Gibbes Family Letter, October 18, 1841.

Gibbes Family Letter, October 18, 1841.

1841-10-18

The collection includes numerous letters between James Ladson Gibbes and his father, John Gibbes, while he was studying at Princeton. Other letters include a note dated 1865 from Alex Hamilton Jr of New York addressed to Mr. Gibbes about supporting Governor Aiken, and also a letter addressed to Mrs. Thomas Gibbes by her sister, Sarah R. Wilmer.
The collection also contains the account of losses to the British troops, 1779-1782, written by William Gibbes.
An indenture contract between Robert Gibbes and his wife, Sarah, over Harriet Colcock and whose trust she would be under

signed by John Gibbes, Thomas Gibbes, Sarah Gibbes.
Two bills of sale for slaves by Joseph Smith Gibbes in 1851.
The will of Sarah Gibbes dated July 6, 1813 is included and signed by Sarah Gibbes, Isaac Motte Dart and Mary Clayton.
A typed transcription of a letter by Dr. Robert W. Gibbes to his son, Captain W. Allston Gibbes, dated March 14, 1865, provides a detailed account of the burning of Columbia, SC by General Sherman.
The 2 volumes of genealogy of the Gibbes family of South Carolina as well as a collection of newspaper clippings relating to the Gibbes family is also included in this collection. Oversized genealogy chart of Gibbes family created in 1899 by Rev. Robert Wilson, cataloged separately.

2023-05-18

600 dpi, 16-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL, Archival masters are tiffs.

Cox, Danielle

Butler, Collin (transcriber)

Copyright has not been assigned to the Charleston Library Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Special Collections Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Charleston Library Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

image/jpeg

StillImage

Ms. 62, Gibbes Family Records, 1789-1899.

English

Ms62_Fol2Let7

October 18th

I have spent [illegible] society! I would refer to yourself, and speak of those gifts which adorn your mind, which are calculated to render you esteemed admired & respected, by all who know you, but I am not believed.

And now let me solicit your forgivness not only for this note but for all I said this morning, I did not intend to hurt [illegible] and am writing to make any sacrifice, however painful, to regain that station you said I once held, I know the generosity of your heart will rule in this instance, and do tell me so with sincerity.

October 19th, 1841

From our Brother I received your answer to my letter. But why is it that neither of us can unto satisfactory notes your is for from being so, and I know mine was unsatisfactory. I do not with to lengthen a correspondence which must be disagreeable to you

but I with to tell you how Glad I am that your [illegible] have been apened, and you “donot” see throught a glass darkly you say, “I determined to in choosing a friend to select one my superior and hoped to have found one in you, but thankfully better disappointment to now I can converse, with, and I think with you, now a [illegible] case you have judged correctly and wisely, and for the first time done [illegible] justice, how much pleasure does this give me. [illegible] I have the very same reason for not destroy your notes, as you do for not destroying mine. [crossed out] I admire everything coming from the heart unadulterated by calculation. I know full well how differently your note would read if you had not dictated by the impuls of the moment, most of your notes are within [illegible], which “time the destroyer of human bliss,” [illegible] soon obliterate, those [illegible] for thy “appear sincere,” would you the wish me to destroy them when I tell you, I shall refer to them these [illegible] to come, and regret this shortness, sigh over those happy moments near between if you can from your heart [illegible] say so but say it sincerely, and I destroy them, but you must do it [illegible].

