Helen Hunt Jackson Papers, Part 2, Ms 0156, Box 1, Folder 16, letters from Charlotte Cushman to HH, 1869-70. Transcribed by Nancy Knipe, 2006. (See also other Cushman letters in the HHJ Papers and HHJ's letters to Cushman.)

[1]
[Envelope addressed to Madam Venturi, 14 Milborne Grove. (Silston R) / West Brompton. With note on front: Miss Cushman Introducing Mrs. Helen Hunt]
Hampstead Nov 22d /69

Dearest Emily

Will you receive & see something of my Sweet little American friend Mrs. Hunt, who is bright & appreciative enough to please even you. If you find her worth is as I think she is, will you - for me - [continue?] that she should see Swinborne & JW Carlyle & if he comes to England, Mazzini, & any body clever & nice Enough for you to want to her to see. She is not a lion hunter, but comes here with a hunger for seeing her heroes & heroines & hearing them talk, which you can help to [relieve?] If I were going to be in England, I would not bother you so much, but in this I ask you to do for me what I would do for you.

Mrs. Hunt is a sweet & charming writer, & I am sure you will like her - will you ask William & Mrs. Ashurst to know her - she will not do [violence?] to your introduction as you will see, & I am very desirous of helping her to a more intimate knowledge of the bright lights in this Island..

God bless you dear
& believe me ever
Your loving
[Duckling the 1st?]

[2]
218 E. 17th St.
New York Dec. "6"

Carina

Here I am suddenly & unexpectedly back in New York in bed, on my back, with such a little Finger of my right hand as never yet was seen, atomically it is my little finger, but to look at it, you would say How can it be? But so it is. For the last week I have been suffering with it, hoping each day it w d be better, but yesterday [morn?] it was so much worse that in a kind of terror, I came up [or?] down to N York. This morning the finger has been opened & I can but hope that with the treatment & poultices it will be better - meanwhile I must send you one line in reply to yours of the 5, rec'd yesterday morning. It is just this, my precarious state, dear, which prevents my engaging myself to anything for long at a time. Even 6 months is too long, so if you cannot find it convenient to arrange for rooms for me beforehand, for that length of time, I must just do what I can, at the moment I am able to go. You fix yourself where you will be comfortable, & then when the End of all things (for this year) comes, you will find something for me which even though it should not be so nice as Riggs, will yet do for us sufficiently well for the time being. If the Browntons will wait for me until early in Jany, & take me for 6 weeks sure, possibly (for in my present state all things are possible) longer, I will give up on the more elegant but high-priced Riggs. I cannot write more dear my hand pains me with even this Exertion. Write to me here for I may be detained some days here. I am with friends who are taking good care of me. I was not able to get in, to the house of my kinswoman for she has let all her rooms. Sallie is with me, but my other & much better half is still at Hyde Park.

God bless you
Every your faithfully attached
C.C.

[3]
[no date, place, or salutation}

Thanks a thousand carina for your note & its enclosure to my poor friend - she will be so glad. Do you think I may be safe in sending her the $5 from the Tribune, as I want to write to her in a day or two.

The weather is certainly "trying it on" to me. I have not been able to go out today, though if there had been any body to tempt me out, I think I should have tried it. I love to walk in the snow. Did I tell you yesterday that I was expecting a friend last night, well she came & is going to stay until Thursday but she is not one of the sort to prevent you from coming to me, when you can. I will try to go out tomorrow to see you. I have never seen a harder snow storm I think, but I don't like being kept in, it gives me a sense of bondage that makes my throat sore!

I am so sorry you have a cold, & hope to find you 'all right' tomorrow. I must not have that fascinating fellow & my old lady any longer together.

Ever lovingly yours
C. C.
My next [travel?] plan for a warmer winter will be Labrador.

[4]
[no date or place]

Carina mia,

One of the ponies, of Mrs. Warren, has hurt himself in some slight way, so that the Egyptian John doesn't want to take them out to-day. Tell me where you got your carriage, that I may be sure of a nice one, or will you like an angel send & order it for one to be here, at 12. Which seems to me to be the best hour for getting the air. Don't you think we could bear an open carriage today.

Bless you carina.
P.S. I will call for you or you shall come up to me, whichever you like best.

[5]
[Envelope addressed: Mrs. Helen Hunt. Parker House Boston Mass. Crossed out, replaced by Care Dr Garratt No. 9 Hamilton Place City]

Saturday N.Y.
10 Dec.
Dearie Your note has just come & I am starting away to the country sufficiently better to be allowed to go. Alright, dear, about Riggs rooms, any time between Jany 1&15" -- & to remain as long as I can $65 per week including fires (not in all the rooms) & lights & all. I will write again very soon, am thankful to you for taking this [month/mouth offer?]-am so sorry you cannot be in the same house, but I am satisfied with what is best for you..
God bless you,
Ever your loving C.C.

[6]
[no date or place]

Dearie,
It is too cold for the Beach wagon this morning, so I will come to you with the carriage about 12 ½ & we will have a little time down by the Beach-
Ever loving[ly Yours?]
C.C.
No letters from anybody - don't know whether any body is coming. If they do they must go with us
!!!!!!!!
Wednesday [?']

[7]
38 Via Gregoriana X [printed at top of note] [Envelope address: Mrs. Hunt at Mrs. Davies' Broad St.]

Carina Mia,
I am so glad you are back when did you come, last night? And if you did, did you bring a N. Y. newspaper of yesterday, and will you let me have it.

How sweet & good you are to have troubled yourself about my poor friends letters, it will be a Perfect God send to her, & I am a grateful to you as if I was[hungering?] & had five little mouths to feed & only this way of feeding them - with regard to signature, carina, I don't know. Sign it anything you like or the Editor likes, the letters are by Miss E Wood of Rome, a very fine scholar, a good critic, & one who has ways of getting information. Yes, dear, let the check be made to my order at my banker then I shall pay her.

I will see you tomorrow carissima [sic], sometime in the day, & Miss Garland & Emma want to see you before they leave on Wednesday night. Miss Garland is in [?] with the 'out door papers.' I see he is in Boston today, how I should have liked to have heard him.

Will you make a name on Initials, any letters you choose, mine if you like, but you will do what is wisest and best. Mrs. Pell sent me the book like a dear woman-
Bless you dear. Ever am I your loving C.C.

I have been to church this afternoon & had a walk after, if I had only known you were home before, I would have gone to you.

[8]
Carina-Shall it be at half past one o'c tomorrow, will a later hour suit you better. I shall not go out any day before 12, & then I must walk, if I can, for an hour & a half and we dress at three, so between half past one & three I could see you.

I was so torn today & so bothered that I did not know as my nephew says whether "I was on foot or horseback."

You will bring me Brett Harte? How does one obtain access to the Library? Do you know of any one who has L'Homme de Neige in the original? You can tell me these things tomorrow. It was a sweet pleasure to see you today. The perfume of you lingers still.

Your aff' attached C.C.