Read an Excerpt
Elizabeth Manning Hawthorne
A Life in Letters
By Cecile Anne De Rocher The University of Alabama Press
Copyright © 2006 The University of Alabama Press
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-8173-8941-3
CHAPTER 1
The Letters
SECTION 1: 1814–1842
Of the three sections of letters herein, this one represents the longest span of time, twenty-eight years, and features twenty-seven letters. Elizabeth wrote the first letter at age eleven to her uncle Robert, and the last to her future sister-in-law, Sophia Peabody, a few days before Sophia's marriage to Nathaniel. This section of letters shows the marked changes in Elizabeth's writing style and social habits from childhood to middle age. It also traces the changing living arrangements that the Hawthorne family made between Salem and Raymond, and it shows the acquaintance between Elizabeth and two of the Peabody sisters, Elizabeth and Sophia.
After her husband's death, in 1808, Elizabeth Clarke Manning Hawthorne's brother Robert Manning assumed much financial responsibility for her and her three children, acting as something of a surrogate for the late Captain Hawthorne. The Hawthornes moved from the Manning home in Salem to a new house in Raymond, Massachusetts, in a section of the state that in 1820 became part of Maine. Mrs. Hawthorne's brother Richard owned a house, a store, much land, and livestock there, and the earlier letters of this section show correspondence between family members in Raymond and those in Salem, typically including Grandmother Miriam Lord Manning, Aunt Mary Manning, and Aunt Priscilla Manning Dike. The Hawthornes did not move permanently, returning instead to Salem in various stages. In this twenty-eight-year period, while Nathaniel moved frequently—going to boarding school, to Bowdoin College, to Boston, and to Brook Farm, with periodic residence in Salem—Elizabeth simply moved to Raymond twice, then back to Salem with her mother, whom the children called "Maam" (a term similar to today's "Mom").
Elizabeth writes of current local events such as the War of 1812, of such periodicals as The Analectic and The Polyanthus, of her travels to her Hawthorne relatives, of contemporary authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thomas Carlyle, and of her brother's leg injury that is well known to his biographers. Letters written in Elizabeth's late thirties show her on cordial terms with Elizabeth and Sophia Peabody, exchanging reading material and making plans for evening walks.
In childhood and adolescence Elizabeth signs her name "Hathorne," but because she frequently uses initials rather than a signature to close her correspondence, readers cannot see until the end of this group of letters that she begins to write her name "Hawthorne," as Nathaniel does. Readers will note the occasional resentful tone and sharp wit and the emergence of an engaging, graceful writing style, brush strokes in the self-portrait that Elizabeth paints with her correspondence.
Bowdoin College Library Number 1: To Robert Manning
Salem [Wednesday] Jany 12th 1814
Dear Uncle.
I wish you a happy new year, & thank you for the sheep. Did you know there was a new library in Salem? It is kept in a trunk at school Miss Pearson gave us a book called The Village Maid New year's day in the forenoon, & in the afternoon the library [commenced]. I don't know as Nathaniel's foot will ever get well if you don't come home. [He won't] walk on it & the doctor says he must; so do come soon. Do you like to sleep in a room with a fire in it as well as you used to? How does Uncle Richard do? Does he like the eastwind as well as he thought he should? I have not had one sleigh ride this winter. Grandmaam has a bad cold & keeps up chamber, but she is better than she was. The rest of the family are tolerably well.
Good-bye, Dear Uncle E. M. Hathorne
* * *
Bowdoin College Library Number 2: To Robert Manning
Salem, July 27th 1814
Dear Uncle,
We have received the Analectic magazine for July & the Polyanthus for June. They will be sent down to you with my letter. As you do not think it advisable for us to visit Raymond this summer, Mary & [Priscilla] intend going to Chebacco to stay a week or fortnight. [Don't] forget the letters you [promised to write] us. We have had a great many string beans & cucumbers out of the gardens. [Maam planted a] number of small cucumbers, but as it is sometime since rain has fallen, they do not grow very fast. How does Richard's garden flourish? How do the lambs do? Have the bears taken any more of them? Mary says that the seven dollar prize at Mr Whipple's will be lost for want of the ticket Do you recollect of lending Temper to any one? If you do, Maam would thank you to send her word. It is time for me to leave off, for I have exhausted all my materials.
Good-bye, dear Uncle. Elizabeth M. Hathorne
* * *
Bowdoin College Library Number 3: To Robert Manning
Salem September 10th 1814.
Dear Uncle.
You must not expect me to write you a very long letter though it is a good afternoon; for Maam & the three children intend going to Ipswich by daylight Monday morning & I must put up some clothes. We have sent away a trunk of books, including some of yours, & three more trunks, containing the most valuable things. Grandma'am, Priscilla, and Mary will stay to the last, I believe, if they are left alone. Half of the inhabitants of Salem are moving into the country towns. Nathaniel wants Ma'am to let him stay to see the English, but as he is one of the three children, he must go. I believe we do not receive many more letters from you than you do from us. We want to know where you are. We expect a letter from you every day. [Don't] disappoint our expectation any longer. Good-bye, dear Uncle.
