Letter to Diana Fontaine Corbin (Maury)

Scope and content:

Written from Bowdon, England. Letter regards the capture of Spotswood W. Corbin.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

Bowdon, England
4 Aug. `64

My dear N:
I dreamed last night that your troubles were all over. I hope they are with all my heart. They have not only been the cause of the most tender and anxious solicitude but of many painful emotions also - which I would fain forget.

I send you the last I have heard of Corbin. I can't find out when or how he was made prisoner. I have asked R. to let him have any funds he may want, and I will return the same through his cousin [J.]B. in Liverpool. I do not know whether any exchange of prisoners is now going on. I am rather under the impression that there is another hitch of some sort in the way.

The first notice I had that he was certainly captured was by his notice from Pt. Look Out to R.H.M. cut from the N.Y. Daily News of 28 June and sent me by an officer in Paris. I rec'd it 16 July in the cars as I left London for Lland[ ]. Bob in his letter of June 23rd makes no mention of him. So I infer he must have been captured between that and the 26th or 27th. You however should not give yourself any trouble nor go to climbing any mountains on that score, for I have no doubt he will, with such assistance as I can give, be able to provide very well for his material comforts.

I went down to [A ] day before yesterday to get some tooth brushes to send by an officer who is going home, and I don't like to see such a good opportunity to pass without sending something. So I thought of tooth brushes- All the shops are in [Albrincham] none in Bowdon, Mit said, O don't get them here, get them in Manchester. You get them so much better. He got a friend to get them for you-all right. Tell him to get the best brushes as to hair, such as gentlemen and ladies ought to us, and add to them 6 nail brushes. They have just come, were bought at wholesale prices, and for the nail brushes behold the little shoe brushes. I wish they had been white, I should like 5 & 6 to have a nice white one. But I reckon you can make them do.

Brave said the other day, "Sister B is an elegant woman I tell you. I should like to have such a one for my wife" "Why-?" " Oh she keeps her things in such nice order, and looks good in anything" So charge 5 & 6 to be neat and clean, but I fancy they are, and that they will look mighty good in one of these nail brushes set off by an ivory handled tooth brush. Bless their hearts I wish I could bring myself instead of sending these nice brushes for the narsty Yankees to get. Brave is commencing Greek and French this half. He is not quick, but has what is better than quickness viz. industry and perseverance, the will to make good resolutions and the force to carry this out. I now, since I have been sick take 4 meals a day, breakfast at 8, lunch at 1½, dinner at 5½ and tea at 9, Brave breakfasts and teas and soups. God bless you. Love to Sr. E & S.F.M. and all hands.

Subjects:

United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
Correspondence

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