[dateline] London March 4 1786
[salute] My Dear Sister
I seldom feel a sufficient stimulous for writing untill I hear that a vessel is just
about to sail, and then I find my self so deep in debt, that I know not where to begin
to discharge the account. But it is time for me to be a little more provident for
upon looking into my list I find I have no less than 18 correspondents who have demands
upon me. One need to have a more fruitfull fund than I am possessed of, to pay half
these in Sterling Bullion. I fear many will find too great a Quantity of alloy to
be pleased with the traffic.
I think in one of my letters to you last fall I promised to give you some account
of the celebrated actress Mrs Siddons, who I was then going to see;
1 you may well suppose my expectations were very high, but her circumstances were such
then as prevented her from exerting that force of passion, and that energy of action,
which have renderd her so justly celebrated.
<She was [ . . . ] in the [ . . . ] of her { 81 } pregnancy. You [will?] suppose that she ought not to have appeard [at?][ . . . ] upon appeard at all upon the stage; I [should?] have thought so too if I had not [seen?] her. [ . . . ] contrived her dress in such a manner as wholy to [disguise?] her situation and [have?] only those tragedies where little exertion was necessary.>2 The first peice I saw her in was Shakspears Othelo. She was interesting beyond any
actress I had ever seen: but I lost much of the pleasure of the play, from the Sooty
appearence of the Moor. Perhaps it may be early prejudice, but I could not Seperate
the affrican coulour from the man, nor prevent that disgust and horrour which filld
my mind every time I saw him touch the Gentle Desdemona, nor did I wonder that Brabantio
thought some Love portion or some witchcraft had been practised, to make his Daughter
“fall in Love with what she scarcly dared to look upon.”
3 I have been more pleasd with her since in several other characters particularly in
Matilda in the Carmilite, a play which I send you for your amusement.
4 Much of Shakspears language is so uncooth that it sounds very harsh. He has beauties
which are not equald, but I should suppose they might be renderd much more agreeable
for the Stage by alterations. I saw Mrs Siddons a few Evenings ago, in Macbeth a play
you recollect, full of horrour. She supported her part with great propriety, but She
is too great to be put in so detestable a Character. I have not yet seen her in her
most pathetick Characters, which are Jane Shore, Belvedera in venice preservd and
Isabela in the fatal marriage,
5 for you must make as much interest here, to get a Box when she plays, as to get a
place at Court, and they are usually obtaind in the same Way. It would be very difficult
to find the thing in this Country which money will not purchase, provided you can
bribe high enough.
What adds much to the merit of Mrs Siddons, is her virtuous Character, Slander itself
never having slurd it. She is married to a Man who bears a good character, but his
Name and importance is wholy swallowd up in her Fame. She is the Mother of five children,
but from her looks you would not imagine her more than 25 years old. She is happy
in having a Brother who is one of the best tragick actors upon the Stage, and always
plays the capital parts with her, so that both her Husband, and the virtuous part
of the audience can see them in the tenderest scenes without once fearing for their
reputation.
6 I scrible to you upon these subjects, yet fear they do not give you the pleasure
I wish to communicate for it is with the Stage, as with Yoricks Sentimental journey,
no person can have an
{ 82 } equal realish for it, with those who have been in the very place described. I can
however inform you of something which will be more interesting to you because it is
the work of one of our own Countrymen, and of one of the most important events of
the late War. Mr Trumble has made a painting of the battle at Charstown and the Death
of Generall Warren. To speak of its merit, I can only say; that in looking at it,
my whole frame contracted, my Blood Shiverd and I felt a faintness at my Heart. He
is the first painter who has undertaking to immortalize by his Pencil those great
actions; that gave Birth to our Nation. By this means he will not only secure his
own fame, but transmit to Posterity Characters and actions which will command the
admiration of future ages and prevent the period which gave birth to them from ever
passing away into the dark abiss of time whilst he teaches, mankind, that it is not
rank, or titles, but Character alone which interest Posterity. Yet notwithstanding
the Pencil of a Trumble, and the Historick Pen of a Gorden and others, many of the
componant parts of the great whole, will finally be lost. Instances of Patience perseverence
fortitude magninimity courage humanity and tenderness, which would have graced the
Roman Character, are known only to those who were themselves the actors, and whose
modesty will not suffer them to blazon abroad their own fame. These however will be
engraven by Yoricks recording Angle
7 upon unfadeing tablets; in that repositary where a just estimate will be made both
of principals and actions.