E. M. Hathorne
PS Tell Richard that we shall not accept his offer & drive him from his house into a log hut. Mr Ingles has just arrived & will set out on Monday or Tuesday, he will bring the things which you desired.
* * *
Bowdoin College Library Number 4: To Richard Manning
Salem May 29th 1815
Dear Uncle,
I hope you will continue to be pleased with the dogs; what do you call them? Robert earnestly requests that you will not cut off their ears & tails.
Nathaniel is much stronger than he was, he rides out quite often. Ma'am thinks of visiting Raymond with him when strawberries are ripe. I should like to see Aunt Susan. [Don't] you intend to bring her to Salem? Ma'am, Mary & Priscilla send their love to her. There are two schools kept in this house. [Don't] you think it rather uncommon? Mary keeps an afternoon school, Nathaniel keeps school for Louisa, who is his only scholar. I expect she will soon leave him. Robert bought the "account of Rachel Baker" some time ago, but he waited for a favourable opportunity to send it. I shall send my letter as far as Portland, by private conveyance.
I hope you will write soon to your affectionate niece
Elizabeth M. Hathorne
Dear Brother I intended writing to you by Mr Dike, who conveys this as far as Portland, but have not had time, so Elisabeth permits me to say a few words in her letter we were much gratified, with receiving yours of the 3d of this month, but I am obliged to those with requesting you to write concerning your health, and concerning your house, and if it would be agreeable to you to receive a visit from Maam.
* * *
Bowdoin College Library Number 5: To Mary Manning
Raymond August 1816
Dear Aunt,
I do not know what can be much more foolish than to write a long letter about nothing, this, however, I am required to do; much against my will, I can assure you. Perhaps you will call it a good exercise for my patience. it may be the same to read it.
We have no rusberries; if we had, mother would make the jelly with can I say with pleasure? I have [received] a letter from Eliza Needham. Are my letters shown to Mr Dike? If they are I shall not write any more. Nathaniel will bring you a most beautiful tansy cheese.
I like riding about very much, but if my time is at my own disposal, I shall not make one visit while in Raymond: I always dislike them, but never so much as at present. People can talk about nothing tolerable but their neighbor's faults: That theme rouses them from the languor which otherwise overwhelms them, & then no tongue is silent. Yet I believe this is not exclusively the case here. The society here almost equals that of Salem, & it is much pleasanter living here. Write us word of how Sally Lord does. Can you reconcile Aunt Rust to spend her life in this cold, unfruitful country? Can you be reconciled yourself? Stay here one summer you will not be reconciled to live in any other place.
I close my letter with an earnest request that you will ask no more letters from me, for I was never so much engaged as at present.
Elizabeth M. Hathorne
* * *
New York Public Library Number 6: To Miriam Manning
Raymond, Octbr 28th 1816
My dear Grandmother
We have not received any letter since the 4th day of October, & my mother left Portland on the 14th. Maria Louisa attended school constantly while she remained there. I was rejoiced to see Sebago once more, for I was no better pleased with Portland than I expected to be. It was very smoky, disagreeable weather from the time you left us, until I returned to Raymond on the 12th day of October. We are not yet in suspense respecting our situation for this winter. Mr. Spiller will remove this week, much to the satisfaction of all concerned. We shall expect a letter from Nathaniel by the next mail. We wish to know what school he attends, whether he will continue to study Latin, & many other particulars respecting him & our other friends in Salem. Perhaps Samuel has commenced his journey, but if he has not, Priscilla will remember to send the things my mother mentioned in her letter, particularly Spenser's Fairy queen, & the first number of the large edition of Shakespeare, which contains his portrait. If she can conveniently send one dozen blue silk buttons, some blue cord for the sleeves & some narrow ribbon for the collar of my pelisse. Do not forget to send the books with the other furniture. If convenient, & if goods are cheap in Salem, my mother wishes you to send by Samuel an olive bombazet for me, & Scotch plaid for herself & Maria Louisa. Those articles were dear in Portland. Can none of the family spend time to write a few lines? I shall write to Nathaniel soon, perhaps next week. All the family here are well, & desire to be remembered to you. We wish to know whether Sally and Caroline [Archer] are gone to Baltimore. Give our love to them, & request them not to write to me. I am much obliged to them for neglecting to do so. I should be glad to receive a letter from Eliza P Needham, from Jane Poole & from some others. I remain &c.
Elizabeth M. Hathorne
Bowdoin College Library
Number 7: To Robert Manning
Salem August 18, 1818
Dear Uncle:
I came home Saturday, and should have written to you the next day, but, as I had been absent three weeks I had so much to say & to hear, that I had no time till now. Mr Dike received your letter Saturday evening. We were sorry to hear that the house will not be finished till November; because so long a journey in cold weather will be disagreeable. We are all well now, but Louisa has been sick. You must not complain of our not writing, for two letters have been sent you, and we can tell you nothing but what you know already. Mr Dike desired me to say, that he was afraid he should not have it in his power to visit Raymond this summer, because he expected two vessels very soon, and should then be too much engaged. For several days past, the weather has been cold enough for September! We hope you will not have the head-ache while you are in Raymond; but it is rather strange that you should not; is it because you do not feel the Eastwind there?
