Cornwall Hollen
July 31 1864
My dear Mrs. Gibbons,
I was very sorry to
learn by a letter [received] yesterday
from Cousin Catherine, in [which]
she included one from you, that
she misapprehended me respecting
the Hospital. In order that you
may understand the case, I shall
be obliged to go into the details
of my personal history, a little
more then may be agreeable
to you. For the last few years I have
lived a very secluded life,
helping house for my beloved
Brother, the late [General Sedgwick],
at his place here in Cornwall,
which is our old family house.
His death made a change
necessary, and as the work
of my life was suddenly
taken away, I remembered to
Cousin Catherine that if I
could be useful, I should be
willing to go to a Hospital, for
another winter. She at once
acted upon the suggestion
without taking into the account
the circumstances of my present
life, and with her prompt
kindness wrote to you, as she
felt very truly that it would
be more agreeable to me to go under
your auspices then in any other
way, and I am afraid that
it has caused you needless
trouble. My house for the
present, and probably will be
during the [summer?], full of
visitors, and I cannot possibly
[?] up my personal affairs
to be to leave here until the
middle of Oct, or the 1st of
Nov. After that time, I should
be ready to do what I could to relive
the sufferings of those who have so
generously devoted their lives
to our beloved country. But I
am entirely unexperienced in
such a life. I have never even
visited a Hospital. I would on
no account take responsibilities
upon myself which I could not
faithfully discharge. But I
am willing to be taught, and if
there is any subordinate place
where I could do some good, and
learn to do more, I shall be very
glad to accept it, after I am at
liberty here. If you think I
can make myself useful, I
shall be very glad to hear from
you directly by letter addressed to
me here. Yours respectfully
Emily Sedgwick
