Letter from Charlotte Cushman to Emma Crow Cushman, Aug 21, 1865

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[803] my darling daughter will want to hear again from her auntie to know how she is getting on, what & how she is doing. & how the world ways with her +++ & I must send off a note to day or blame myself. Bless you darling for all your goodness in writing to me. but you must not do it. at any fatigue to yourself. if you will get +++ & quiet in the time you would be [rest of line missing] I will forego my letter. I know you [rest of line missing] rest & quiet & I do hope you will [rest of line missing] than your letters of the 15" & 18. [rest of line missing] I think you are foolish to [rest of line missing] theatres or sight seeing or shopping [rest of line missing] while you are at Versailles. Do you know. +++ I should think it would be a good thing for you to have baby with nurse [?]. now your sister & mother are at Versailles. & come into Paris for a week & do your dressmaking and fitting & shopping comfortably. you know dear baby will be will looked out for & then he & nurse [?] can come in. with your mother and [?] father to see you. +++ you can +++ out to see 

[803 reverse] him. if there is a need. & thus your work would be accomplished in a less distracting way. I want you to get your work done & off your hands. before I can get to you. The air of Versailles seems to be so good for baby that it is a pity to drag him in to Paris. & it will not be much to leave him for a few days while you know he is well taken care of. You must have not to +++ yourself too dependent upon him or he [rest of line missing]. or your chances will become too desper[ate] [rest of line missing] thing should happen to him. Try [rest of line missing] days & see how it works. you can keep [rest of line missing] up one while you are in Paris. [rest of line missing] only in the way of a suggestion. None [rest of line missing]. unless they are on the spot. I was quite +++ at the account you gave me of your days [sic] work. & dont [sic] wonder there were +++ +++ & +++ heads in the +++: What you tell me of Hattie. is what one gets to expect [?] from her & of her. she is getting the embodyment [sic] of self. her studio. her house. her work. her +++. her +++. her opinions. She does not care for any one who will not be occupied with her & her affairs. She makes her success though in that way. for there is no so sure way of making people believe in you. as believing in yourself. if you

[804] have +++ — as she has. to know where & to whom she can talk. She knew that coming from Rome & +++ where all sorts of things were going on that I was most anxious to hear about & instead of giving herself the trouble to write me one word of them she fills four pages with the most +++ rubbish that could perhaps interest people with no brains. but which wearies me with its utter selfishness. I am heartily tired of the egotism.— But you want to know something of my +++ since I wrote to you. On Friday I went down to +++ to see the +++. oh such a +++ & beautifully interesting old house. The [rest of line missing] & we stood in the very room. where [rest of line missing] was brought to be examined by the [rest of line missing] then lived in that house. before he [rest of line missing] for trial at the assign when he was [rest of line missing] & executed. a fine old mansion. when in [rest of line missing] people live so charmingly. How Ned would [rest of line missing] being there. He has sold two [?] of his horses to +++ George Wombwell [?] & I dont [sic] know whether I shall do anything with him about a very fine [?] bay mare he has. Mares are generally an objection in Rome. & yet they brought out one for the +++ of the +++ last year. & generally they have so much more endurance than horses & for a +++ riding. they are not dangerous besides at the dangerous

[804 reverse] time. The spring off the year. we are stopping Hunting — the 15" of April stops it. There is a very splendid mare. bay with black points. a +++ +++ +++. very temperate — which will be a good thing for Ned who does not know much about hunting. I mean in the way of judgment as to leaping. what his horse will +++ & what the ground will bear under +++ of an excitable horse. like +++ for instance +++ himself to death. under a hand not +++ accustomed to hunting than Neds [sic]. & the [rest of line missing] horse is the very thing. all [rest of line missing]. +++ hunters are high price [rest of line missing] (Saunt has a pony which [rest of line missing] +++ for:) but I believe by +++ [rest of line missing] George Wombwell [?] coming to +++ +++ that Saunts [sic] horses are well known to be good. I shall keep my eyes open. I hear from +++ that it will cost me ^£17 to send a horse to Marseilles. Then if Guiseppe +++ one from Rome to meet him. it would cost much more. I have not heard any thing of Miss Rodicks sending out a horse. if I do I will bear it in mind. but I have an idea whether it would not be cheaper for Ned himself to receive the horse when he is ready to go to Rome

[805] & +++ any awkwardness +++ while for work +++ will do double work & tire less. I have found the very dearest little groom — such a knowing chap. & if he dont [sic] want too much money I shall have him. I am to hear about the brood mare [?] of which. I spoke to you. darling — in all of next week & if it is well I will get her for you & the two can go out together.— by the way dear. I want you to get from Hattie what she thinks of the Irish horse, I have for Ned. she wanted him herself at one time. but what is not here or John Biddles [?] she talks down. If Ned comes over for some shooting. he can go back with the horses & attend to them himself. & send them on to Marseilles. where the groom can attend to the shipping. or if Ned chose to write to the consul there asking him to attend to getting them on board paying them & the man fair. to Civita Vecchia. when I could arrange to have Guiseppe meet them & take them up to Rome. I think they had better go out pretty early in September or by the middle

[805 reverse] so that they may be put in condition against you get there. you did not get for me I dare say any of that +++ made which you got for sister. will you please send me the address in +++ +++ & I will get it myself. Now good bye & god bless you my darling! You will find that +++ of which I wrote you. & of which Mr Richards will tell you. or Byelow [?] when he & afterwards the Professor +++ +++ were & kind +++. It will give baby country air. & you will be nearer [?] town. The house keeps an omnibus for its +++ to go backwards & forwards in to & out of Paris. I think you would like it. it had a name with something like Parc [?] — in it & if I am not mistaken something about +++ but you will learn. & it is better them being in the city for baby's sake.— Darling. Mrs Perkins [?] has written me such a nice letter. she will be in Paris 1^st [?] of September. 43. Rue de L'Université Tanboury S^t Germain. I wish you would go to see her. for my sake. & take baby. she will be so pleased to see him. & old Mrs +++ is a dear dear old lady. who I am afraid

[806] is dying very fast. Do go & see her dear — & if you have appartments [sic] in town. let her know so in to come & see you!— I think Huntington might help you to an apartment w^h would not be dear!— And now Good bye & God bless you. Grandmother & aunt Em & Sallie send best love. I send you all kisses long sweet & loving & am your fondly devoted
Auntie.

copy of Cap^t Lewis'. letter.
The High +++. Hollington. Hastings
Aug. 23^d / 65
Dear Miss Cushman
when will your nephew come & spend a few days with me for partridge shooting. I do not know where he is staying at present or would write to him direct. The best of the sport is of course at the opening of the season Sep^t 1^st [?]— I shall be glad to see him on the 31^st of August if he can come.— I am engaged on various odd days in Sep^t & if one should occur during Mr C's stay. I hope he will excuse my temporary absence. Tell him not to expect grand shooting & heavy bags. but

[806 reverse] as he is a sportsman he will not mind. I think [rest of copy illegible]

next time. I will send you a report of +++ — & +++ of Neds [sic] man

[continuation of copy] as he is a sportsman he will not mind I think—
faithfully Yours +++ [inserted] Mr R Lewis

Let Ned answer to him immediately If he brings Wayward on the 4". he can go down to Hastings on the 5"- further +++ four days—