Download

Download Full Text (18.2 MB)

Description

Julian Niemcewicz wrote to Susan U. Niemcewicz, unaddressed. The following letter is a copy of the original he sent by mail a few days prior. In this letter, Niemcewicz recounted his travels from Goubergh to Poland, his reunion with his family and friends, and the state of his personal affairs. Continuing from his last missive, Niemcewicz arrived in Berlin and described it as an “immense beautiful city” and was surprised that such a large and populous city existed in such a barren country. The city was filled with troops from dawn until dusk. Niemcewicz was present at a small training of four thousand men and wished Peter was with him as he would have been delighted to see several thousand men marching to music in a straight line in the space of half a mile without wavering. Niemcewicz was very fatigued from traveling by wagon and stayed in Berlin for two days and three nights. While there, he purchased a second-hand couch for $100. From Berlin, he traveled to Warsaw where he was saddened to see the state of a capital of a large kingdom that had become a foreign town filled with foreign troops. The most magnificent of palaces of the nobles in a moment of terror and despondency had been sold for mere nothing and were turned into taverns and hotels. Niemcewicz lodged purposefully in a small hotel but was obliged to send his name to the police, upon which his arrival was immediately known. His lodgings became crowded with old friends and acquaintances. After a few days of rest, he continued to his native place. He passed Breese, the capital of their province, and the frontier town between the new Austria and Russian dominions. Niemcewicz spent the night with his cousin and reunited with his siblings. After leaving his cousin’s he dined with his youngest sister and her husband, who purchased the estate where Niemcewicz was brought up. That same evening, he dined with one of his brothers. Niemcewicz also gave an account of his personal familial and financial affairs. At the end of the letter, an entry was added dated October 4. It was Niemcewicz’s sister-in-law’s birthday and his brother was hosting a dinner for her. He claimed the dessert was not as handsome as Susan’s, the fruits not half as good. Deeply regretted that Susan was not with him but when he considered the fatigue of traveling, the nastiness, filth, and poverty of their taverns, and the society speaking only Polish and some French, Susan would likely be miserable. If Susan learned Polish or French, settled her and Peter’s affairs, and got over her aversion to sea voyages, she could live happily in Poland.

People mentioned: Prince Radziwell, Princess of Prussia, John Niemcewicz, Philip Livingston, Peter Kean, Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts, Mr. Murray, Mr. and Mrs. Bell, Lady Sterling, and Lady Kitty.

Author/Creator

Julian Ursin Niemcewicz (1758-1841)

Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz (1758-1841)

Recipient

Susan Ursin Niemcewicz, formerly Susan Livingston and Susan Kean (1759-1833)

Creation Date

1802-10-29

Creation Date

10-29-1802

Document Type

Manuscript

Collection

Liberty Hall Collection, 1711-1847 (bulk 1790-1830)

Inventory Location

Bay 1, Column 2, LHC Series 2

Rights

This collection is open to the public for research use. Copyright remains with Kean University. Credit this material. Personal photographs may be made for research purposes. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to the Special Collections Research Library and Archive at keanscrla@kean.edu.

Publishing Repository

Special Collections Research Library and Archive, Kean University

Julian Niemcewicz to Susan U. Niemcewicz, October 29, 1802

Share

 
COinS