Boston, August 5, 1851.
MY DEAR SIR,—I came
to this city yesterday, and found it and all the hotels so crowded with
strangers, that I wish myself out of it again as soon as possible. Many
hundreds of people are here from the South, who have occupied my whole time,
and whom I have promised to see in a mass to-day. They all speak in the highest
terms of praise of your administration.
My health is
gaining, but I do not yet get rid of that tendency to diarrhœa, which I
contracted in Pennsylvania, in April; and while this lasts I must be weak. One
misfortune is, that I cannot take, even in the smallest quantities, the common
remedy, opium. I am obliged mainly to rely on diet and care.
I find Mr. Marcoleta
here, in great affliction. He came here to be married to a beautiful young
lady, a Miss West, who died suddenly soon after his arrival. He seems very much
depressed; says he can do nothing at present; and proposes to go to Nicaragua,
on a short visit, for the purpose of communicating with his government.
These Cuban rumors
are substantially groundless. Mr. Bailey, a merchant of Matanzas, well known
here as a person of standing, called on me yesterday, having seen in the newspapers
that I was summoned to Washington, to consult on Cuban affairs. He came in The
Isabel, the very latest arrival from Havana, and says that, on the day of
sailing, he passed an hour with the governor-general, that the governor
informed him, that on the 4th of July some lawless persons met in the streets
in Principé, and raised revolutionary cries; that they soon fled to the hills
and woods, and have since offered to surrender themselves on promise of safety
to their lives; and that this is the amount of the disturbance. He says, what
is undoubtedly true, that some disaffected persons in Cuba, keep up a
correspondence with certain Americans in Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans,
principally the two former, and that by these persons the false rumors are
spread, and the clamor raised. He added, that the governor-general assured him
that he had positive orders from the Queen's government, that if a revolution
should break out and look serious, he should proclaim their slaves all free,
and put arms in their hands. This proceeds on the idea, that, when freed, the
slaves would defend the island against all attacks and all attempts from the
United States.
I have heard of this
before.
I have written Mr.
Letcher, that if he finds it necessary to see me, he must come here. He can do
that more easily than I can get to him.
I had one or two
things to say, but am broke off by a rush of people, and must defer that part
of my purpose.
I hear of your
family, all well and happy, at Newport.
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