[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading]Brooklyn Sept 7. 1847.
My Dear Cousin,
Now I am at last in Brooklyn and agreeably to promise I find myself this afternoon sitting down to tell what has befallen me the past week. Well let me begin at the first chapter and be very egotistical which I trust you will excuse.
As you may suppose we had a delightful ride in the cars, the day was fine and every thing delightful. We ate peaches, read newspapers, talked &c till we arrived in New Haven half past four in the afternoon. We stopped there at the "Pavilion" a very fine Hotel where we took supper and stayed till nine o'clock in the evening, then we went to the steamboat, it did not start till half past eleven at night. Before supper we had a very pleasant walk about New Haven, we visited the College, I had a peep at Tom Thumb's coach and horses which were then being exhibited. I did not sleep much that night on board the boat. Do you remember that young lady whom we saw at Northampton, dressed in a brown linen riding dress, with a riding cap? She went with us as far as N. Haven and then we took the same boat for New York. She had a berth directly under mine and a merry time we had of it. She was a former graduate of Holyoke and we had a good talk of "Pa Hawks"1, "Mother Lyon" &c. We arrived on New York at five o'clock in the morning. We arose early and went on deck in time to see the boat enter the harbor; it was delightful. I wished you there to see the forest of masts of ships and the crowds of people on every side.
Mr. Hawks2 of course was very polite he went over to Brooklyn with me, put me in a cab, and I arrived here in safety, before all the family were up. I have been on the go ever since I
arrivedreached here. The morning I arrivedhereI visited Brooklyn Heights with Dr and Henry3. The next day I went to the Navy Yard and went on board to a very large Man of War. I have been over to New York several times on the Battery into Stewarts splendid Marble store &c. How often I have wanted you with me when I have seen new and strange sights. I have not yet visited Greenwood Cemetery, but hope to very soon, also Coney Island, &c. I have just visited the glass factory and this evening expect a walk in Broadway which is lighted up every evening as bright as day. Oh there is so much to be seen here, one can form no idea of it.Wealthy I hope you will excuse my egotism thus far. I flattered myself you would like to know just how I have busied myself. But now let me ask you a few questions. What kind of a ride did you have returning from Northampton? When did Charles come. When did Aunt Vesta4 return. How is Chloe5 and the baby? What has happened &c &c, these and many others I hope you will be particular and answer - Oh how much I have thought of you and wished you by me. Be sure and tell me just how you have busied yourself. I thought of you all Sunday as listening to one of Mr Boardman's6 good sermons. I attended Dr Cox splendid new church in the morning the Pilgrim church in the afternoon and the Plymouth in the evening.
Maria and I are were [sic] invited to spend the day last week at one of the most splendid houses in New York, in St Marks place. I never saw such magnificence in a house. We had the pleasure of riding home after the city was lighted up in the evening and it was delightful. How I would like to step in and take tea with you this afternoon. I really felt quite homesick to get back to Goshen after I had left, it makes me feel sad when I think I shall probably never visit there again. Sister Maria has concluded not to go to Pittsfield I am perfectly rejoiced for I shall have her at home with me this winter. I have entertained the girls a great deal with the account of my Goshen visit. They have a great desire to see you all.
I can imagine just how you are all busying yourselves now. Has Rufus7 heard from Manchester and what is the news. I feel quite anxious to know. It is a week to day since I came here, time has passed rapidly and yet it seems a long time since I have seen you all. I had a letter from Mother yesterday, worrying some, lest I had an unpleasant journey down. But I assure you I enjoyed it much. I never had a pleasanter trip. I feel perfectly in love with New Haven. Such a charming little city. Do you team about as much as when I was there? Ask Rufus if he would like another walk through the woods & pastures. I'm sure I should. As for Brother Dodge I had almost forgotten him, I suppose he has called ere this, do give him my lasting regrets! That young lady whom I have mentioned was a Miss Kellogg from Amherst a relative of Rufus and Amos Cole!
What a heterogeneous letter this is, ideas jumbled up in all sorts of confusion. I trust you will pardon this time. I do not mean generally to impose such burden upon my friends. I mention one thing and [...] just as it comes into my mind, I fear I shall forget many things. How is Sarah Belding?8 I am getting quite indolent about rising. I do as I used to in Goshen rise just in time for breakfast at seven. We retire somewhat late. I spend a part of the evening out upon the balcony watching the crowds pass by, the streets being lit up brilliantly. Dr lives right in the middle of the city where there is most going on which as you may imagine just suits me. Now Wealthy this is quite a long letter if you have a mind to think so, and I do hope you will answer it soon and direct to Manlius.
