Scope and Contents

Wrote a long letter to James; received a letter from Rutson; he said he had pneumonia, but it is gettting better; seemed skeptical about the capture of VIcksburg and Port Hudson; took a long walk last night, and the city was quiet; thinks that most of the people who participated in the riots now realize their actions were wrong; Sarah spoke with the Miss Haddens on the way back from church; the collection was for soldiers, policemen, and colored people harmed by the riots; Dr. [Morgan] preached about the riots, but there were no rioters present, so it was useless; Arch-Bishop Hughes' speech was disappointing; thinks that the Riots should make the upper classes think about their duties to the poor; Mr. Van Ness dined with the tonight; expected to receive a reply from Jody, but did not; Walker said that he and William wanted to invite Miss Lippett to stay with them; thinks this is a good idea, but first wants to find out if Jody and his wife are coming; Dr. Wilkes told him that Caroline Duer is doing poorly and she may not live much longer; (20 July) he and Matthew received her letters; is angry that Miss Dilworth has been treated so poorly by the people she has been so kind to; does not see a solution as long as Mrs. Gilpin is alive, because Sarah, her daughter would be the one to go to England; warns her not to try to undertake the job; Colo[nel] Gilpin still has not visited Cornwall; wonders if she would like to spend the winter, or even stay until the fall of 1864; if anything were to happen to Lewis, she would want to be here [N.Y,] to be with Nan and the children; does not expect peace before the Democrats are back in power; thinks Mobile may be be captured; does not think the draft will be successful; people would rather work because the wages are good, than fight for the Negro; (21 [July] ) Dr. Wilkes said that Caroline Duer had improved a little bit, but that she was still very ill; Matthew has gone back to Cornwall; he plans to show his wife the letter [about Miss Dilworth]; encloses Arch B[isho]p Hughe's speech to the Rioters [not present]; many R[oman] C[atholic] clergymen gave much better sermons on the issue; the attacks on Negroes have made influencial men sympathetic to their plight; the City Council's decision to pay $300 to the men who get drafted was a poor one; supposes the mayor will veto it; thinks that the Democratic party in New York will be weakened by these events; is still expecting a reply from Jody. 8pp ALS