the Tontine some nights ago? After a great deal of persuasion I consented to act in two - once

as Pocahontas saving Smith & as Rebecca - my dress as Pocahontas was said to be very becoming - I was dressed in white satin - a red crepe shawl across my shoulders - a great many chains round [sic] my neck - my hair all down - with a beautiful little cap & feather on my head - the feather tipped with gold - & the cap fastened in front with a diamond - as Rebecca I wore a red silk dress - a great deal of Jewelry - with a handsome headdress of silver on my pate -

I am very sleepy - so must bring this wretchedly written epistle to a close - I must beg you not to let this be seen by any one. I hope you will excuse the many faults - Give my affectionate love to brother William - Mammy Gale - Kiss all the sweet little ones many times for me - Tell all the servants how d'ye - All send thousands of love - God bless you, my darling sister - Write soon to your devoted sister who is in a hurry - Flora -

6^th Sept - [right of page]

I had intended writing you a long letter this morning but find I shall not have time. I got rather a long letter from Mr Woolley on Saturday - Rather a queer one too. I rather think much travelling has turned the parsons [sic] head - But enough of this for the present - They are seated down in Allentown at their Dutch tavern & expect me to pull up stakes here & rush down there to be near them - when they could much more easily come to me. We will talk all this over when we meet - & a great deal more too - Capt Anderson has offered to make the chimneys to the new negro houses I think I had best employ him - he also offers to deliver me 100 bushels of 100 barrels of lime at Retreat for $100. Do ask William to say whether it will be cheaper for me to purchase this lime

[upper right corner] New Haven 6^th September 1852

My own beloved Child,

I have just read your affectionate & most welcome letter of the 30^th & 31^st ult^o. Oh! my darling how my heart - trembles when I get a letter - how it sickens when your letter is delayed. How grateful I am to find up to that date you my precious ones were all safe & well - Oh my Tootee how can we sufficiently thank God's [sic] for the mercy yet shown to us - We know not one moment passes over our head but someone dies - We hear of constant accidental deaths - only two days ago there were 26 killed by the Explosion of a Steamer on the North River - & yet we are spared! & are surrounded by blessings.

Flora wrote you to day - I felt so much annoyed that I could not give you one of my long staves - I wrote to you on Saturday Friday & intended writing again yesterday - but thought it would be doing more real good to read aloud to dear little Tip - the book I was reading was well calculated for him - "The wide wide world" I intend to get a copy of it & bring it home for you to read - It was loaned me by dear good Mrs Baldwin. Poor Tip wet two pocket handkerchiefs with his tears - shed for poor little Ellen. How exceedingly kind dear Mrs Baldwin is - She called on Saturday morning & invited us round to take tea with her. I mentioned that I owed a call to Mrs Prof Silverman - she offered to go with me to see her - So Geo & myself dressed up & set off a little before 5 o clock - found Mrs B. - quite ready - We met Mrs Silverman & the Prof at home. He is one of the most pleasant men I ever met with - & I like her too. We returned to Mrs Baldwins [sic] - on our way we passed Maple Cottage one of the prettiest spots in New Haven - Mrs D. & L. are still absent - Mrs B - took us in to look at the garden - it did look most beautiful. We found the Gov^r at home to receive us - & soon tea was served up - we met Floyd & Tip on the way. Mrs B would have them come along with us - as soon as tea was over

[written sideways, down left of page]

I have just received your precious letter of the 3^rd Inst - thank God! you were all well - I am too grateful for this great blessing to think of the crop I have not time to moralize on this - as I fear I am already too late for the Mail. As regards this part our Carpet - it is indeed most provoking - It will be impossible for me to match it - If you will let me know the ground colour & give some idea of the pattern as I have entirely forgotten it, I will get some which may answer - pray do so as quickly as you can - Lord writes that he will remain in N.Y. until tomorrow ends - I gave him the dimensions of the glass case 30 by 20. I hope it will answer for it has given me a great deal of trouble to obtain it - As we are so remote from glass manufacturers - I really dread dear Tootee the effects of this Wet season on you & your children - May the Mercy of God protect you my beloved ones - In great haste your own Mother A.M.K