- Collection:
- Robert Toombs, Letters to Julia Ann DuBose Toombs, 1850-1867
- Title:
- Letter, Paris, to Julia [Ann DuBose Toombs], 1866 Dec. 23
- Creator:
- Toombs, Robert Augustus, 1810-1885
- Date of Original:
- 1866-12-23
- Subject:
- American Confederate voluntary exiles--France
American Confederate voluntary exiles--France--Social life and customs
Burt family - People:
- Toombs, Julia Ann, 1830-1883--Correspondence
Toombs, Robert Augustus, 1810-1885--Correspondence
Toombs, Robert Augustus, 1810-1885--Journeys
Toombs, Julia Ann--Journeys - Location:
- France, 46.0, 2.0
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- image/jpeg
text/html - Description:
- In this Dec. 23, 1866 letter to his wife Julia, Robert Toombs, representative in the Georgia House of Representatives (1837-1843), in the U.S. Congress (1845-1853) and Senate (1853-1861), expresses his grief at parting with his wife and his attempts at telegraphing the port of departure to find out if the launch was successful. He elaborates on his own travel plans, and emphasizes his distress at the political turmoil at home. He talks about the Burts and their upcoming Italian trip, the weather, and his health. He closes and begins again four days later, thanking his wife for her note reassuring him of her well-being during the trip. He closes but opens again the next day, lamenting the death of a friend, which he was informed of that morning. He closes the letter briefly.
Digital image and transcription of original manuscript, scanned by the University of Georgia Libraries in 2001, as part of GALILEO. - Local Identifier:
- rat024
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/zlrt/id:rat024
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_zlrt_rat024
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlrt_rat024/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Robert Toombs, letters to Julia Ann DuBose Toombs. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Robert Toombs, letters to Julia Ann DuBose Toombs. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Paris Sunday morning Dec 23d Dec. [December]
My Dear Julia,
I felt so badly yesterday That I did not begin my letter to you, The night you left I returned to the room & did not go to sleep until after Two o'clock. I felt so sad at parting with you, and could not help Thinking of what a long dreary Trip you had That night. I went Early next morning to the Steam packet officer to learn what I could about the departure of the steamer from Cadiz in order to telegraff [telegraphe] you, but Still they had not heard further inquiry [inquiry] I found They had telegraffed [telegraphed] Marseilles instead of Madrid, They had as well have Telegraffed [Telegraphed] Timbutto [Timbucktoo] . I immediately Telegraffed [Telegraphed] to Madrid & expect to hear this evening, at all events before I close This letter, but my mind is made up whether I hear or not I shall go There to sail the first of January unless more Than I now know prevents me. I shall a long journey of five thousand miles from here to Havana & do not know That I shall meet a human being to whom I am known. But if I keep well I
Page: [2]
shall not mind that especially as I am homeward bound, for altho [although] my hearth Stone is desolate, & clouds & darkness hover over the little remnant that is left of us, and upon all of our poor friends & country men, yet when you get home Washington will contain nearly all that is dear to me in this world. I remained at home yesterday after I got [deleted text: [illegible text] ] up (which was about eleven o clock) [deleted text: until] & paid my visit to the office, until after five and as Mr Burt & Julia were still out I went out alone to my solitary meal. They. had been to Bon Marchi [illegible text] after dark & [added text: Mr Burt] remained at home last night, where we sat up Till twelve oclock. waiting for Julia to return from The Theatre.
Mrs Burt & Julia are very busy getting ready for Their Italian trip & I think They will leave on Wednesday. I expect to set off The Same day. I feel very sorry to[deleted text: [unclear text: leave] ] See them "turned loose" in Europe but I shall do the best I can for them before I leave & commit them to as good hands as I can find. I greatly
Page: [3]
fear Mrs B. [Burt] does not or can not exercise sufficient control over Mrs C. To day [Today] I am Still in & have not gone out to take my walk, It is cold cloudy & chilly & dismal weather, & but little inviting out of doors, but I think it is necessary to go out! My cold continues to improve & I think I should soon get well if the weather was_ at all good, but it seems impossible to improve Such weather I hear you have had Two bad days for The ocean, I count Them as They go, anxious That They may pass away quickly [deleted text: while] until you get off the sea.
Monday morning
Dec 24th
Dear Julia
I got your pencil note This morning from Burt & was glad to hear that you were thro' [through] that dreadfully fatiguing journey & safe on board. Tho' [Though] you were evidently [unclear text: sad] , I trust you may have a [unclear text: good] voyage across, I see by the papers That Mr. Rawlings got to N. [New] York on the 20th Decber I hope to hear of your safe arrival
Page: [4]
before I sail. I can hear nothing from Cadiz the first of the private telegrams but I shall leave day after to-morrow [tomorrow] any how I will keep this letter open until To-morrow [Tomorrow] & write you my final arrangments -- Farewell till To-morrow [Tomorrow]
Decb. 25th 1866
Dear Julia,
When will our misfortunes end? to day [today] I met Alice Alexander in the Streets & She told me that She had a letter from home, announcing The death of Dudley's mother, it made me so Sad, that I immediately came back to my room & have seen nothing of Christmas in Paris. Mrs. Burt & Julia are both out, I have Scarcely seen Them Since you left, they are busy preparing to go to Italy & will leave tomorrow [tomorrow], they say, I will keep This letter open until I leave, day after To-morrow [Tomorrow] for I have to give you the last news. I can hear nothing of The [unclear text: Steamers] but will go any-how.
Farewell