March 31,1851 John Benjamin-1823 to Elizabeth Garner

Dedham, Mass

United States, America

March 31, 1851

My Dearest Elizabeth,

I dare say but what you will ere this be anxious to hear from me in answer to your kind and welcome letter which I received last week.   I do advise you that I was very sorry to hear of your sickness, hoping that you have quite recovered again as I am happy to day that I am quite well with the exception of a slight touch of cold as this weather has been very changeable here for some time past.  I have to inform you that I have received your letter which was detained on board of the Atlantic steamer, which I told you of in my last letter.  I also received a paper for which I beg to return you my many thanks.  I was happy to hear of the __ rejoicing all through this principality of Wales in honor of Mr. Mostyn son coming of age.  My cousin Jones sent me a note & some newspapers with all the particulars. 

In regard to your coming out to this country , I am hardly prepared to say anything about it any more than I have told you before, for Price has not received a decided answer from his intended as yet .  He sometimes thinks that he will have to come over this spring, as it seems she can’t settle the affairs alone, so I dare say but what he will come over, but at the same time I shall write you again by the next mail if I hear anything further.  I must be candid & tell you the truth, I think he is very home or love sick, and has been for the last few weeks.  I have, as I am sorry to say, had some very high words with him today, for he is so very childish in his ways, for sometimes his says that he shall go home & other times he thinks that there is nowhere like this country.  There is one thing I know, that is if he goes home he will not stay there no more than a month for he can’t get any more than one third the wages there as he can make in this country.  I sometimes think that I shall not say anything  more to him, but let him do as he thinks proper, which I think will be the best way to deal with him.   This I hope you will not make mention of to anyone. 

I shall write to my father a letter in answer to the note you was so kind to enclose in your letter for me.    It seems that Samuel Hughes the blacksmith and his wife intends coming out to this country in this spring for they have sent to me for information.  Perhaps that you can come over with them that is in the same ship, but I should not like you to come no other way than in the first cabin, which will cost 12£.  They ask 15£ but never refuse it, but I shall write to you again as to the conclusion that Price has come to & then you will know better how to act.  I shall put in a line for my sister & father’s letter so as to satisfy her, for I don’t want her to come over until some more of the family are ready to come with her.  I should like it if I had the money as well the will to send for them all for every one of them could make a living in this country, whereas they can’t make more than half enough to keep themselves, and if all is true that I hear, the poor houses are all quite full both at Holywell and other parts of the country. 

As I have had but a very few minutes to write to you this time, I hope you will excuse me writing this short epistle to you.  I am invited to a party tonight and if I don’t go they will think I am slighting them.  I must need tell you that the people about here have been very kind to me this winter, that is inviting me to visit either one or the other of them about twice a week when we pass off a few hours very pleasant indeed. 

I must close for the present - with my love to your brother and sister, and accept of the same yourself from yours most faithfully,

J. Benjamin

in great haste