Diary of Edward Bates, Sunday, May 8, 1859

It rained hard yesterday afternoon, which again interferes with the planting of seeds — The weather is warm, and for the first time this season, I doft my double-breasted cloth waistcoat and put on a thinner — black satin —

Noon — the air is sultry and masses of clouds lying about, portending rain — and the Rain Crows (Cookcoos) are croaking for another shower.

John. C. Boone spent the night here, and returned to town about 10. oclock. He is about to buy a house and lot in Stoddard's addition, and settle there.

Sister Sarah⁴⁷ is very ill, and Julia⁴⁸ attends her continually, night and day, and is consequently, much worn down. I staid at home, not going to Church.

My letter⁴⁹ to the N. Y. Com[mitt]ee. (whig) has attracted great attention, and has been published throughout the Union, (except perhaps the extreme South, whose papers I rarely see.) The letter has attracted various criticisms in the Press: The Democrats, of course, condemn: The Americans, as far as I have seen approve — Many of the Republican papers approve, without reserve — Some of them however, and those influential, consider my denunciation of agitation a grave offence — a disqualifying error, concur[r]ing as they do in the rest.

In one assumption (and that erroneous) all seem to concur. The Press and private persons all assume that the letter is a Candidate's letter — a ' platform ' and a [‘]bid for the Presidency’! They forget that it is an answer to a Whig committee, which itself begun [sic] by denouncing the agitation.

[Marginal Note.] However men may agree or disagree with me, in the particular views expressed, the general tone of the letter appears, to be approved every where; and I am sure it has substantially increased my reputation for courage and firmness as a man, and perspicacity as a writer.

A great many papers are sent to me now, with comments on the letter — pro and con. And many private men write to me in terms very flattering to my vanity — Among them Saml. P. Bates⁵⁰ of Meadville Pa. — His beginning is frank and manly and induces a desire to cultivate him. I have answered his letter[.]

. . . ⁵¹

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⁴⁷ Sarah Bates died on August 12, at the age of 86. See supra, " Introduction."

⁴⁸ Mrs. Bates. See loc. cit.

⁴⁹ Supra, 1-9.

⁵⁰ Lecturer on education; formerly principal of the academy at Meadville; at this time superintendent of the Crawford County schools in Pennsylvania.

⁵¹ Comments on the weather and on the state of his garden: the progress of his tulips, narcissus, snow drops, flags, pioneys [sic], snowballs, the Harrison or yellow rose, his grape vines, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, strawberries, Japanese potatoes.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 14-15