Harriet Hackley to Dolley Madison
| Philadelphia April 27th 1810. |
Your kind, & welcome letter my dear Madam reach’d me only a few days before I was under the disagreeable necessity of quitting my home, my Husband, & part of my little family to cross the Ocean; without a protector, seeking in the bosoms of my natural friends, & my beloved Country an assylum from the horrours of war & under such circumstances I know the excellence of your heart will induce you to pardon my not having sooner return’d you my gratefull acknowledgements, not only for your friendly mode of addressing me but for the disposition you shew’d on a former & most important occasion to serve me, & mine; believe me my dear Mrs Maddison you have excited the warmest feelings of gratitude in (not unworthy hearts.)I expect to be in Washington in a few days, when I hope to have the satisfaction of expressing to you in person my sentiments. Tomorrow I leave this in the Packet for Baltimore where I shall not remain more than one night as my time is limitted, you will think me possess’d of a good stock of courage to undertake a journey from this place to Monticello with four children, & the prospect of a fifth the latter end of the ensuing month, indeed I tremble at the thought, but must at least attempt it, so great is my anxiety to be with my dear friends.
I have seen Mr Onis, he is enchanted with your conduct to him, & speaks of you in the most exalted terms, he also expresses the highest satisfaction at the personal marks of attention he recieved from the President as well as the heads of Department under his mortifying circumstances; Poor Man I am sorry for him; he is deserving of good fortune.
Adieu my dear Madam, permit me I beg to assure you of my unbounded esteem, & respect,