Joseph Proctor to unknown

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Title

Joseph Proctor to unknown

Description

Joseph Proctor writes to his father and brother speaking of the foggy London weather.

Creator

Proctor, Joseph

Publisher

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Date

1859-11-18

Format

pdf

Language

en

Identifier

300267
T1859.11.18-MISC

Transcription

London Nov 18th/ 59

My dear Father & Brothers

Your last

welcome letter came to hand

the first of this week and

although I have nothing

new to write in reply, yet

I feel as though I should

neglect a duty did I not

give you indimation of its

safe arrival and our good

health at this moment -

Every thing has a sombre

look about London at this time

on account of the heavy fogs

that shroud the City during this

month. I have heard of

the atmosphere being so thick

that you could cut it with

a knife but never realized

the truth of it till now -


The stores are all lighted up

during the day, when the dark

vapour spreads his blinding

mantle, and the pedestrian

gropes his way cautiously while

carriages are escorted by torch

bearer whose rays of light - will

only penetrate the distance of the

horses length - This however is

only in extreme cases of foggy

Monopoly - as we have occasionally

a day that you can see at least

twice the length of your nose -

I have heard of foggy London

and now I see it, taste it and

smell it - But there is one thing

sure and that is that the Sun

still shines if not for us and

his brightness will be far more

welcome when he condescends

to dispel the gloom and greet

us with his shining beams once

more - Capt Hiler favored us with


a visit on Sunday and next

Thursday will assist us in discussing

the good things that Lizzy will prepare

for that Thanksgiving occasion -

We shall think and talk of

you even if you are not able to

hear it - We hope you will have

a good time at home and think

of the warm affection abroad

The new Theatricals are

as they were when I wrote before.

We are now doing the "Roman Slave"

which was received with much favor

and will doubtless elicit some

good notices in the papers at the

end of the week - The writing

critics have been occupied with

the west end theatres recently &

only occasionally come over to our

end or part of the town, for it

seemingly has no end, that is to

say it takes a long walk to bring

one there - Capt Hiler says tell your


Father to cultivate Cranberries in his

Meadows as it is the most profitable

business in the agricultural line now

followed. He spoke of a person in

the States who had written to an

acquaintance here that he had made

a large amount of money off of a

lot containing but three acres &

and a half - the Capt will give you

all the particulars when he arrives

and the next thing I expect to

read in the papers will be "Wanted,

by Messrs Proctor & Hiler, several ships

to carry Cranberries to foreign markets.

I presume by this time that

John & Alfred are wending their

way towards home and I hope their

profits will pay them for the time they

have devoted to the trip -

Dr Whitemore has not yet arrived

Lizzy says ask Mother to affix Miss Drakes

address to her letter and drop it in the

office - She has not heard from [Holly?]

as Mrs Lovejoy but once and that was

some time ago - Remember us to all friends

in Boston & the Suburbs and accept the

affection of Lizzy & myself for all our family.

Joseph

I hope you read the papers I sent

Status

Needs Review

Percent Needs Review

100

Weight

200

Original Format

paper and ink
4 p
21 x 14 cm

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