Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.

Title

Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.

Creator

Post, Mary Robbins

Contributor

Post, Isaac, 1798-1872

Date

185-

Description

Handwritten letter from Mary Robbins Post to Isaac Post, 185-.

Is Part Of

Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Rights

The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Identifier

806

Location

Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Transcription

(Page 1)

4 mo^th 27

Dear Isaac & Amy

A few days since we received the welcom [sic] messenger of love

which had been anticipated[ed] for some time and thanks dear brother for

the intention of writing sooner I can excuse delay sometimes knowing how

swiftly time passes on and how many hinderances [sic] there are to prevent writi^ng^

yet I would encourage to faithfulness in this particular it is so pleasant

to hear from you often and since we are so much separated it seems almost

a duty to keep each other acquainted in this way and to open freely one thoug

-hts and convictions on any subject which is claiming our attention – true

we may differ in sentiment on some things which are encircled in mys

-tery and doubt still lett [sic] us be true to our impressions and write that

which presents to our minds freely Isaacs letter was our first intimation

of E P Willis s arrival suppose he was at Jericho last first day have not seen

him but hope in a few days we shall have that pleasure yesterday and the

day before was our Quarterly meeting and Aunt Mary pleased me greatly with

a few words of inteligence [sic] which was that Amy was thinking some of being

at the Aniversary [sic] – I fell [sic] quite assured that we shall not be disappointed

and if practicable we shall be so glad to see both of you do try come

It appears it has been with some difficulty a place has been obtained

for the meetings and doubtless there will be a strong emphatic tertimo

-ny to go forth against Webster and I think very likely the New Yorkers will

not listen very quietly to the censure of the man they had idolized and

whome [sic] the papers still land as being worthy of redoubled honor – It appears

the religious press have on this spoken out more nobly than they have

been wont to which is encouraging William G Furness is advertised for

one of the speakers which will I think be hailed with satisfaction by all

again as last year C L Remond is not announced I wonder if he will give

(Page 2)

another lesson in that subject this year – he has no reason to this time as

only the speakers at the aniversary [sic] are noticed and it may be excusable

[can?] in his eyes when so many others are left off the list who are eaqually [sic]

great Lucretia and others can attend again this year as their Y Meeting

is not until the week after Rowland Johnson I dont know whether

we have in any of our letters spoken of him and of his living in NY

he does and boards at Ann Lefferts attends Rose St meeting and often

speaks I dont know whether they know how fully [t]he is Identified with

abolitionists they will soon probably he was up on 5th day spoke

excellently his text was Seekest thou great things seek them not enlarged

on it then alluded to the state of society as it now was that he feaared

many were satisfied if they attended meetings dressed plainly and confor^med^

in address to the requisitions of disipline [sic] while they were trampling

the testimonys [sic] of truth under their feet and were doing violence

to the spirit of God it was cheering indeed John Plummer followed

in a dry and to me tedious communication to show that the Almighty

had changed his dispensations to suit man in the various ages of the

world and that he felt it among[s] the first requestions [sic] to dress planly [sic]

and speak the and thou some said there was no religion in dress and in such

little things & Rowland spoke in the last meeting but so loud and distinct

that we could hear [as] well said it was with reluctance that he again rose

not being fully identified with you in a [Fk?] capacity spoke of the iterest [sic]

he had felt while listening to the queries answers and the remarks made upon

the various subjects &c &c he would not willingly hold up a too discouraging

view but it appeared to him that we were not quite what we were represented

to be by the answers if we were so happy was it for us spoke more particularly

on Love and Unity which was represented to subsist among us unbroken he que

-ried what kind it was whether it was expansive and universal or whether

it was of the description which only loved those who love us whether

(Page 3)

the hand of kindness and charity could be extended to those whose views

differ from our own and a willingness to assist them on their way Zion ward

or whether a different feeling was not more prevalent among the member’s

addressed the young beautifully The Cornwall people want to have their Q M

set back again suppose they think they have rid themselves of the difficulty

and can get on without foreign aid a committee to consider the subject was

ap^t I beleive [sic] I told you Cousin Edmund had gone on business south

& West he was at last act at Chicago beleive [sic] he is on his homeward way

Stephen and Maria have lately been here Maria is very much interested in Free Produc [sic]

(and Stephen has been [consentious?] many years is [sic] ye know) were talking about Free good^s^

thinking strange about this one and that when in my plain way I asked S if it

was not inconsistent with their views and feelings to make their thousands

in trade at the South that years ago I was at Gideon Frosts he was dealing

in cotton goods extensively but with their food and raiment they were

particular not to partake of any but free produce and it seemed to me

to say the least very inconsistent &c &c &c they did not try to justify perhaps

they had not been told so plainly before Maria condemns Garrison severely

for not abstaining and encouraging others to do so and I wished more

particularly on that act to help her to see that some others are not

clear of inconsistencys [sic] perhaps it was not worth while to mentioned this

in this way but somehow my pen runs on with out much thought the first

thought which presents is put down Edward and Elizabeth Willis have been pre

-sented with two little girls on the 24 John and Elizabeth Valentine with one a

little before eleven years difference between their two children Mary Jane

and Amelia Post have made their Westbury friends a visit recently expect

to return home before long We too have had much windy cold weather

freezing almost every night but the last two days have been warmer and

damp and grain and grass alter their appearance rapidly the buds too

swell and give increased evidence that Spring is really here our men have

commenced to day planting corn and farmers are speaking of having much to do

(Page 4)