I am become quite an early riser since you left us, & very sociable, been to Mrs Forrester and Mrs Barstow, and Mrs Archer, so you can't expect my letters to be quite as long as if I staid at home all the time.
I want to know how Mrs [Richard] Manning was pleased with her gown, and handkerchief. &c &c and to see her, and Uncle Richard, and Kezia and Sally. I shall write to Mrs Manning and Kezia and Sally soon and they must write to me. Having nothing more to say, I remain &c &c &c &c &c &c &c &c
Elizabeth Manning Hathorne
* * *
Bowdoin College Library Number 8: To Robert Manning
Salem August 24, 1818.
Dear Uncle,
I hope I need not "look out for breakers" if I write to you every week that would be very hard. I suppose you received my letter of last Monday or Tuesday, I forget which. Who did you carry to meeting with you, you and Mr and Mrs Manning could not all go in one chaise. It is so long since we heard of your going to meeting, that Mrs Manning has been seriously alarmed lest you should have forgotten how to behave. Mr Samuel Manning intends to send the trunk this week, and will let you know in what packet. We have received all of your letters, but we don't know whether or not Mr Dike intends visiting Raymond this summer.
I had a very pleasant visit in Newberryport, I like it much better than Salem. I staid there three weeks: a fortnight longer than I at first proposed. We have had, since you left us, one number of the Analectic Magazine, one of the Port Folio, and one of the Atheneum. I have written to Caroline Archer and I go to see my relatives and acquaintances quite as much as is desirable. Do you think you shall be at home as soon as the first of September? We have had no rain for this last three or four weeks, except a little this morning.
W. S. Gray, the cashier of the Essex bank, has failed, and is gone to Windsor, in Vermont.
I am commissioned with a large stock of loves and tendernesses, and good wishes, &c &c &c &c &c &c &c &c &c &c, but I always omit everything of this kind; it is enough to say that we are all well, and I hope you are the same. I remain, &c &c &c &c &c &c &c
E. M. Hathorne
Mrs Manning, Kezia, and Sally are most respectfully desired to write to me.
Miss Mary Manning absolutely disavows all thoughts upon the subject of you going to meeting; she neither knows nor cares anything about it.
* * *
Bowdoin College Library Number 9: To Priscilla Manning Dike
Raymond November 4, 1818
Dear Aunt,
We were very much disappointed at not receiving a letter from you the first week after our arrival, and had almost determined not to write till you had set us the example, but did not wish to lose so good an opportunity as now presents itself. Mr Manning has just returned from Portland, where he went to see Mrs Lancaster, who inquired for you, and intends visiting us soon, that is, she says so.
I think we shall be very well content in the midst of the woods, when we are settled in the new house; but it would be much more agreeable to us to have Grandmother remove [here] this winter; therefore we shall be obliged to you if you will raise no new objections to that event, as we are not sufficiently disinterested to gratify [our] wishes at our own expense.
Mr Gay brings you a pot of butter from Mrs [Manning] of her own manufacture; and on his return to Raymond he will take charge of Jane [Poole], for which Uncle Robert has engaged to pay him, and that his horse & himself shall be provided for by the family while he is in Salem.
I think you will have no reason to complain of us, when you see all the letters we have written. I like Salem much better than I did when I was in Raymond before, but I do not wish to return. We have all of us been well since our arrival, we hope you will not neglect writing another week, should be pleased to receive letters from any of our friends, desire to be remembered to them all, and I remain, &c &c &c
E. M. Hathorne
PS Mother desires you to send us some butter crackers, & if we send a box, to return it, & to give the inclosed to Miss Manning.
* * *
Bowdoin College Library Number 10: To Mary Manning
Raymond Wednesday Nov. 1818
Dear Aunt,
We received your letter of the 4th of November, and were glad to hear the family was well. I wish you would not say so much about "Brother Robert" and "Sister Susan," &c &c, we have determined not to write again if you do so any more.
We hope Mrs Dike has another girl, as we should be sorry to take Jane from her, and yet we find it quite impossible to get good help here
Mother is very careful of her health, & you need not be afraid of our going into the house too soon, we have had fires there all this week, & it is now perfectly dry, in every part, & we shall remove next Monday, or, at farthest Wednesday or Thursday.
Do not omit sending the letter paper, let it be as nice as this, which I am writing on, and larger. We could not get any in Portland, but we bought some in Salem at Mr Whipple's.
I should like to have you buy me a pair of white worsted stockings, and a parchment memorandum book with morocco covers.
Mother is very much obliged to you for your attention to the bills, but there was 25 cents due to Mrs Berry for some yarn, which she forgot to mention in her letter, & Jane will know whether it was paid for when she purchased it. Mother desires you will send by Mr Gay [numbers] of the Registers and Gazettes you have received since we left Salem, and save all the papers you have to send by Uncle Robert, because Mr Manning never saves his papers.
The chimneys of the new house draw smoke very well; we are more pleased with it every day.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Elizabeth Manning Hawthorne by Cecile Anne De Rocher. Copyright © 2006 The University of Alabama Press. Excerpted by permission of The University of Alabama Press.
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