- Collection:
- Robert Toombs, Letters to Julia Ann DuBose Toombs, 1850-1867
- Title:
- Letter, [Paris], to Julia [Ann DuBose Toombs], 1867 Jan. 1
- Creator:
- Toombs, Robert Augustus, 1810-1885
- Date of Original:
- 1867-01-01
- Subject:
- American Confederate voluntary exiles--France
American Confederate voluntary exiles--France--Social life and customs
New Year--Celebrations
Lawton family
Ferguson family
Burt family
Breckenridge family - People:
- Toombs, Julia Ann, 1830-1883--Correspondence
Toombs, Robert Augustus, 1810-1885--Correspondence
Toombs, Robert Augustus, 1810-1885--Journeys
Toombs, Julia Ann, 1830-1883--Journeys - Location:
- France, 46.0, 2.0
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- image/jpeg
text/html - Description:
- Toombs, representative in the Georgia House of Representatives (1837-1843), in the U.S. Congress (1845-1853) and Senate (1853-1861), laments his exile, especially in celebrating the New Year so far from home. He tells his wife he's been hoping to hear of her safe arrival in New York. He explains his hopeful plans for travel from Europe back to the New World, noting the political complications in Spain and France, and the complications of disease in the Caribbean, affecting his itinerary. He updates his wife on his health, and then closes the letter for the day. He begins again the next, expressing concern that he has not yet heard of his wife's arrival. He discusses their friends in Paris, the Burts, the Breckinridges, the Lawtons, and the Fergusons. He tells of his thwarted travel plans and of his meeting their old acquaintance Milton Browne. He closes with even more than his usual affection, naming many family members and friends.
Digital image and transcription of original manuscript, scanned by the University of Georgia Libraries in 2001, as part of GALILEO. - Local Identifier:
- rat025
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/zlrt/id:rat025
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_zlrt_rat025
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlrt_rat025/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 Tuesday Jany [January] 1.1867
My dear wife,
This is The first day of the new year, how sad it opens to me! In a foreign land, with all that is dear to me remaining on Earth beyond The ocean far far distant either on the road to a desolate home or around its desolate fire sides! Well 'I will not [deleted text: think] nurse such gloomy ideas, let us hope That the new year may be happier & That we may be better. God knows I can not [cannot] regret that 1866 is gone, & think its calamities will not enter with us into 67. I had hoped this morning that I should have heard of the safe arrival of the ship in N. [New] York, and as yet we have no intelligence of you I will keep this letter open hoping to hear until the last moment & put a post script [postscript]. I had hoped to have blessed the new year for your safe arrival on the other side of the ocean & yet you may get in to day [today] & I shall then hear to morrow [tomorrow]. I had appointed yesterday to leave for Cadiz, but that trip is now impossible. Spain is in such a condition that she refuses
Page: [2]
all passports, & if she would grant Them no body [nobody] would be safe in The country, Therefore I can not [cannot] get There, but The La France Ocean St. [illegible text] the same day, and will not go by St. Thomas where the cholera & yellow fever is raging, but will Touch a little below at the French Island of Gaudelope [Guadeloupe] which is reported healthy, & goes to N. [New] Orleans Touching Two days at Havanna which will enable me to receive letters from home & get The news & Still proceed on to N. [New] Orleans if I find I can do so. I very much regret to lose my Spanish trip, [deleted text: but] I had set my heart on it, but it is impossible & Therefore I Submit. The French Ship will arrive at N. [New] Orleans the fourth of February. I shall be a long long Time hearing from you all. I will close until to-morrow [tomorrow] my general health is excellent, asthma so far gone, Throat well, & my teeth also seem quite well, I have been a little under the weather temporarily for a few days past but That has about passed away.
Farewell for today
Page: [3]
Jany [January] 2nd
No news of the steamer today, tho' [though] you may have arrived as we have had no Telegram of any sort from across for the last Two days. I trust my dear Julia that at last you have passed thro' [through] the dangers & discomforts of The sea. Mrs Burt & Julia are Sitting around the fire, not yet gone, were yesterday looking at apartments with Genl [General] & Mrs Breckinridge with them They now expect To Take quarters for a month. Julia says she is in love, The handsome Capt [Captain] Bonaparte has paid her Two visits. Mrs. Lawton is also here but says she leaves for Italy as soon soon [soon] as the present snow storm now raging in Paris is over. What a singular person! I really fear That spiritualism or something else is disturbing The healthy action of her clear intellect, but not a word of this to a human being. Mrs Ferguson is doing well. I wrote you she lost a baby. I had almost determined to take The [unclear text: hills] to Paris Saturday next then The [illegible text] to New York. Old Col [Colonel] Blount of which [deleted text: was] was anxious to Take me along & Take care of baggage etc. & my dear Darling I would have done so but for my promise to you, I know
Page: [4]
every Thing looks worse & worse on our side of the ocean, but when will it be any better. Is this state of things to last all ways? To me it is becoming intolerable, & it must end soon. Our old acquaintance Milton Brown of Tennessee who used to board with us at Mrs Carters is here. He Thinks I can go home with safety, & he ought to know something of Andy Johnson. But I hope to hear all about it at Havanna. I will write you by every mail until I leave. Kiss the dear little children for me, bless Their little hearts how I long to see Them & Take Them To my arms. Give my kindest love to Dudley. Also to Gabe & his family & to Mrs. Vickers, [unclear text: Elena] Julia & her people Uncle James & his family & all of our friends & relatives God bless you my dearest darling Pray for me, That I may be a better man in the new year Than in all the old ones gone before in my Time. Yours as ever
[Signed] Toombs
P.S. Mrs. B. [Armistead Burt] & Julia send Their best love to you