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Annie Adams Fields — [?] May 1863

To ANNIE ADAMS FIELDS
[mid-May? 1863?], Philadelphia

Only time dear Annie for one word to send with this. It came yesterday—I will send the notice of Mr. Browning’s book tomorrow I think. [1] I wanted to write it and have nearly finished it though a headache and all sorts of aches growing out of a cold—which I relieved Mr. Davis of— Wasn’t I glad to have your note, though? And don’t I do me real true good to look back to your visit? [2]


Annie I never will forget that visit— I never thought you cared for me half so much until you came and we never really knew each other before, I think. We—Mr. Davis and I—speak of you both every day since and when we shall see you again.


I would have written sooner only for this miserable feeling of having ‘gone to mash’ with a cold—as our Western phrase has it. And now I must send this word off to catch the mail— I could do nothing with Mr. Blecker[3]—he is dis-jointed beyond remedy. I will write a good long letter with the notice. If Mr. Davis were here he would send a message. I know Carrie[4] sends her warmest remembrances. Goodbye until tomorrow.


Yours always,
Rebecca


Only look at this patriotic paper! It is all I have—you’ll say it is the only sign of patriotism you ever saw in me, I don’t doubt, you satirical soul—who—believes—in—Butler—[5]



Notes

  1. RHD often seems to use “Mrs.” when talking of the Browning review, but the review under debate concerned Robert Browning’s book, so I am assuming “Mrs.” is a slip of the pen. The debate about RHD’s less than positive review continued from May 1863 into 1864 when a review of the book was published by another reviewer.

  2. The Fieldses visited the Davises in April 1863.

  3. She is writing “Paul Blecker.”

  4. Carrie Davis Cooper, RHD’s sister-in-law with whom they are living.

  5. Benjamin Butler (1818-1893), Civil War general whom Annie adored and RHD did not. See letter to Annie Adams Fields dated April 21, [1863].


Key Words

"Paul Blecker", Carrie Davis Cooper, Gen. Benjamin Butler, health (RHD), reviews by RHD, Robert Browning


Source

Richard Harding Davis Papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia


Contributor

S. M. Harris

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