Title
Description
Creator
Publisher
Date
Format
Language
Identifier
Transcription
Lyme July 16th ‘83
My Dear Jervy
I intended to write you two days ago in order that my letter shd reach you by the post that carried Edwina’s to Downing, but I have deferred not knowing what to say. My dear friend all the bright visions of last year are melted into nothingness. After we left Rondout a settled sadness seemed to take possession of Edwina & I could see that she was very unhappy and wanted to speak of something that troubled her yet lacked strength to do so, at last, however, she relieved her heart by a relation of her feelings
and the terrible trial she has endured the past [few?] weeks---all of which she has written to Downing. She asked him to show the letter to his mother---to whom she also wrote a few lines. Bad as this misfortune seems for both of them how much worse, how terrible would be their fate were they married! I can talk with you of it better than I can write of it. Therefore, I’d best be brief, as Edwina’s letter/ wh I hope both you & your sisters will see / explains the case more clearly than mine could.
But I must beg of you Jervy to reason with poor Downing, and make him realize how incapable he is, and may be for years, to assume the responsibity of marriage.
I can but think that the step Edwina has been induced to take, by her own terror of the probable misery her marriage with Downing would entail, will be a relief to him. The thought of it must surely have caused him much anxiety---afflicted as he is. I hope this sad termination of our hopes for them will not cast the least shadow on the affection that we all feel for each other, but that it will rather be strengthened by our common sorrow. Let this letter serve as one to all the immediate family whom we both love, for I can write no more on the painful subject--- nor has Edwina strength to do so; her letter to Downing cost her great suffering. The enclosed letters came after I had posted hers & I think she had better not see them, therefore I send them
to you. Downing shall ever have my fatherly affection & my assistance in any way that I can give it. Beg him for all our sakes to look at this painful episode as for the benefit of both, for the good of us all. I hope I shall see you very soon, but just now I cannot go to to Rondout as I promised and hoped to do. God bless you all, dear friends, and may you regard this change of our cherished plans as a blessing to our dear ones and not a misfortune. Write to me at New York, 36 East 20th where I will be next Monday & I may then be able to give you a more sensible letter---my wits have been in confusion these several days past.
Your friend ever
Edwin
In looking over what I have written I find that I neglected to say that I have long watched Edwina with anxiety & have had serious fears for her future, and for Downing’s too, & when she told me all that she had kept from me for fear of making me unhappy, I advised her to write at once to Downing and so save themselves from a life of unhappiness.
His last conversation with me assured me that his affection now is that of a brother not a lover and I regretted afterwards that I did not
advise them both to end their engagement. Nor have I been without doubts regarding some future relapse and its fearful consequences.