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Peleg Wadsworth to Lucia Wadsworth, 31 January 1805
Manuscript letter
Washington 31st, Jany1805
Again, my dear Lucia, is my Family clad in the habiliments of mourning. The death of Henry has inflicted a most grievous wound on all our hearts, which were scarce healing from the lacerations occasioned by the death of dear Eliza. Their Images will ever be fresh in our minds & their virtues sweet to our recollection.
To use the words of that excellent young Man, Mr Thacher, “Henry’s was the Fate of a brave soldier. He fell in the front of danger & on the high places of honour.” No circumstances could have been more favourable to the Sad Event, which we so deeply deplore. No doubt ^but that was the proper time, since this ^it was the Will of Heaven. His glass was run – the scene was clos’d, - & all agreably[sic] to the laws established from the beginning. We will, we must be still, & say “thy will be done”!
Alexander must have been exceed-ingly afflicted – but I trust the Gentleman He is with, (p. 2) will interest themselves in his case, & sus-tain him in his sorrows & point his sensibilities to the proper object. His grief with ours will subside & Henry’s bright Example will be his polar Star.
Mrs Longfellow will see this, whose heart is lacerated with the same common calamity –
but she has a Comforter more than you. I hope they will have much happiness in their new house – tho I regret that they leave mine so soon. But we will con-sole ourselves with having good Neighbours. Love to all. Adieu my dear Lucia, says
your affectionate papa
P Wadsworth
[Dated:] PW. to Lucia / Washn 31st Jany 1805
[Numbered:] 57.
[Note:] on the death of Lt Henry W.
[Addressed:] Lucia
Again, my dear Lucia, is my Family clad in the habiliments of mourning. The death of Henry has inflicted a most grievous wound on all our hearts, which were scarce healing from the lacerations occasioned by the death of dear Eliza. Their Images will ever be fresh in our minds & their virtues sweet to our recollection.
To use the words of that excellent young Man, Mr Thacher, “Henry’s was the Fate of a brave soldier. He fell in the front of danger & on the high places of honour.” No circumstances could have been more favourable to the Sad Event, which we so deeply deplore. No doubt ^but that was the proper time, since this ^it was the Will of Heaven. His glass was run – the scene was clos’d, - & all agreably[sic] to the laws established from the beginning. We will, we must be still, & say “thy will be done”!
Alexander must have been exceed-ingly afflicted – but I trust the Gentleman He is with, (p. 2) will interest themselves in his case, & sus-tain him in his sorrows & point his sensibilities to the proper object. His grief with ours will subside & Henry’s bright Example will be his polar Star.
Mrs Longfellow will see this, whose heart is lacerated with the same common calamity –
but she has a Comforter more than you. I hope they will have much happiness in their new house – tho I regret that they leave mine so soon. But we will con-sole ourselves with having good Neighbours. Love to all. Adieu my dear Lucia, says
your affectionate papa
P Wadsworth
[Dated:] PW. to Lucia / Washn 31st Jany 1805
[Numbered:] 57.
[Note:] on the death of Lt Henry W.
[Addressed:] Lucia
Archives Number: 1005/4.1.1-03#72
U. S. National Park Service
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (1005/4.1.1-3#72)
Public domain
Peleg Wadsworth Papers (1005/004.001), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Correspondence - Outgoing (1005/004.001.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Letterbook - 1794-1807 (1005/004.001.001-003), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Correspondence - Outgoing (1005/004.001.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Letterbook - 1794-1807 (1005/004.001.001-003), (LONG-FileUnitName)
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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Code: LONG
Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
NPS Museum Catalog Number : LONG 27923
Title: Finding Aid to the Wadsworth-Longfellow Family (1610-1971) Papers, 1610-1971 (bulk dates 1745-1950)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#WL
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#WL
2021/03/24
01/31/1805
Manuscript letter in the Wadsworth-Longfellow Family Papers, Peleg Wadsworth and Family Papers, Peleg Wadsworth Papers, Correspondence, Outgoing, Letterbook - 1794-1807. (1005/4.1.1-3#72)
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Organization: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
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