Skip to content

OPEN TODAY: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.

Tickets

Manuscripts

William Cowper letter to John Thornton

Image not available



You might also be interested in

  • Image not available

    Cowper, William. Letter to [John Newton]

    Manuscripts

    Copy in the handwriting of Robert Southey, 2 pages. The letter, lacking first few sentences regarding the neglect by an unidentified man of his sister and closing paragraph, is transcribed in Thomas Wright, ed. The Correspondence of William Cowper (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1904), vol. II: pp. 289-90.

    HM 20833

  • Image not available

    XSX Ranch letter

    Manuscripts

    An autograph letter signed by "Henry" and addressed to "Dear Mother." The letter describes the roundup of cattle on the XSX Ranch near Silver City, New Mexico; Henry also details the typical chores of a cowboy including rounding up strays, practicing his roping, burning brush, and unclogging a water pipe; he also describes visiting other ranches and sharing meals of stew, beans, coffee, and bread pudding. The letter is in good condition with faint fold lines.

    mssHM 84059

  • Image not available

    J.H. (John Holmes) Magruder letters to his family

    Manuscripts

    This series of six letters are written by John Holmes Magruder during his journey from New York to California in hopes of finding gold. In HM 16723, dated 1849, January 1 and written to his brother Thomas and his sister Olivia, John is restless, eager to get his sailing journey underway, and is excited by the prospects of finding gold in California. HM 16724 (1849, March 9) describes John's voyage over sea to Santa Catarina Island, and reports from California continue to be encouraging. In his next letter (HM 16725, 1849, June 27), John writes while on board the whaling vessel Tahmaroo, bound for California. He describes in detail what he saw of Brazil and Santa Catarina, and says that there are still positive reports of gold being found in California, but that Sacramento and San Francisco are "infested with gamblers, robbers and black legs from every nation." HM 16726, dated 1849, September 11, and written to his brother Ogden, finds John in Sacramento, where he has begun his search for gold, despite having been stricken with fever. He does not expect to be back for a few years. In HM 16727, to Thomas, and dated 1849, September 17, John is still recovering from fever, but hopes to be back to his search in a few weeks. The next letter (HM 16728) is addressed to Thomas, and dated 1851, October 7. John believes he will settle in California permanently, and has become interested in local politics. He is in business with his brother Lloyd, but aside from reporting that things are well, he gives no further details.

    mssHM 16723-16728

  • Image not available

    Reverdy Johnson letter to John B. Williams

    Manuscripts

    Johnson informs Williams that the pending Congressional bill "to abolish the present judicial districts of the United States in California" has not been presented, but will be should the opportunity arise. Signed in a different hand than the rest of the letter.

    mssHM 19019

  • Image not available

    John F.W. (John Frederick William) Herschel letter to Sir Charles Wood

    Manuscripts

    In this handwritten, signed letter, Herschel is introducing his eldest son, Sir William James Herschel, to British politician Sir Charles Wood. Herschel's son was on a leave of absence from his duties in India to study law in England.

    mssHM 75938

  • Image not available

    William B. (William Boyd) Alisson letter to Henry Graff Trevor

    Manuscripts

    Allison is happy that Trevor and his wife are coming to Washington, but he is not sure if he can secure tickets to "the Ceremony in the Capitol." Typed letter, signed by hand. On United States Senate letterhead. Includes clipping with brief biography of Allison.

    mssHM 29218