The erudition of your note is just what I anticipated, very much to the subject of your imaginations, I can attribute it to nothing real, but you act upon feelings, though you yourself misrepresent them by bringing in collateral, those that cannot in harmony exist with those you know you possess, to a great extent, the predominancy of the one, must counterbalance and thereby overrule the other. Can I therefore possibly be induced to believe that so slight an offence as I have committed could call forth, such a powerful execration, such a determined resolution! If I was rude, it was without knowledge, & one word from you would have closed the scene. If I "could not respect your feelings" so delicate, then I have no right to your society and you have [illegible], I am accused, but cannot extenuate my offence for I cannot see it, in the same light, or [illegible] it with the same prospect as you do. You say you "cannot" or will not "forget", I therefore ask not your pardon, I do not consider myself entitled to a confidence, so easily suspected donated and despised, I would rather, "be a dog and buy the moon" than be so confided in, the great pride of my heart has been too [illegible] confidence from those I [illegible]. I despise all other reward [illegible] that, [illegible] with the opinion of the herd, the heartless body, the "green ooze of the receding deep," the mere skum of a [illegible] mess. Is this language too strong? If so, be [illegible], if not, it was unnecessary [illegible] have asked a pardon, from one who has so mortally injured you. I have never with all my pride, though I have aspired, supposed that I had a claim upon your Rudeness, or your "gratitude," a [illegible] has always been treasured, as a miser does his gold, which is never diminished by keeping.

From my [illegible] soul do I thank you for your friendship, the only bright spot in your note, it has cheered me, for I feel believe you, though doubt every profession I make. I hope ever to [illegible] a corresponding light, (perhaps with more effect). I do go into the world with changed feelings, such as one not my own by birth, but the bright orb of day will lead to shine ere I forget what I have been, and the moments of pleasure.


No [illegible] worn pilgrim, exhausted by a long & weary journey ever welcomed the sound music of the pure & gushing streams with such excited feelings of gladness as I did your [illegible] generous letter, for I breathed that language which touched the [illegible] cords of my heart. It contained one short line upon which lingered with fondness, & that line was your first, your Only declaration. Can I then [illegible] it too much, could I place too high a value upon it, possessions I do pardon you for, your [illegible], I was not a [illegible] alone by honour [illegible] ask the record which the great antiquary keep [illegible] the heritage for eternity, and you will find in character strong but [illegible]. Once I left my then happy home, & traversed the wilds of the north, held Communion with the heartless stranger, dove into the torrents of Niagara & climbed the rugged mountains, bowed my [illegible] head to the sight of Bacchus, & [illegible] upon the spirits invisible to give me peace, say, did honor actuate all this, it is true I found a [illegible] & was happy for your friendship, but am I the first who in the pursuit of a friendship, was [illegible] enough to aspire to love? You say speaking of affections, "may you realize the little you seem to expect

" this is satire! Had I a right to expect much? Love or affection has too often been acquired by sympathy yea nine instances, but often they are under the influence of momentary passion, or of exerted vanity, I have never [illegible] you amongst the generality of your [illegible], but I had no right to expect more, while I knew my heart has been inspected by time, I [illegible] too. Yours may be caused by the present [illegible] more than I expect, for in my mind's imagination, fancy indulged in the thought of [illegible] corresponding [illegible] thought with my own, for the "Only my bosom dare not have, would but to find forgetfulness in thine," one thing is certain, there are few engagements in which constancy will be put more severely to the test as in ours. I think I have [illegible] & of myself and as I cannot write without dwelling upon first person I [illegible] have determined this letter shall be my last.


This is no news to inform you of our [illegible] continued dull of every [illegible] of amusement [illegible] Our old party. Contemplate a second visit to Miss Baker on Saturday morning, I am invited & may go & see if I cannot fall in love with Miss G, her charms are powerful, & she may succeed without the attempt to conquer. Mr. Hervey told Miss G he did intend to propose to Miss Baker, of [illegible] he [illegible] her ears, had these young ladies acted with proper policy, they may have caught both of those young Men, R & J, if you can find last Wednesday (13) & Thursday (14) week's paper [illegible] of party, such a [illegible] to Miss E…much by [illegible], I do in reality think you had better not stay with country until the first of May. As Winter has been very mild consequently vegetation [illegible], place much earlier, the atmosphere must be thick & unhealthy, as you had a heavy [illegible] much you care, act thereupon with discretion & prudence.