Your Letters of Sepbr 7 and Jan'ry,
8 I have received with much pleasure and am happy to find that the partiality of a
Parent, with regard to a very dear son, had not lessned him in the Eyes of his Friends,
for praises are often so many inquisitors and always a tax where they are lavishd.
I think I may with justice say, that a due sense of moral obligation integrity and
Honour are the predominant traits of his Character, and these are good foundations
upon which one may reasonably build hopes of future usefullness. The longer I live
in the world, and the more I see of mankind, the more deeply I am impressd with the
importance and necessity of good principals and virtuous examples being placed before
youth; in the most amiable and engageing manner whilst the mind is uncontaminated
and open to impressions. Yet precept without example is of little avail, for habits
of the mind are produced by the exertion of inward practical principals. “The Souls
calm Sunshine”
9 can result only from the practise of virtue, which is conjenial to our natures. If
happiness is not the immediate concequence of virtue, as some devotees to
{ 83 } pleasure affirm, Yet they will find that virtue is the indispensible condition of
happiness, and as the Poet expresses it,
“Peace o virtue! Peace is all thy own.”10
But I will quit this Subject least my good Brother should think I have invaded his
province.
I was much gratified by the account you gave me of the marriage of my Loved Friend
and companion of many of my solatary hours.
11 What ever can increase her happiness will augment mine, for I loved her as my Friend
as well as Relation. I always found her Sincere in her professions, constant in her
attachments, benevolent in her disposition, and disposed to do all the Good in her
power. Such Characters deserve well of mankind tho they may be deficient in less essential
qualifications. I hope she will meet with every attention and tenderness in her connection
which I know her to be deserving of. I think She is calculated for the station and
relation in which she is placed, and I dare say it will not be her fault if she does
not fill it, with reputation to herself and Friends. My Love to her and my best wishes
attend her. I know she will rejoice with me in the dissolution of a Connextion the
circumstances of which She has been more acquainted with, than any other of my Friends.
Her sentiments and opinions were well founded, and she never kept from me a truth
however dissagreeable that she thought it of importance to communicate, tho she knew
and experienced the displeasure of one, whom time and her own experience; has taught,
who were her disinterested Friends. Your Neice has always been more communicative
to you, than to any other of her Friends. Your gentle soul taught her confidence.
She will perhaps inform you that she has partialities better founded than those she
has escaped from: may she have occasion to bless the day, that a sense of duty and
fillial affection, overpowerd every other consideration; Sanctiond now by the voice
of reason judgment and her Parents. She can look forward with happier prospects.
I must hasten to a close, as the watch which ticks upon the table points to two oclock,
and I am not yet drest. I will however first inquire whether you ever received a peice
of calico which I sent my little neice by mr Gardner for a slip, or whether he kept
it as mr Remington did the shoes two months after he got home.
12 People are sometimes very ready to offer their service, but think no more of the
matter afterwards.
{ 84 } I have purchased of the best Italian lutestring I could find, sufficient for a Gown
for my sister which I request her acceptance of. The coulour is quite new and perfectly
the mode but it does not follow from thence that it is very handsome; I think however
it will look well when made up.
We have had for this fortnight past, the severest weather we have known for the whole
winter, and the most snow. It frezes hard in the House, the wind constant at east,
many vessels for Newyork that were to have gone out 15 days ago, are yet detaind.
I frown on account of it because I wrote by them to Dr Tufts my son John and mrs Cranch.
Cushing will be ready to sail as soon as any of them. The Young Man by the Name of
Wilson
13 I sent to inquire for and should have askd him to have dined with us, when captain
Cushing did but he staid only one day in London.
You will be so good as to remember me to good old Madam Marsh and family, to judge
Sergants and to mr Whites. Tell mrs White I have a gratefull sense of her kindness
to all my sons, they express to me her maternal regard to them. I am rejoiced to hear
of miss Pegys recovery.
14
Mr Adams desires his Love to mr Shaw to you and yours. Adieu my dear sister and believe
me at all times Your affectionate Sister,
I hope my youngest son has out grown the Rheumatisim. This cold weather has stird
up mine, but I am better now than I have been.