Six Autograph Letters Signed to the Reverend Robert C. Waterston, Washington DC and Boston, June
15 pages total (plus some address leaves), various sizes. Four of the letters are approximately 8" x 10"; one is 6 1/2“ x 8"; one is 5" x 7 1/2”. One letter has minor marginal flaws; apart from that, all are in very good condition. Nearly complete typed transcripts accompany the letters.
Dorothea Dix is best-known for her crusade for humane treatment of the mentally ill, and her efforts resulted in significant improvement in their care. She began this work in 1841, after observing the horrendous treatment of the insane in a Cambridge, Massachusetts, jail. Dix campaigned at first at the state level – investigating conditions and presenting memorials of her findings to state legislatures and then lobbying to establish new state facilities for the mentally ill – and she achieved considerable success. In 1848, Dix shifted her focus to Congress, and she spent the next six years working for passage of a law that would create a permanent national fund for the care of the mentally ill from the sale of public lands.
Dix became a Unitarian early in her adult life. She was close to the influential Unitarian minister William Ellery Channing and his family, and some of the earliest supporters of her work for the mentally ill, such as Horace Mann and Samuel Gridley Howe, were also Unitarians.
These six letters by Dix are written to another long-time supporter and Unitarian, Robert Cassie Waterston, who was a minister in Boston. They date from 1850, when Dix was in the midst of her campaign for national legislation and when Congress was caught up in the fight over what became the Compromise of 1850. Dix's principal concern here is an effort to spread Unitarian views to other parts of the country, but she also comments on the progress of her federal bill, the national political situation and the possibility of disunion, her work surveying mental institutions, and the status of Unitarianism in Washington.
In a June 1850 letter, Dix explains to Waterston, “I find myself in special need of copies of the Memorials to the several Legislatures of Illinois Kentucky and Tennessee. If you have either or all these including the Penitentiary reports for the first two I beg that you will forward the same immediately to Honble. Edward Stanly of the House Reps. in Washington – we want them for reference. I have copies at Mr. Channings but quite inaccessible to me."
In another letter that month, Dix remarks, "I believe that the Book and Pamphlet Society desire to extend knowledge and diffuse Truth through the circulation of Books sustaining Unitarian views. I do not know who are the Officers of the same. But through you, I can suggest what / regard as a means of accomplishing the ends the society have in view. – I have read part of Mr. Burnap's last Volume 'Integrity (or some terms of kindred import) of Human Nature.'” She refers here to a work published in 1850 by the Unitarian clergyman George W. Burnap, "On the Rectitude of Human Nature”: "I think the work remarkably suited for distribution through the South and West,” she continues, "and know some persons who would read it with earnestness and profit – I could furnish a long list but will give now and here, a few names which may be of great help by and by to the general cause." She lists eleven individuals in Alabama, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana to whom Burnap's work should be sent.
In a letter written in July, Dix instructs Waterston to send copies of Burnap's work to her in care of Professor Joseph Henry of the Smithsonian. She then continues:
"The heat is offensive beyond any degree I have ever elsewhere at any period experienced. My strength yields a good deal beneath the labor I have to accomplish and the season.
"I question if I get any Bill through this summer, but it is doing very well. Both House and Senate have extended the unusual courtesy of a special Committee, and we have passed the ordeal on secondary passage, a first reading: The Strict Constructionists of the South are the Chief Opponents, and they shall conquer no doubt by numbers; – certainly not by argument.
“My letters from the south create now for the first time great anxieties in regard to Political aspects. The Disunion fever has become epidemic – and the talk is all for war. Till quite recently, Thave regarded all such expressions as the insane menacing[?] language of a few demagogues – but the malaria has spread – the poison is doing its deadly work, and but for some not anticipated benignant influence – the storm will land in fury within five years, – perhaps within one.”
Writing in August from Boston, Dix again discusses the distribution of Burnap's book, but then remarks, “I hope, Providence protecting me, to be here again shortly – I go now to the Provinces – where I have long desired to do something – do not go now to get a Hospital, but to put things and people in trim[?] for it.”
In September, Dix complains that she has not received the books as yet, and as a result,“ have lost the opportunity of sending to nine States, by direct private conveyances, on several occasions, and regret this as the need of establishing correct opinions in some benighted regions is very great." In a December letter, she explains, “I have just recd the Vols. (Rectitude of Human Nature) which you sometime since wrote me were forwarded – Professor Henry of the Smithsonian recd them forwarded without my name & address, very insecurely wrapped up – and not knowing for whom or what they were designed. – On my arrival three weeks since I made inquiries for the expected package and yesterday learnt where the Vols were deposited – they are a good deal defaced and bruised by rough usage in the Transportation – I write now especially to acknowledge the receipt of ten volumes – as they came to me with no wrapping at all. I do not know if these were the amount sent. I shall embrace the first opportunity I can command of distributing them according to original design."
