Dedham, Feb. 3, 1861
Mr. Benjamin
Dear Sir,
I went yesterday to enquire Edwin Shirey. His address is “Winthrop House”, St. Anthony
Falls and no doubt he would be glad to see you.
I understand he is much better and intends to remain there some time and
perhaps make it his permanent residence if he thinks he will be better in health
there than he has been here.
Times are very hard here this winter R.B. Co. are not running half the time and
then only eight hours per day, and I’m afraid spring won’t better it much, as
seems to be looming up more distinctly every day, but there may be a settlement
at the last minute. “It is always the
darkest before day.” I should like to
see South Carolina wiped out but there are those states sympathizing with her
on the borders, which it would be well to make some concessions to, though not
to the extent of sacrificing principal.
Chas Frances Adams has made an excellent speech in Congress lately. I suppose you will see it before this reaches
you. Washington is being garrisoned. There are six hundred troops there. Saw principally Flying Artillery to prevent
any outbreak at the inauguration of Lincoln, as was threatened. There are all
sorts of rumors afloat such as his being assassinated and General Scott
also. The old __ is gaining fresh laurels
by the manner in which he meets succession and if he was not controlled, you
would see another state of things in my opinion. It only needed firmness on the part of the executives
at the outset to put a stop to the whole thing.
“Curses on the old Public ____” I say.
I don’t feel the loss of the South out of the Confederacy. They have always been an eyesore to us, and
an expense, always creating trouble with their infernal jealousy of the
progress of the Free States. They cannot
exist as a separate government. There
are too many conflicting interests among themselves and they will be like the
South American states, eternally warring with one another for some imaginary
cause till the North will have to step in between them, cuff all their ears,
and take them back again. But see what a
trouble this all is and see what times are on us in consequence. I tell you there is a feeling here among all
classes that will crush them into the earth in case of war, if they are only
permitted by the government to do so. All
the military of Mass. are ready by vote of company when called upon to assist the
government in putting down the rebellion, and have said so officially to Gov. Andrew,
and the legislature have granted supplies of money, I mean for the ___, and in
all this looks much like civil war. My
hope is that it may be averted.
Price I believe to be in South Dedham, though have not seen
him this winter. I do not hear from
Rockford very often and nothing about the settlement of the business. I presume it is where we left it except that
the machinery can’t be worth anything, so that will save Mr. Dickinson all the trouble
of selling it.
Edward Griggs is still with L. S. Co. He does not write to his father often and to
anyone else here so that I do not know how he is prospering. Frank Baker is here yet, has done nothing
since he came back from the west, is in good health and spirits. Now he with the rest of the family wish to be
remembered to you and family. Fisher is
in New York City studying law and will make a smart man. Frank is a drone. The Bestwicks are well and send love to all. Frank Turner has sold his house to Mr. John
Wilson and has built another on the site of the old Russel house where we
boarded at the time of the fire. They
have no children having lost two babes. Mark
Bates is building a house on the hill next to Potengills . Pet is thriving. How many children he has I don’t know. Geo A. Guild was married last week to one of
the Cobb daughters. He has the watch
cleaning store next to the Phoenix.
Frank Boyden, who you recollect served his time with Blevins, is
dead. He leaves a wife and child . He
died in ten days from the last day he was ___ with lung and typhoid fever combined. Loring Griggs and Calderman are well &
Jim Colburn , Harriet Adams and all that I think are well. James Pond is now a married man to Deacon
Duncan’s youngest daughter of West Dedham.
For myself, I am living along same as usual, no great
prospects for the future. But I don’t
much care about that, let the future take care of itself. I have but one child, the one you saw in
Rockford. She is well and hearty, three years old last
December. My wife is just now troubled with a ___, but otherwise well. I am living in a house that Cd. William Stowe
used to live in belonging to Alvan Fisher, near that brick house of Miss
Binghams, only on the other street.
I am glad to hear that you and your family have been so well
since you went to Minnesota. It is a
great blessing, more especially so to a frontier man. We were pleased to hear of the increase in your
family and hope the little youngster is well.
With respects from my wife and self, I remain as ever,
Your friend,
George W Macbeth
Write as often as convenient. I shall always be glad to hear from you and
will write you all the news I can think of.
GWMB
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