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Alice Cogswell To Emily Phillips, May 30, 1821

From: Letters -- Miscellaneous Cogswell Family
Creator: Alice Cogswell (author)
Date: May 30, 1821
Publication: Father and Daughter: A Collection of Cogswell Family Letters and Diaries (1772-1830)
Publisher: American School for the Deaf
Source: Yale Medical Library


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Mrs. Emily Phillips,

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Philadelphia, Pa.

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Hartford, May 30th, 1821.

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My dear Mrs. Phillips,-

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I felt great gladness to recieve your sweet letter last April and to hear that you was restored to health. Before you wrote me, I felt anxious to receive letters from you for many days. You say that you and that your good girl Susan are in probability to come here to see me in July or August. This fills my mind with sweet hopes to see them.

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I expect riding from Philadelphia to here will improve your health and spirits. I am so ashamed as not to answer your letter immediately. I will tell you of this reason. I hope you will excuse me for the delay. In the beginning of my vacation I accidently pricked a needle in the end of my right finger of which I did not care. But one day as I held the needle by the finger it hurt my nerves, so I could not sew. My mother told me I had to use something. Then the nerves of my arms felt very feeble and cold. I rested my arm on the handkerchief across my neck during almost all the vacation. I once put the blister on the finger which felt very hot. However, I amuse myself at reading books and sometimes riding with my Father. I was surprised to hear that you had formerly had a dangerous lameness of your arm by the needle.

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You cannot imagine how I was glad at the arrival of Mr. Clerc. Every Hartford body is extremely happy to see him. He is fleshy, happy and healthy. He has made a great deals of travels in the part of Europe. When you come here you will undoubtedly feel glad to see him again. I suppose you have not heard of this, that the new Asylum is completely finished, and the deaf and dumb persons live already there now. I used to go to school nowadays, sometimes in a chaise when it rains. But I dine with the D. and D. every noon. It is a most delightful and cool place and has as fine a prospect as I ever saw or felt. When you are in this town I will show you the apartments of the new Asylum. In the highest story it is a very large garret called the hall and has four arched windows. You will be delighted to view the prospect.

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The new Asylum has been dedicated about a few weeks ago. A great number of people assembled to hear Mr. Gallaudet's sermon, and a dedicatory hymn written by Mrs. Sigourney was sung. I will tell you about circumstances of this when I see you for it is too long an account.

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Tell Susan that I am very glad to know that she can understand French. Mr. Clerc will be happy to have her talk with him by finger for French words.

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I must finish this for it is late. Give much love to Susan. I shall be very glad to meet her and you in July or August. Goodnight,

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Believe me, your sincere friend, Alice

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