Whitman Letter

Letter to Mrs. Charlotte H. Perley, Care of Major T. Perley, Naples, Cumberland County, Maine, from Charles Whitman, Washington City, D. C., March 10, 1840

Since the stoppage of specie payments by the banks here, in October last, things relating to cash have been in a bad state… Charles Whitman, Washington City, D. C., March 10, 1840

Washington City March 10th 1840

Dear Madam –

Your favor of the 29th ultimo has been received – I am surprised indeed beyond measure! – Can it be possible that you want money, and that too under present circumstances? Certainly, if the declaration had not have come from yourself, I could not have believed it – Well, I can only say that the balance ought to have been paid long ago and that I will send it the first safe opportunity. Perhaps that may be not until the adjournment of Congress and since you have survived so many disappoints and delays from me, I have no doubt you will be able to continue till that time – Since the stoppage of specie payments by the banks here, in October last, things relating to cash have been in a bad state and it has been impossible, as it now is, to get a draft on any place North of Philadelphia and all our dealings are necessarily in hard money – To send that in any other way than by private conveyance would be impracticable and I shall therefore postpone it until an opportunity occurs –

I congratulate you on the change – It was somewhat unexpected because the gossip that was affloat when I last was at Waterford seemed to indicate another order of things – I then trembled for you at any prospect of such a result – I have no doubt now that happiness will be your bet from what I know and believe of the Maj. your husband –

Mrs W. joins me in affectionate and respectful regards to yourself and husband –

We have one piece of intelligence to announce to our friends in Maine which perhaps may not be intirely uninteresting to you – Last Saturday Doct Sewall of this city gave us a fine little fat Whig who will probably one of these days be President of the United States – The child with its mother are now (Tuesday) doing finely —

Mr Franklin Farnsworth is at present in this city quite unwell at the house of Doct Chapin, President of Columbia College – He intended I understand to visit Maine but but having been taken more ill here his friends in Kentucky are desirous of having him return as soon as he is able – I intend to call on him – Some of our young ladies spent the day at Doct C. one day last week and saw him & were much pleased with him –

I will inform you by letter when & by whom I remit –

Believe me sincerely
Your friend etc
C. Whitman

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Submitter: Phillip F. Schlee E- mail: schlee@ksu.edu

Notes: Letter to Mrs. Charlotte H. Perley, Care of Major T. Perley, Naples, Cumberland County, Maine, from Charles Whitman, Esq., Washington City, D. C., March 10, 1840; from the Phillip F. Schlee Collection.

Charlotte Hale (1795-1884), daughter of Oliver Hale and Eunice Fletcher, married Thomas Perley in 1839; she resided in Waterford, Oxford County, Maine, in 1880.