Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Charles Russell Lowell to John M. Forbes, May 10, 1861

Washington, May 10, 1861.

An agent ought to be sent here permanently to manage Massachusetts interests. A vast deal of official and unofficial time and patience is wasted by new men going over and over old ground. Where so much is to be done it ought to be done by the best man and with the best tact. Otherwise it will be undone or done wrong. Judge Hoar was admirable. He always persisted till he got his answer. I should think some equally good man ought to be put here at once. Large quantities of Massachusetts Brigade stores are coming round here from Annapolis.  . . . I shall remain here for a week at least, and perhaps two or three. Any service I can render meanwhile will be a real gratification. I believe I am the only one of our family who is not doing or giving something, and I feel quite ashamed at wasting so much time about a personal matter. Will you yourself request whoever comes as agent to call on me for what work I can do ?1
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1 Yet, in these weeks, Lowell was by no means spending all his time on the “personal matter” of getting permission to give his best powers and life to his Country in the army. Mr. Forbes had purchased two steamers for the transportation of Massachusetts troops and stores, and Lowell was arranging for a supply of coal for one of these, the “Cambridge;'” also about unloading the supplies for the troops, and perhaps selling her to the government.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 205-6, 402-3

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