Isaac speaks of going to George Willets instead of the meeting house on first

day I must confess I was a little supprised [sic] that you should leave the meeting you

have prized so highly I now recollect you have not spoken of it lately can it be

possible that has been given up you have never informed us of it if it has

I hope you will hold fast to the good and the true – perhaps you will excuse

me for saying the more I hear [au] ^about^ the rapping manifestation the less confidence

I feel in it as an agency from the spiritual state and the greater my hope

it will be left and our reliance placed wholly on God a portion of whose

spirit burns within us few indeed realize how happy it is possible to

become on earth by this intimate communion with the Father of our spirit^s^

heaven is indeed around and within us and many of my most hallowing

feelings ^[I]^ have been alone with nature, in the early morning when bird insect

and flowers [all] send up [the] homage and joyful fragrance to the author

of all their praise and thanksgiving have assended [sic] from the tablet of my

soul for his unspeakable gift that unfaithful and disobedient as I have

been still I am blessed with a portion of it and am not dependant [sic] on any

human being for this enjoyment but enough I did not mean to give a sermon

I will lay this aside and visit our school I have not been over in some time

and perhaps I can write when I return First day on my return from the school

we had company so I did not resume my pen have been to meeting Henry Edmund

and Catharine were at meeting have gone to Isaac’s will come here to tea on

third day we hope to meet William and Mary it is one of the greatest pleasur^es^

this mingling together in social intercourse would that we might oftener

enjoy such feasts I do ever regret our wide separation it would be so delight-

ful to have you here are you not rich enough to come back to Westbury

and enjoy life in its quietude a hearty welcom [sic] would be yours should

you do so Hannah Willets widow of Richard died in Phil some 3 weeks ago

was brought on and buried at Jericho – Rowland Mitchel and family expect

to leave Cincinnati and settle in NY Aunt Mary and family are delighted

with the prospect D[r?]’s health is better has been rather poor for months some

time ago they had an escape from fire they thought it took from the furnace

succeeded in putting it out but caused them much trouble removed all

the furniture from the house which was not a little dirtied and wet by

the super abundance of water pored [sic] on the fire (the house I mean)

Uncle John’s eye does not improve much he and aunt Sarah are now in NY

he goes down every week he gets almost discouraged Brother Stephen

has something coming over his eye so the [sic] he does not see much with it Lydia

Hicks has been quite poorly several days with a very sore hand it broke this morn

-ing and is now more comfortable Ruth too has had a felon which is [alas] better

well I have got to the bottom of my page must leave writing more at pres

-ent and attend to some things before they come write soon but besure [sic] and come

if you can love to Sarah and the boys truly and affectionately your Mary –

(Page 5)

Here it is the 10 and my messenger

remains in the drawr [sic] I meant to have

been quite prompt but forgot to send it

to the office when I finished it and since

I have felt as though it was not worth

the sending so it has not gone I bele-

ve [sic] our friends and neighbors are quite

pleased to have us home again they

have manifested quite a friendly dis

-position have had company daily xce

-pt [sic] yesterday which we employed

went to Jericho made Uncle Jacob

and aunt Mary a visit of two hours

then to fathers each had many

questions to ask relative to each of

you and also of the rapping

(Page 6)

whether we had made any disco

-very of the cause &c &c John and

Rebecca came John would enjoy an

opportunity of witnessing these thin

-gs very much I should quite like

them all to as a discription [sic] fails

to convey much of an idea let it pr

-oceed from what cause it may

Nicholas Halloe is expected to be

at Jericho meeting on first day

suppose the quiet of some will be

disturbed by it or rather id he speaks

which no doubt he will Joseph

has gone to the city our milk bus

(Page 7)

siness [sic] is rather dull milk so plenty

and money so scarce have had to

make butter some since getting

home for want of can’s to send it in

First day afternoon company and other

causes prevented my completing this on

the tenth so I really ‘dont know when’

it will reach you unless we send it

This is a bright beautiful day almost

spring like the glorious king of day shine^s^

so brightly that new life seems to invigo

rate all animate beings from man down

to the few birds and flies which linger am

ong us each manifest their joy according

to their capacities but here comes Uncle James

and inquires how home seems whether we are

satisfied with it and is

(Page 8)

talking as fast as he can Jacob came up

yesterday we went to Isaac Rushmores

and Jacob with us he has now stept [sic] out

and I presume has gone down to Mary

he and I staid [sic] home from meeting our

Irish people are away to day Jacob read

David Copperfield by Dickens have you

read it there are many laughable scenes

described Suppose you know long ere

this the poor slave man is sent off from

New York how terrible to think of the mis

-ery and despair this diabolical law infli

-cts on the victims of it How many can

say with [lawper?] My ear is [famed?] My soul is

sick with every days repor [sic] of wrong and out

-rage with which earth is filled Evening

Edmund came back with Jacob each have

now gone to their respective home’s Joseph

and self are waiting for Cynthia she is at Joshua’s

Martha has a little party Silas has a very

sore neck a carbuncle been nearly two weeks

and there is no prospect of its breaking has to

sit up nearly all night for several of the last

he went home 7 day come back this afternoon

said he heard they had a large meeting that

Nicholas and some one else spoke after which

Henry Titus commenced when all went out befo [sic]

he got through suppose they broke up the

meeting E Post said Rachel thinks the colored

people had better keep their dollar than take the Star

Tags

Family; Medicine; Quakers

Collection

D.93 Isaac and Amy Post Family Papers

Citation

Post, Mary Robbins, “Post, Mary Robbins. Letter to Isaac Post.,” RBSCP Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://rbscpexhibits.lib.rochester.edu/items/show/3097.

Transcribe This Item