Files
Download Full Text (2.4 MB)
Description
Peter Kean wrote from Albany, New York to Susan Niemcewicz in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. A few days ago, Mrs. Beazly called upon Peter and requested to see him at his leisure. Mrs. B. shared that on the evening Peter left Albany, Sally Jay had come to visit her and commented that she was glad Peter left in such good spirits. The thing that Sally alluded to could never take place and that she felt the warmest sentiments of friendship towards Peter, but felt she was too young to think of marriage. When Mrs. B. saw Peter when he returned to Albany, she judged based on his looks that something had passed between them. Peter requested a conversation with Sally and admitted that he did not know how to address her after all that had transpired. Sally assured him that she felt more towards him than any other young gentlemen, that her sentiments came from the warmest friendship, and that she took the liveliest interest in everything that concerned Peter’s welfare and happiness. However, she did not think she could ever regard Peter in any other light than as a friend and hoped he would continue to visit her either in Albany or Bedford. Peter explained that her only having feelings of friendship toward him and nothing more was difficult for him to hear as she had been connected in his every plan and that his heart was entirely in her family. Sally informed Peter that she never gave him any encouragement regarding those hopes and assured him that her family reciprocated the friendship he felt for them. Peter asked if she could ever think of him differently and Sally responded in the negative. As Peter rose to leave, Sally repeated her earlier sentiments of her earnest wishes for his future happiness. Since that conversation, Peter began feeling more composed and the gloomy despair that had encircled his heart had given away to the more brilliant figures of hope.
People mentioned: Mrs. Beazly and Sarah Louisa Jay (1792-1818).
Author/Creator
Peter Philip James Kean (1788-1828)
Recipient
Susan Ursin Niemcewicz, formerly Susan Livingston and Susan Kean (1759-1833)
Creation Date
1809-08-01
Creation Date
8-1-1809
Document Type
Manuscript
Location
Albany, New York
Inventory Location
Series 2; 103 C
Recommended Citation
Kean, Peter P.. Peter Kean to Susan Niemcewicz, August 1, 1809. Manuscript. From Special Collections Research Library and Archive, Kean University, Liberty Hall Collection 1800s. https://digitalcommons.kean.edu/lhc_1800s/492
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
Collection
Liberty Hall Collection, 1711-1847 (bulk 1790-1830)