William C. Rives Papers (DLC)
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I am extremely sorry that my improvement has been too slow to make it proper for me to accompany you & Mr Rivers to the Presidents tomorrow. I can assure you it has cost me no inconsiderable effort to give up the pleasure I had proposed to myself in the visit; so much so that the admonition of old Father Shakespeare that “things without remedy should be without regard” can scarcely reconcile... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Judith Paige Walker Rives
My young friend Theodore Sedgwick Junr. visits Europe for improvement & the gratification of his curiosity. It will be <convenient> to him, if it be practicable, to devote his time whilst in Paris to some honorable pursuit by which he may be able to make enough to defray his expenses. Can you help him in the way of doing so. He is industrious & honorable and possesses talents of the... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
I was so pressed for time at Washington that I had not a moment to devote to you. Do not suffer yourself to be a moment disturbed by your affair with Gilmar, for you may be assured that <have> recd. no injury from it. The public mind seldom fails to arrive at correct conclusions upon subjects of that kind, & is <by> no means likely to do so in the present instance.
I do not know... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
Forsyth has been <illegible> to you. As the Instructions <illegible> <illegible> he is very divided on the course you propose, & he informs me that the report of your intended resignation has caused much uneasiness in the opposition ranks.
Allow me to suggest whether the address to the public would not be the more appropriate place for the observations we <spoke> of... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
Will you believe it? I have had the enclosed letter from your friend Mrs Van Rensselaer two days in my possession with out having a moments time to <illegible> forward it. It will give me much pleasure to send her your answer, as it will afford an opportunity to be remembered by two friends whom so sincerely esteem. Tell Mr. Rives that the Senate Chamber is at least ten times hotter than it... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Judith Paige Walker Rives
I take much blame to myself for not sooner acknowledging your kind and acceptable letter. But I have been a good deal indisposed, & what with people shooting themselves, state funerals, and <illegible> ^the^ <exhibitions> of disappointed, and desperate, & <daring> politicians, playing their bad hands in the worst way, I have not, I fear, always <proved> my... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Judith Paige Walker Rives
Mr Wright has shewn me your letter in which you desire to be informed of the Nyork charter election. The enclosed will give you a tolerably correct account of it, which do not give yourself the trouble to return. Have no fear about Nyork. We shall have a fierce contest but we shall always conquer them. Their efforts in the City can never be so successful again. I send you also the proceedings of... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
I am to day for the first time in a long while somewhat unwell, and must therefore content myself with a short letter. The enclosed will speak for itself. The untoward events in France, and great disappointment in not getting off, have somewhat disturbed the good Ladies usual serenity, but in every thing that relates to you & yours, all is I am persuaded, as it should be. Our dissipations... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Judith Paige Walker Rives
Our quondam friend Genl. Hayne used to say that I was a labor-saving machine, & I am forcibly reminded of the remark by this attempt to Kill two birds with one stone, or rather, as I hope, to feed two pretty ones off of one cherry. Any how you will I know excuse me. Don't forget my suggestion about the French affair. Assume confidentially the strongest personal assurances from the King with... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
I am told there is a rumour in Town that you were informed by the King when the Treaty was signed that it would not be carried into effect by the chamber. Although I am well satisfied that there is no truth in this story, I think you had better authorize me to contradict it, if that should become necessary, & if the truth will justify it.
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
I leave here in the morning, & have deferred writing to you until the last moment. We have seen the accounts of recent movements here and will I believe be able to make a fair estimate of them without any speculation from me, If I had time to make them. The Cabinet will be a united one, in which part there is a great much power & virtue. The men are all respectable in point of talent... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
Your letter came only in season to relieve me from the apprehension that I was worse off ^<illegible>^ than to have been forgotten by Mrs Rives & yourself. There are so many ways in which I without knowing it, give offence to public men, that I find I am getting somewhat suspicious of my friends—a vice I hate above all others. But as we are all right again upon the point—at least shall... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
Our good friend Mrs. Van Rensselaer has been kind enough to commit the enclosed to my care. From her being still at Albany, I presume, although she says nothing about it, that the idea of spending the winter at Philadelphia has been abandoned. It is unnecessary to say how much pleasure it will give me to forward your dispatch to her. Mrs. Donelson tells me that you and Mr Rives have promised to... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Judith Paige Walker Rives
I have made an effort to pay an instalment on my debt to Mrs. R. Her letter will inform you of all I could say to you. What are your accounts from Richmond. Enclosed I send you Beaslies letters & am
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
I am heartily ashamed of myself for having so long neglected to acknowledge your interesting & kind letter. But the truth is, that this villainous conflict (Influenza) has afflicted me so much, and rendered me so disagreeable to myself that I did not dare to approach a lady, even by letter. I am getting better, but have not yet been able to shake it off entirely. So much, & too much for... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Judith Paige Walker Rives
I hope & believe that upon reflection you will think the French matter stands about right. Take the message as a whole it cannot hurt, but must help you at Richmond, to which my eye is now diverted. I owe Mrs Rives too much to for her kind letter to be able to pay it in my present dilapidated state. For the last ten days I have been confined to my room, & principaly to my bed by a... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: William Cabell Rives
I thank you a thousand times for your kind remembrance of me & am ashamed of myself for not having sooner acknowledged it. But if you could have the slightest conception of the variety and multiplicity of my concerns you would I am sure ^pardon^ my seeming negligence. I assure you with great sincerity that I would greatly prefer to spend my winter with your agreeable mess to the hustle &... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Judith Paige Walker Rives
I have looked for the "continuation" with a degree of impatience that has prevented me from discharging a duty imposed as well by the laws of gallantry as gratitude, that is to make my warmest acknowledgments for your kind favour. If I could deceive myself so much as to believe that I am entitled to half the compliments, which with characteristic delicacy you pay me, it would give me more... Continue Reading
Sender: MVB
Recipient: Judith Paige Walker Rives