Sarah Hopper Palmer letter to Abby Hopper Gibbons and Sarah Hopper Gibbons Emerson

[Philadelphia] 1804 Wallace St
Fifth [month] Third 1863

My dear sister Abby and niece Sally.

Thy very acceptable letter dear Sally was duly
received. I am exceedingly obliged for it, & have
regretted not being able to answer it sooner. I am
neither whining nor croaking when I say that
our experience this winter, at least the two last
months of it, has been calculated to try even a saints
patience. Firstly, I had Influenza which took such a
grip that I thought it would never let go. Dear little
Louis was affected in the same manner. Terrible cough
and symptoms not accompanying a common bad
cold. We are now quite smart again. Little Willie is
cutting four teeth, making 20. But more trying than
all we have had a set of drunken thieves for servants.

This is my apology for not having been more prompt
in answering thy very interesting letter & thanking thee
for the kind invitation to make you a visit. It would
delight me to do it, and I immediately set my imagination
to work to plan the execution of it. But it
soon began to fade in the distance, one obstacle

after another presenting. It was truly satisfactory
to find you so much more comfortably circumstanced
than heretofore as it sets us comparatively
at ease on your account. Very frequent
inquiries are made for you and I
am very glad to be able to satisfy our friends.

Sister Elizabeth made a very pleasant visit
in New York & finished off with a week to us.
She seemed quite impatient to get back to
arrange her plants for the summer. She was
freighted with valuables, and found and left
every body clever and as she would have their, in
short, she appears to be in an excellent "frame of
mind." We remarked that she talked less than
usual for her. One of the most pleasant things [which]
has occurred in our family circle, to me at least,
is the moving of our sister Rachel & family to No
17 La Martine place. I think it will be mutually
pleasant to the two families for various reasons.
Very nice to have aunt Rachel as a stay or adviser
for Julia & Lucy to fall back upon in case of necessity
and an advantage to the young people to mix

in a social point of view. In your absence
I should think you would feel it to be a
good things. I wish we were as near you all.
Perhaps Anna told you in hers, that they applied
to Miss Dewey, Sheffield, [Massachusetts], for admission
for a team for Maria, as her cousin
Abotts were to go, but they were full (number 13)

They are well as usual, Edward sometimes
suffering with Dyspepsia. You may have heard
of Anne Whartons illness. She was taken with a chill
and prostrated at once, after two weeks, she felt a
soreness in the upper part of her chest. In very few days
it was discovered that an abscess had formed there
by the discharge. Dr Meigs was called in by Dr
Griscom, who pronounced it "a rapid tubercular
consumption." She was so reduced that she
could not walk to the next room. As she
desired to be removed to it she was taken in on
a sofa. They are waiting for her to be able to be
taken to Bellevue. She seems to be going very
much as Mary did, or Joseph, only more rapidly
I have never seen Deborah so overcome by any

similar occasion. It was so startling Fanny and
I were not taken unawares, for we have remarked
her progress downward for a year. We had John
P. Hale to dine with us on his way from Washington.
What a terrible illness he had, it tells upon him
sadly, so subdued by suffering. I think it a wonderful
recovery. We had a very pleasant call from
thy father. He never yet came when it was not
pleasant, his society was always a delight to me,
and he is a very great favorite with Fanny.
I hope you will not consider me unwise to send
you a gloomy letter. I give you an account of
affairs as they have occurred.

Mary Wilson we expect day after tomorrow
to spend the time with us until her marriage
which is to take place the fourth of next month,
at our house. Jacob Byrnes, her prospective husband,
is a member of the Society of friends, he says
an unworthy member, as he does not confine
himself to the friend [?] strictly. Every one
who I have heard speak of him, as having
known him from early life pronounces him

a worthy amiable man. He will be a pleasant
companion for Mary, and I trust will make
her happy. They will board & not keep house
at present. I expect you hear all the news
from New York. Most likely more than we
do. I expect to take Louis up to Neddy's this
week, so shall miss of Yearly Meeting.

Please remember to "Miss Gracy." As miss
Dix is evidently spoiled by her notoriety,
I must extend a caution to my sister & her
daughter who stand & continue to rise in
the estimation of those who know of their
devotion. Eliza Newport dwelt largely upon
your merits. Fanny desires her love in
large portions to her Aunt & [?] and I
send my warmest. Your truly affectionate
Sarah H. Palmer.

Do write when you can and tell me all you do,
& see & know. I received the paper, I am wondering
what this day will bring forth on the Potomac

I am sorry to learn of Mary Hopkins prospect.
John Dunn received a very interesting letter
of 24 pages from his brother William,
dated near Fredericksburgh. He is with
Hooker.

Little Walter Brown died a week
ago, happily released from great suffering.

[Ivanna?] Johnson is following the army to
Richmond.