MR. DICKINSON TO MARY S. DICKINSON. BINGHAMTON, July 1, 1859. MY DEAR MARY-I returned from Albany on Wednesday evening, and found all as usual. Your mother has been quite ill, but is now better again. It is very pleasant at the Orchard, and we shall be glad to see you home again when you have finished your visit, which I suppose will be as soon as the glory and gunpowder, the shows and ginger-cake, the stars, stripes, and spread eagles, the fun, frolic, and fire-crackers of the Fourth, are over. With kind remembrances to all Oxford friends, and special regards to Dr. Rouse and family, I am Your affectionate father, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO DANIEL THOS. DICKINSON. BINGHAMTON, August 5, 1859. DEAR THOMAS-We all deeply sympathize with you in the loss of your daughter. No one knows the sorrow of a parent under such a bereavement better than those who have tasted its bitter experience. But we must be resigned. "There is no flock, however watched or tended, But one dead lamb is there; There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, But has one vacant chair." If we had no assurance of a better state of existence, our mission would be sorrowful indeed. With regards to your family, and father and mother, Pomano, &c., I remain Yours truly, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. JOHNSON TO MR. DICKINSON. PHILADELPHIA, September 15, 1859. MY DEAR GOVERNOR-In common with every considerate citizen, I feel a deep interest in the next presidential election, and, as bearing upon it, in that of your approaching State election. The apparent harmony of our friends in the recent Syracuse meeting gives me hopes of success. What do you think? Your answer will of course be held confidential. Your own standing in your State is indicated at the same meeting, and to me, as one of your friends, is most gratifying. It was eminently due to you, and partly occasioned by your public life and your standing throughout the country. I return to Baltimore on Saturday, and shall be there when the Supreme Court commences. Let me, in the mean time and at your first leisure, hear from you. With great regard, REVERDY JOHNSON. JUDGE ALLEN TO MR. DICKINSON. OSWEGO, September 16, 1859. MY DEAR SIR-I want to thank you for the timely and excellent speech you made at Syracuse. When I first heard you were there I regretted it, lest it might involve you in some controversy which had better be avoided, or give rise to a misconstruction of your motives; but I rejoiced exceedingly, when I read your "impromptu," that you were there. Now you may not be President-that is in the future; but you have got a position in the hearts of the Democracy that ought to satisfy the ambition of any man. I am sorry that there should have been anything like a disturbance in the convention, but perhaps it was unavoidable, and I do not see how any mischief can result from it. I write in haste just as I leave home, and can only say once more, I thank you for the good work your address will accomplish in cordially uniting the party, and congratulate you on the accession of many friends. May the future be equally auspicious. MR. DICKINSON TO MARY S. DICKINSON. HINSDALE, September 27, 1859. MY DEAR 66 BLACK HEAD"-We reached here last evening at eight, and are to leave at twelve to go twenty-seven miles in the "caboose" of a freight-train. We hope it will be as clean as the average. From the termination of the twentyseven miles' ride we go by carriage to Ellicottville, twelve miles, and stay until Thursday morning, when we go to Little Valley, twelve miles, by carriage, to the agricultural fair. After that we shall turn our faces homeward. We have, or rather your mother has, as many "aunts" as the Methodists have "sisters." They are fine women too, and all regret, a small portion of what I do, that you are not with us. We hope to find you quite well when we return. Your affectionate father, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DOUGLAS TO MR. DICKINSON. WASHINGTON, October 1, 1859. MY DEAR SIR-Accept my thanks for your kind note acknowledging the receipt of a pamphlet copy of my article in Harper. Ever since you left the Senate I have endeavored to defend and maintain the great principles of Popular Sovereignty and non-intervention, in defence of which we jointly fought the great battle of 1850. I rejoice to learn that the Democracy of the Empire State are now united upon a platform embracing these cardinal principles as the basis of the Democratic creed. I congratulate you upon this great achieveinent. It is a noble triumph of which you have a right to be proud, and again places you in your true position as the leader of a united Democracy in the Empire State of the Union. I am very truly your friend and obedient servant, STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. JAMES. THE ORCHARD, November 7, 1859. MY DEAR MRS. JAMES-I reached home from Auburn on Saturday morning, very much fatigued, but with many pleasing recollections of social intercourse, especially with our cousins at Ogdensburgh. I revere the memory of one of the best mothers that ever was called from earth to heaven, and my heart overflows with pleasing and painful emotions when I meet those who bring her angel face before me. Blest object of my dreams, I shall see thee again! er, Be kind enough to remember me to the Judge, your mothand sons, and believe me to be Sincerely yours, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. BIRDSALL. BINGHAMTON, December 9, 1859. MY DEAR LOUISE-Your aunt and Mary reached us this morning about half past one in good health, and though fatigued with the travel and late hours, they are about the house this morning not much past the usual breakfast hour. I had anticipated your kind note requesting me to send Mary down, she having left before I received it; and I thought I would await her return before answering it. I was glad to gratify you both, and now that she has been, and returned with, I hope, improved health, I am much pleased with it all. I was deeply pained that I could not see you when I was in the city before election, but it was impossible consistent with engagements, and I had to turn with the current where destiny launched my bark, and hurry onward to gratify the desires of others more than my own. I have looked for the day of my emancipation from this slavery with more and longer solicitude than the kings and prophets of ancient times did for the Messiah, and I now feel assured that if I live six months longer it will be ushered in; and I can feelingly sing, with the old Methodists, "Fly swift around, ye wheels of time, And bring the welcome day." 66 I have not been over-charged with political ambition for some time, though I have sought to maintain my position so long as I allowed my name to be associated with a political party. But the time when I propose to serve as a complete letter writer" or "universal speaker" no longer, is at hand; and as my friends are about to do for me what my enemies have so long failed to do, I shall not only claim but get my discharge. I hope it may please a beneficent Providence to give me yet reasonable old age and years to comfort the dependent and rear those whom it has taught to look to me for protection and sustenance; and also that some portion of my mature life may be devoted to uninterrupted moral and mental improvement and cultivation; to inculcating if not dispensing the holy charities of life; to so framing my spirit that my sun of life may go down in peace, far away from storm and strife and conflict. That I may sing "Be composed every toil and each turb'lent emotion That encircles the heart in life's treacherous snares, Undisturbed by regrets, unincumbered with cares." You, my dear Louise, will always stand in a near and dear relation. I shall sympathize with you in every vicissitude of life; when you sorrow, I shall mourn; and when you rejoice, I shall rejoice with you. You and Mr. B. are yet comparatively young, and I pray you may both be restored to health, to greater happiness and increased usefulness. All send much love and fond remembrance to you and Mr. B., but no more than Your affectionate uncle, D. S. DICKINSON. MR. DICKINSON TO MRS. HATHAWAY. THE ORCHARD, December 16, 1859. MY DEAR SISTER-We have just learned by a letter from |