US to Italy 1854 Dec 19 North Danvers MA to Rome. Abel Nichols Artist mail via Boston/Liverpool. 38c trans-Atlantic rate, paid to destination. Historical/genealogical content on Danvers, lectures by Lucy Stone on women's rights, & health.
Summary for Print
Date Sent: December 19, 1851 (datelined December 17, 1854)
Country of Origin: United States
Country of Destination: Italy (Papal States / Rome)
Town Sent From: North Danvers, Massachusetts, USA
Town Sent To: Rome, Italy
Distance Between Towns: Approximately 4,180 miles
Philatelic Details:
Sender Markings: Circular town datestamp NORTH DANVERS MS. / DEC 19 in blue.
Transit Markings: Circular datestamp BOSTON / DEC 26 (Dec 26, 1851 departure/transit). Red circular transit handstamp PAID / 24 / US PAC. LI. indicating 24 cents U.S. packet transit fee paid. Red octagonal French transit stamp ETATS-UNIS / 10 JANV 52 / PAR CALAIS (entered France via Calais on Jan 10, 1852).
Rate Markings: Manuscript exchange/rate marking 38 (representing the 38-cent trans-Atlantic rate paid through to destination) and manuscript routing line 76. Cire on backflap. Red wax seal on cover fold.
Names of Sender and Receiver:
Sender: Family relative (likely brother/sister-in-law) writing from North Danvers, MA.
Receiver: Abel Nichols, Artist (Care of Messrs. Pakenham, Hooker & Co., Bankers, Rome, Italy).
Sociological, Historical, & Genealogical Facts:
Abel Nichols (1815–1860): Prominent portrait and landscape painter from Danvers, MA, who spent extended periods studying and painting in Italy (Rome and Florence).
Women's Rights Movement: The letter mentions a upcoming lecture in Danvers by notable abolitionist and suffragist Lucy Stone ("This week Miss Lucy Stone of Boston is to lecture upon woman's rights").
Local History & Culture: References Dr. Osgood writing a book on the history of Danvers Plains, local shoe manufacturing (Noise's Shoe Manufacturing), and public hall dedications.
19th-Century Health & Medicine: Contains lengthy discourse on alternative/19th-century medical theories regarding breathing, lung disease/consumption (tuberculosis), inhalers, and lectures by "Professor Bronson."
Address:
Abel Nichols Artist. Care of Messrs Pakenham, Hooker & Co. Bankers, Rome. Rome, Italy.
Postal Markings:
NORTH DANVERS MS. / DEC 19 (Circular Postmark)
BOSTON / DEC 26 (Transit Postmark)
PAID 24 US PAC. LI. (Exchange Handstamp)
Manuscript 38 (Rate)
Octagonal French Transit: ETATS-UNIS / 10 JANV 52 / PAR CALAIS
Manuscript Backflap Docket: 76. Cire
Cover Flap Inscriptions:
Caddy Lawrence told me by Chas Dr. Bodwell’s particulars regarding [Jemima’s] sickness and 8 or 9 children in her house & that among the number was Anna Lewis and the Safford girl had a deal to say about Indurance. I’d write any more Sarah if there is no improvement in your health & send some home in the Spring so you can remain here during the Summer and then go South...
I think we shall be more sure of this going this week if I send it in before 12 o'clock so as to have a little space that I might introduce All Nichols with Mr. Silsbee. Martha, Charles & myself send our love to you all as does Ann who knew I was writing.
North Danvers Dec 17th
Dear Brother & Sister
Your letter of Nov 16th arrived the day before yesterday. We were very sorry to hear of Jemima's sickness but was glad to hear of her convalescence & of an improvement in your health. We have felt very anxious about you for the last year as the fever & ague when it once gets into the system, has such a debilitating effect on the constitution. I hope you will yet receive some of the back letters, the last one I sent about 7 or 8 weeks ago I directed to Rome & was sorry after I sent it that I did not send it through the bankers, in that I wrote you the news about the Stone. What I had delayed writing in hopes we should have a chance to send the stone, but for a while we thought no opportunity would offer. They say it is only seldom now that they touch at Leghorn. We sent a letter containing the bill of lading to Mr. Mattinchini, the name of the brig is the Franconia. I hope you will have received it a long time before you get this. We shall want you to write & be particular in telling us know in what state the things arrived—the book 'Little Bo-peep' was packed for Italy before & so we thought we would send it now.
I think if the Lawrences had known we were to send a box, they would have been glad to send some books. Caddy called last week; she said the family were about as usual... I called at Louise Lander's room with Margaret...
...Martha is engaged to a gentleman in St. Johns. It is now the middle of Dec & we have not had any snow to speak off, we have had 2 or 3 slight sprinklings... sleighing it looks now something like snow. I dread it as we had such a long cold winter last year...
The new Bank is about completed... The Hall was dedicated on Friday evening by a ball, they had fine music from Boston. The hall is quite large, capable of seating some over 500, more than the one under the meeting house. The other hall I alluded to is over Noise's shoe manufactory. We have had Lyceum lectures this fall nearly every week. This week Miss Lucy Stone of Boston is to lecture upon woman's rights.
You have no idea how civilized we are becoming & would be more surprised at the increase in population. Dr. Osgood has lately been writing a book on history of Danvers Plains... he says there are 1,300 inhabitants in this district.
Mary Perry is quite sick, I think it is doubtful whether she lives through the winter. The Dr. says her lungs are not very badly diseased, but she looks appears like a person in a confirmed consumption. She can't go up a pair of stairs without almost losing her breath. As regards breathing, I want to know how you breathe from your throat, chest, or bowels with your mouth open or closed, because I have been attending a course of lectures lately upon the mind, voice, & body that I felt very much interested in. I think the ignorance that exists about our body is truly deplorable. Professor Bronson says there are 9 ways of breathing & speaking & only one right way. He says the deeper a person breathes the better because it is impossible to inhale enough air to inflate the lungs, keep the bowels in order unless a person breathes as he ought...
...in which way air, whole moist air, he said if a person breathes right they would be free from colds, dyspepsia, headache & many other ills flesh is heir to as in breathing so in speaking. Let the sound be as deep as possible... when a person reads in that way the words that should be emphasized always come when the flow of blood is greatest at the heart...
...He explained the way in which he cured his head when it ached... He gave us some little insight into the cause of headaches which as a general thing was caused by obstructions...
Joseph Clark is quite sick, has raised blood several times. He has now gone South to try what effect that will have... people think he could not recover... A physician of NY who he has consulted gives him encouragement... he prescribes supporters for most of his patients, inhaling tubes he considers of great importance...
Before I forget it I will say mother wants you to be particular & write in what state the things arrived, whether they were rusted or the fruit wheat spoiled... Mother sent 200 to Mr. Phillips... Aunt Hannah came up to make a visit... her health is very poor, she suffers very much from one of her hands, besides she has a humour about her arm which I suppose is cancerous...