I have hardly thought of returning home yet. Every time I mention it, Sophia stops me, still I think I shall go ere long. I shall probably go before Maria, I am too impatient to see home to wait for her. You will write soon wont you. I shall want one the moment I get home, for I feel impatient to hear. Write all about youself, and all the rest of the good folks. It will seem quite like hearing from home to hear from Goshen. You know I claim that my Massachusetts home.
Tell Rufus I had half a mind to enclose a note to him as I have something to say to him but fearing he would not answer it I concluded not to. I fear this letter will find you in Ashfield, if so give my best love to Frederick his wife and baby, tell the former I arrived here in safety, but was very glad I followed his advice and waited for company, for I dont know what I should have done landing in New York alone. I have just received another letter from Mother tonight which I must hasten and answer before I retire.
Do excuse the egotism displayed here, I will try and do better next time.
Forgive all, write soon and dinna forget
Cousin Harriette.9
TuesdayWednesday Eve. I intended to have sent this letter this morning, but have been very busy making me a silk "Visite." How much I do want to see you all to night. I suppose you are taking as much comfort as ever. I hardly know what I have written for this has been penned in confusion and haste. I feel very anxious to hear from you all, so I hope you will answer immediately, and tell me every thing. I expect to go home next week, though it is uncertain, I feel quite impatient to get home though I assure you I am taking solid comfort it is so pleasant here, and it seems so good to be with sisters.Wealthy I hope you will pardon me for imposing upon you a letter which I have not courage to read over but I am in haste.
My sheet is filled and I have scarce commenced writing. Give a great great deal of love to Cushman & Julia and the little Sophia10, also to George & Alvey11 ask them if they have entirely forgotten my existence. As for Aunt Vesta, Uncle Moses, Levi Rufus Martha12 and your worthy self, each accept as large a share of love and good wishes as you feel disposed. I think of you all, oftener I presume than you do of me, for whenever I see anything peculiarly interesting I want you here to enjoy it with
outme. As for my dear little nephew13, of course I think him about eight. He has grown very much since last summer. He thinks there is nothing like "Aunty Hat," because she walks out with him so much. Please excuse the looks of this. Henry is jabbering so at my side it is impossible to write. Sophia & Maria sent a great deal of love to you all, I hope you gave Charles the scolding I left for him.14
[Footnotes about the genealogical connections mentioned here:
1 Pa Hawks is probably Harriette's cousin Roswell, who is the son of her uncle Jared Hawks.
2 Mr. Hawks is probably Harriette's uncle Jared, who is brother to her father Erastus Hawks.
3 Henry may be Henry Gardelle, the husband of Harriette's cousin Julia Hawks, Jared's daughter.
4 Wealthy Dresser's mother was Vesta Cushman.
5 This is Dorothy Chloe Dresser, Wealthy's sister. She married Frederick Belding in 1846 in Goshen, and Frederick was born in Ashfield. The baby might not have lived for long; a Dresser genealogy lists their first child as being born in 1859.
6 Harriette's cousin Electa Hawks (Jared's daughter) was married to a Reverend William Boardman.
7 Wealthy had a brother named Rufus.
8 Frederick Belding, Wealthy's brother-in-law, had a sister named Sarah.
9 If Harriette and Wealthy are first cousins, then Harriette is Harriet Hawks. Her mother, Chloe Dresser, is the sister of Moses, Wealthy's father.
10 Wealthy's brother was Caleb Cushman Dresser; he married Julia White in 1842, and their first surviving child was Sophia Butler Dresser, born in 1846.
11 George Dresser is Wealthy's brother. He married Alvey Stone in 1847 in Goshen. 12 Wealthy's mother was Vesta and her father was Moses, and the others are her brothers and sisters.
13 I do not know the identity of the nephew. He does not appear to be one of the Dresser offspring, and there are several Hawks boys it could be.
14 If the identification of Harriette is correct as Harriet Hawks, then Sophia is her sister. There is no known sister named Maria, and I do not know Charles' full identity.]