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The Dorr Letters ProjectThomas Wilson Dorr to Lydia Allen Dorr: |
Letter
Nov. 1. '44. -
Dear Mother
Yours of the 23rd & 26th Oct. were received with great pleasure; tho’
I was sorry to observe that “all your thoughts are solemnized by passing sorrows and anticipated
evil.” I wish it were in my power to say something to raise your spirits. Being in
prison for the good cause of freedom and justice, & with spirits unbroken, it seems
to be a part of my duty to administer consolation to desponding friends on the outside.
But, alas! You and my father are of the opposite school of politics, and cannot rejoice
in my devotion to what I deem sound principles. There is one thing however that you
can rejoice in, that I have not sacrificed my honest convictions of truth & duty
for the sake of getting out of this half way house between the living and the
dead. Yesterday was the anniversary of my commandment to prison, in the county
jail here; and the year has been divided into three parts, four months having been
passed in the jail of Pro. County, 4 in that of Newport, & 4 in the state’s prison.
Through the goodness of God, I am still among the living; and he only knows
how much longer I shall continue here, and when my life will be ended. He will order
all things right; and to him be the praise.
Your letters, beside their excellent general reflections, give me an insight
into local & family matters. I am glad to hear that you have had so good a season for fruit
and that “the boys” have spared you anything to reward the trouble & expense of “trimming”
the orchard. Philip L’s house (in project) will, it is true, cut off half the garden land,
that you have been accustomed to “improve”; but I am inclined to believe, that by con-
centrating your forces on your own half, more will be realized than before. – As it
regards a change of furniture, so common in other houses, I am glad to hear you say
that the old (plain & sufficient) remains unchanged in yours; but when you add
that the occupants, yourself, & I, are much changed, I grieve at the depredations of
time & trouble, hoping also most seriously that your troubles will end & that
there are yet many cheerful & pleasant days in store for you.
I have learned no particulars of the Gen. assembly, at their recent
very short session of 3 days; and only know that they have done nothing, as I expected,
relating to myself.
Today the Presidential election has commenced in Pennsylvania
& Ohio; the first probably going in favor of Polk & Dallas, & the last in Clay & Frelinghuysen.
Though I cannot say that the contest seems free of doubt, yet, somehow
or other, I feel as if the democrats would succeed this time. You need be under
no apprehension for the interests of the country, which have always been safe in their hands.
The Whigs of Mass, you say, call Bancroft & myself by opprobrious names. They,
or their predecessors, under other denominations, have done the same thing by better men.
Perhaps it is a sign that they apprehend being beaten. Do you recollect the
eulogies they poured out on Jefferson & Madison after their deaths?
Sullivan will soon be at home, and make pleasant company for
you, with endless stories of travel among the “Ahabs,” and other outlandish peo-
ple. Give my love to S. in return for his kind remembrance. He will be somewhat
surprised at the vindictive course the Whigs have pursued toward me. Apropos
of Egypt, when he has been traveling; – I had heard that the ancient inhabitants
of that country (in the form of mummies) had been taken as physic; but I have
been reminded here (and I believe I have not mentioned it to you before) of one other
use for these defunct citizens, in the form of paint! The mummy, when ground fine,
furnishes a brown color, which cannot be obtained elsewhere. Dr. C. has purchased
a small bottle of this man-paint, for the use of the works, if necessary! To what
strange uses may we come at last! The odor is very peculiar, and appropriate to
a mortuary like this.
The black man, who sat opposite to Sullivan, at the dinner table
in Switzerland, was no doubt there considered a gentleman. Have you not too much
prejudice against color? In the “house” of “many mansions” there will be no negro gal-
lery!
Pray do not look too much toward my prison, which may excite gloomy
thoughts; and walk abroad, as before, for health’s sake. You mention a call
here (or rather at the jail on the 21st Oct.) by F., who left his love. The message was
not communicated to me; I received it through your last. The 15 apples apiece which, he was told,
were distributed among the prisoners, were 3 at my door, and probably the same to the
rest of the prisoners. All sorts of stories are told to visitors, who will do well to be on their guard
against being imposed upon. I thank you for the bottles of Sands’ sarsaparilla (which contains no
mercury) & the fruit, and for a piece of P. Allen Jr’s
wedding cake. I think the sarsap. has
done me some good.
I too am reminded with you of the fall of the leaf; for the unrelent-
ing frost of autumn has stressed my tree which I have looked out, so many times, from my
seat in the workshop. It was quite a relief to the eye. It now stands naked to the wintry blasts.
Give my love to F. and ask him to excuse me for reminding him, that
any intimation from him that I have any communication with the world, will be greatly to my
disadvantage in these times & in such a place. Dr. C. will use his astuteness to find out what my friends abroad
know of the interior of this cavern. Hope for better days; and accept the affectionate regards of yours truly.