From the David Library Archives
On April 2, 1973, the Bucks County Courier Times carried an article by Staff Writer Maryann Bird, entitled "Was George Washington a swinger?" The article (linked in pdf format) followed Sol Feinstone's claim that he owned "the only love letter written by George Washington after he married Martha," and asked if then-General Washington had cheated on his wife in 1783. The letter was addressed to Mrs. Annis Boudinot Stockton, of Morven House, now in Princeton, New Jersey, who was the widow of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. A full transcript of the letter, document number 1600 in the Sol Feinstone Collection, appears below. It is not known if Stockton's original letter to Washington survives.
What do you think? Does this letter constitute a suggestion of a love affair, as Sol Feinstone argued? Or is there something else at work in Washington's text? Please record your thoughts in the comments section.
“ Rocky Hill Septr 2d 1783
You apply to me, My dear Madam, for absolution, as tho’ I was your father Confessor, and as tho’ you had committed a crime, great in itself yet of the venial class__ you have reason good__ for I find myself strangely disposed to be a very indulgent [sic] ghostly adviser on this occasion and, notwithstanding you are the most offending Soul alive (that if it is a crime to write elegant Poety) yet if you will come & dine with me on Thursday, and go thro’ the proper course of penitence which shall be prescribed, I will strive hard to assist you in expiating these poetical trespasses on this side of Purgatory__ No more, if it rests with me to direct your future lucubrations [sic], I shall certainly urge you to a repetition of the same conduct, on purpose to shew what an admirable knack you have at confession & reformation__ and so Without grose hesitation I shall venture to command the Muse not to be restrained by its grounded timidity, but to go out and prosper.
You see Madam, when once the woman has tempted us, & we have tasted the forbidden fruit, there is no such thing as checking our appetites, whatever the consequences may be__ You will, I dare say, recognize our being the genuine descendents of those who are reputed to be our great Progenitors. ___
Before I come to the more serious conclusion of my letter__ I must beg leave to say a Word or two about these fine things you have been telling in such harmonious & beautiful numbers__ Fiction is to be sure the very life & Soul of Poetry__All Poets & Poetesses have been endulged [sic] in the free and indisputable use of it time out of Mind and to oblige you to make such an excellent Poem, on such a subject, without any materials but those of simple reality, would be as cruel as the Edict of Pharoah, which compelled the Children of Israel to Manufacture Bricks without the necessary ingredients
Thus are you sheltered under the Authority of prescription, and I will not dare to charge you with an intentional breach of the Rules of the Decalogue in giving so bright a colouring to the services I have been enabled to render my Country; tho’ I am not conscious of deserving any thing more at your hands, than what the purest & most disinterested friendship has a right to claim; actuated by which you will permit me, to thank you in the most affectionate Manner for the kind wishes you have so happily expressed for me & the partner of all my Domestic enjoyment__ Be assured we can never forget our friend at Morven, and that I am, my dear Madam, with every sentiment of friendship & esteem
Your Most Obedt &
Obliged Servt
G Washington
Mrs. Stockton"
[transcribed by William P. Tatum III, DLAR, January 2011
Have something you want to share, such as a question, research find, or a personal story about the Library? Email Will Tatum at tatum@dlar.org
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
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Personally, I don't see this as a love letter. To determine that would require putting it into the context of her communication to him and perhaps other evidence. From this letter, I would guess that in her letter she downplayed in some way the quality of her poem and he wants to reassure her. I think it is a friendly letter, with some attempt at humor, but not a love letter. I just don't think the letter "speaks for itself" though. I would also want to compare it to letters written to other women, including Martha, to better interpret the choice of language. I can see how it could be interpreted as a "coded" love letter, but again, I think more study of Washington's style of writing to women needs to done to see if that is really likely. In any case, it is a really interesting letter and certainly raises some interesting questions. If it is not a love letter it might be a letter that Washington might want to have reconsidered what he wrote - I can just hear him saying to someone who interprets it as a love letter that the words are being taken out of context or the reader is bringing some agenda of his own to interpret it that way. I look forward to hearing how others see it.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't a love letter. Annis Stockton wrote a wonderful poem about George Washington. They were great friends. She was a woman her yielded a lot of power within the confines of her "velvet fetters".
ReplyDeleteGeorge and Annis had a deep abiding friendship for one another based on respect and mutual admiration.