1829 – A letter from a young man to his cousin, who he fears is romantically toying with one of his friends
- Envelope or Cover
- Huntingdon, Pennsylvania , 1829
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, 1829. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This three-page stampless letter was written by “Edward C.” in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania to his cousin, Louisa Elliott in Harrisburg. It is dated May 14th, 1829, and bears a double-circle Huntingdon postmark dated May 15 along with a somewhat ornate manuscript “Paid 12½” rate mark.
In this letter, Edward questions his cousin with regard to her affection for her fiancé, his friend “K”, while expressing some rather harsh opinions regarding the fickleness of women and beseeches her to contact K rather than flirting with others.
It reads in part:
“I received a letter from K. by last Monday’s mail. He speaks of you as one not altogether indifferent to him. He says change of places may . . . produce change of feelings, although he says he does not fear it. . .. Does he place too much confidence in you or is he deceiving himself” From your letters to me, I suspect he is, and that grossly, notwithstanding you took the precaution to say that you were only almost in Love!!! Did I not tell you often that if you was away you would soon forget him? Think well of what you are doing. I know that it is the nature and disposition of the females to fall almost in love with every new face they meet provided the person pays them a little attention. I do not say that is really the case with you but it might be. It is not right to be flirting about with every fellow that wears a fine coat and more particularly after you have solemnly engaged yourself to another. . .. Louisa cast not off a well time love for a pleasant or good looking Esau. K. says that you have not replied to his two last letters. He says it may mean something. He regrets very much that the chance of communications between you & him is broken by your absence. . .. Write you do write to him he says he will not know where to direct his letters. Write to him then Louisa put his poor heart at rest. I have fellow-feeling for him or any . . . who has been so unfortunate as to fall in love. I have given you [this information so] you can decide whether you will write or not. . .. Do as you think best and all will be well.”. This relationship scenario sounds like it could have been pulled from an American version of a romantic Regency Era novel.
In this letter, Edward questions his cousin with regard to her affection for her fiancé, his friend “K”, while expressing some rather harsh opinions regarding the fickleness of women and beseeches her to contact K rather than flirting with others.
It reads in part:
“I received a letter from K. by last Monday’s mail. He speaks of you as one not altogether indifferent to him. He says change of places may . . . produce change of feelings, although he says he does not fear it. . .. Does he place too much confidence in you or is he deceiving himself” From your letters to me, I suspect he is, and that grossly, notwithstanding you took the precaution to say that you were only almost in Love!!! Did I not tell you often that if you was away you would soon forget him? Think well of what you are doing. I know that it is the nature and disposition of the females to fall almost in love with every new face they meet provided the person pays them a little attention. I do not say that is really the case with you but it might be. It is not right to be flirting about with every fellow that wears a fine coat and more particularly after you have solemnly engaged yourself to another. . .. Louisa cast not off a well time love for a pleasant or good looking Esau. K. says that you have not replied to his two last letters. He says it may mean something. He regrets very much that the chance of communications between you & him is broken by your absence. . .. Write you do write to him he says he will not know where to direct his letters. Write to him then Louisa put his poor heart at rest. I have fellow-feeling for him or any . . . who has been so unfortunate as to fall in love. I have given you [this information so] you can decide whether you will write or not. . .. Do as you think best and all will be well.”. This relationship scenario sounds like it could have been pulled from an American version of a romantic Regency Era novel.
Details
Title
1829 – A letter from a young man to his cousin, who he fears is romantically toying with one of his friends
Author
“Edward C.
Binding
Envelope or Cover
Condition
Very Good
Publisher
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Date
1829