Mira Sharpless Townsend letter to Samuel Townsend

            Mary Gove's 5th day Eve July 6th [1848] 
Husband Dear 
     After closing my letter on 2nd day I sallied 
forth and took a most tremendous walk to James Gibbons, 
and there learned that Abby had gone down to her Fathers 
office - now Mary Gove's is near the East River, J Gibbons's 
close to the North River, and the office is close to the park 
forming a triangle of full 6 miles round - An Omnibus 
took me there, and I found Abby, James, and several others 
arranging for an excursion to Randals Island - I was 
forthwith invited to go, and of course as that was one 
of the places I had previously wished to visit, I did 
not need much persuasion - From there I went to the 
post Office, which is quite a walk to deposite my letter, 
and then to Broadway, when an Omnibus bore me nearly 
back to Mary's - The Hopper party went up to the Island 
at [half] past 7, but we do not breakfast here until 8 oclock, so 
I had to go up at 11 instead - The vessels were gay with 
banners, and streamers, and Crackers were flying in all 
directions and that was pretty much all I saw or heard 
of the 4th, in the City - Sarah J Hale, Roberts the Governor 
of Liberia, and a number of distinguished people were there 
beside the Hoppers - Now you must know that the City has 
1000 children on this Island, who were formerly on the Long Island 
farms, and the good foster Mother, (the City) has built 5 
fine houses for the accommodation of these foster children - 
and on the present occasion the prison society volunteered 


to give them a jolllification, and forth with every body was 
invited to become donors of goodies for the feast - Accordingly 
lots of Crackers, Ginger cakes, candies and toys were bestowed - 
When we arrived, the children were every Where like 
black berries - The tables were in the Woods, and if all 
the children were not sick the next day it was not the 
fault of the people for they had enough to produce a Surfeit - 
The toys were all purchased by the Men as at a fair, & 
then given to the children - We had good ice cream, 
and partook of a cold collation at the Superintendants, 
heard the Boys make some flaming Speeches, and sing some 
songs, march, exercise, and hurrah, visited the houses, and returned 
to [New York] after having had a delightful excursion, and went to the 
prisoners [underlined] home [/underlined] where we took supper, and spent the Eve - 
Went with Abby to lodge, and 4th day morn, Isaac Hopper, 
Abby, Sarah J. Hale, 2 other Ladies, and myself went to Blackwells 
Island - Here were about 800 prisoners - The Island 
is finely improved, has beautiful buildings (on the outside) 
but wretched miserable Creatures within - They are indeed 
painted sepulchres - There are 260 Women there who ought to be 
Rosines - I distributed some pamphlets, and letters, and had 
Conversation with a number - Tell Eddy, & Dr Patterson their 
old friend, Mary Parker, or Gregory, was among them - 160 of 
these miserable Women were in a Shantee together, seated 
close together in rows, with nothing to do but entertain 
themselves and each other with awfully profane and wicked 
conversation, becoming daily more hardened, & hopeless - 
Oh it was a horrid sight, when we consider all the 

circumstances of their condition - If a woman goes there 
not utterly corrupted, the work must certainly be accomplished 
before she leaves that terrible place - They are 
shut up in the cells in the prison at night - The Island 
is beautiful indeed, but oh the wretchedness and misery there - 
     We returned to New York about 4 oclock, and I proceeded 
to Hannah Anns - She was out, but they expected 
her immediately, so I took a walk and returned, then 
a second one, then waited an hour, but still she came 
not - So I had to go - Lodged at Marys - This morn 
James Gibbons & I went to the Belle view Hospital which 
is pretty much like our Almshouse - The nurses here 
are the Rosine prisoners from Blackwells Island - 
     From there we went to the Magdalen - this is 
2 or 3 miles out of town - They have usually near 
20 there - Now 14 - I was much gratified with my 
visit there - Returned to Marys near night - 
I [received] thy letter this morn, and one from Townsend, saying 
they would be at the Astor House tomorrow morn 
at ten oclock - If I can get off tomorrow morn, 
I am to go again with Harriet Probasco to the Tombs - 
Farther than this I know not, but I expect Townsend 
looks forward to leaving for the East in the afternoon - 
Direct to the care of Charles Spear Cornhill Boston - 
If I get along as well, Eastward, I shall do [underlined] first-rate [/underlined] - 
Oh I forgot, I called again this morn, and saw Hannah 
Ann, and spent an hour at Amos Willitts's - If we stay 
any time on our return, I think I will go there - 
     Now Dearie I have unexpectedly written you a long letter 

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but during the operation I became so sleepy I laid down 
took a nap, and am as fresh as if it were morning - 
They are now crying [?] - It is the first I have heard since 
I left home - I am getting quite used to sleeping down 
stairs, but I would be as willing to be up - Every night I 
fidget some, itching and scratching fearing that in my 
daily visits I may get Travellers - 

[Address] 

Samuel Townsend 
[Number] 35 South 2nd [Street] 
Philadelphia 

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I think of you all as I get time, and hope you will get 
along nicely both at home & at the Rosine - I wish 
all my letters preserved, as I shall keep no other diary - 
Husband, children, Girls, Boys, Eliza & Fathers love to 
you - 
     farewell thine Mira -