III. LETTERS OF CONGRATULATION V THOMAS JEFFERSON TO GEORGE WASHINGTON Sir: MONTICELLO, October 28, 1781. I hope it will not be unacceptable to your Excellency to receive the congratulations of a private individual on your return to your native shore, and, above all things, on the success which has attended it. Great as this has been, however, it can scarcely add to the affection with which we have looked up to you. And if, in the minds of any, the motives of gratitude to our good allies were not sufficiently apparent, the part they have borne in this action must amply convince them. I should certainly have done myself the honor of paying my respects to you personally, but I apprehend that these visits, which are meant by us as marks of our attachment to you, must interfere with the regulations of a camp, and be particularly inconvenient to one whose time is too precious to be wasted in ceremony. I beg you to believe me among the sincerest of those who subscribe themselves your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant. By permission of Harper & Bros. TH. JEFFERSON. From The Domestic Life of Jefferson, by Randolph. GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS TO JOHN J. PINKERTON NORTH SHORE, STATEN ISLAND. My dear Pinkerton: 2nd October, 1863. I wish you joy with all my heart, and the voice of a married man of seven years ought to have weight in felicitation. It has always seemed that my fancy was fleet enough to outrun the fact, and yet I have been always distanced. As a lover you think marriage is a very paradise, but as a husband you will feel that it is the beginning of life. But I leave the sermon to the good clergyman who will breathe upon you the heavenly benediction for your voyage. I only stand on the shore and fling after you my well worn marriage slipper, and believe all that you know of your companion, and whistle for the softest and most favorable gales. God bless you and yours. AlYour friend, ways GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS. By permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. IV. INVITATIONAL LETTERS JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL TO THOMAS HUGHES, My dear Hughes:— ELMWOOD, July 18, 1870. I hope you will come hither as early as you can, for it will be vacation, and I can see more of you. And I want you to see my trees with the leaves on— especially my English elms. I hope by the middle of August our worst heats will be over, for they began early this year. you to know. Already I have an invitation for you from a friend of mine at Newport (our great watering-place), whom I would like While you are here, I will take you to Concord and show you such Lions as we have. We shall be delighted to see you and keep you as long as you can stay. Good-by and God bless you till I take you by the hand. Always heartily yours, J. R. LOWELL. From Letters of James Russell Lowell. DAVID MASSON TO OSCAR C. MCCULLOCH My dear Sir: 58 GREAT KING STREET, EDINBURGH, July 6, 1891. Mrs. Masson and my daughter are away at Strathpeffer at present so that I am by myself here, and shall be still by myself the time you and Mrs. McCulloch expect to be in Edinburgh. But, if you will excuse that unfortunate chance, I shall be glad to see you any afternoon during your visit when it may be convenient for you to give me that pleasure. Yours very truly, DAVID MASSON. ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON TO HENRY JAMES SKERRYVORE, BOURNEYMOUTH, My dear Henry James: October 28, 1885. At last, my wife being at a concert, and a story being done, I am at some liberty to write and give you of my views. And now to the main point: why do we not see you? Do not fail us. Make an alarming sacrifice and let us see "Henry James's Chair" properly occupied. I never sit in it myself (though it was my grandfather's); it has been consecrated to guests by your approval, and now stands at my elbow gaping. We have a new room, too, to introduce to you-aur last baby, the drawing-room; it never cries and has cut its teeth. Likewise, there is a cat now. It promises to be a monster of laziness and self-sufficiency. Now, my dear James, come- -come -come. The spirit (that is me) says, come; and the bride (and that is my wife) says, come; and the best thing you can do for us and yourself and your work is to get up and do so right away. Yours affectionately, ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON. By permission of Charles Scribner's Sons. LONGFELLOW TO MRS. JAMES T. FIELDS. (Acceptance.) April 25, 1871. We accept, Greene and myself, your kind invitation to dinner on Thursday, and will present ourselves in proper uniform at six o'clock. Do not give yourself any further trouble about the notices of Greene's book. Already I notice something like peacock's feathers growing upon my friend, and have to spread my own very wide to show that I still exist, am still respectable, though tarnished. It is a very comical sight to see two authors shut up in one room together. However, we will be serious on Thursday. By permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. From Life of Longfellow. Mr. B HENRY D. THOREAU TO MR. B. (Acceptance.) CONCORD, January 21, 1854. My coat is at last done, and my mother and sister allow that I am so far in a condition to go abroad. I |