Dix then comments on the lack of Unitarian clergy in Washington. "I am sorry that here in Washington we get no sufficient supply for the Unitarian pulpit – I should have supposed that the importance of the station would have engaged the interest of the Association in Boston – though the Committee might not feel that the Church itself was entitled to special aid – Mr. Elliot is in the city – his health decidedly infirm – can preach once a day – Mr. Moore a Methodist clerk in the Treasury Department preached, all the first Sunday of December, and since twice at evening – Of course most of the Unitarians who are not fixed residents feel rather indifferent about attendance."
All of the letters are signed, “D. L. Dix."
DOROTHEA L. DIX.
Six Autograph Letters Signed to the Reverend Robert C. Waterston, Washington DC and Boston, June – December 1850.
Transcripts:
(1) no place (but postmarked Washington DC), no date (but a date of June 1850 is written in another hand on inner leaf).
Revd. Mr. Waterston
Dear Sir –
I find myself in special need of copies of the Memorials to the several Legislatures of Illinois Kentucky and Tennessee.
If you have either or all these including the Penitentiary reports for the first two I beg that you will forward the same immediately to Honble. Edward Stanly of the House Reps. in Washington – we want them for reference. I have copies at Mr. Channings but quite inaccessible to me.
yr f[rien]d
D L Dix.
(2) Washington DC, 21 June 1850.
Congress Library
June 21,'50
Washington, D.C.
To Revd. Robert C Waterston
Dear Sir, I believe that the Book and Pamphlet Society desire to extend knowledge and diffuse Truth through the circulation of Books sustaining Unitarian views. I do not know who are the Officers of the same. But through you, I can suggest what I regard as a means of accomplishing the ends the society have in view. – I have read part of Mr. Burnap's last Volume "Integrity (or some terms of kindred import) of Human Nature."* I think the work remarkably suited for distribution through the South and West and know some persons who would read it with earnestness and profit – I could furnish a long list but will give now and here, a few names which may be of great help by and by to the general cause.
I am very much occupied and can only add that I am yr friend with cordial regards to yr self and Mrs. Waterston,
DL Dix
My letter address here is enclosed to Honble. John Bell, Senate
Send to
Revd Mr. Millburn Mobile, Alaa.
Revd Mr. Lipscomb Montgomery, Ala.
B. F. Huntingdon Esq. Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Judge Wheeler, Galveston, Texas.
W. W. Morris Esq. Henderson, Texas.
T. G. Hughes St. Joseph's Missouri
President Sturtevant Jacksonville, Illinois.
Revd Mr. Post St. Louis, Missouri.
Hoble Joseph A. Wright Indianapolis Indiana –
Dr. Frazer and A. K. Mills Esq Huntsville Alabama
[*NOTE: George W. Burnap, Unitarian clergyman, who in 1850 published "On the Rectitude of Human Nature"]
(3) Washington DC, 29 July 1850.
Washington, D.C. July 29th '50
To Revd Mr. Waterston
Dear Sir
I gave you some names with the places of residence of several persons whom I wished should have copies of Mr. Burnap's work. – I can send from Washington 20 or 25 copies direct West and South if I have them immediately: but my expenses are so large that I do not wish to incur the charges of transportation here. – If it is decided to entrust me with the distribution of the same, -I shall get them without delay if directed to ("Professor Henry, Smithsonian Institute, for Miss Dix”) – I will not consider it any burthen to dispose of them in the best manner I am able if it is desired.
The heat is offensive beyond any degree I have ever elsewhere at any period experienced. My strength yields a good deal beneath the labor I have to accomplish and the season.
I question if I get any Bill through this summer, but it is doing very well. Both House and Senate have extended the unusual courtesy of a special Committee, and we have passed the ordeal on secondary passage, a first reading: The Strict Constructionists of the South are the Chief Opponents, and they I shall conquer no doubt by numbers; – certainly not by argument.
My letters from the south create now for the first time great anxieties in regard to Political aspects. The Disunion fever has become epidemic – and the talk is all for war. Till quite recently, I have regarded all such expressions as the insane menacing[?] language of a few demagogues – but the malaria has spread – the poison is doing its deadly work, and but for some not anticipated benignant influence – the storm will land in fury within five years, – perhaps within one.
I have but time to add friendly regards to Mrs. Waterston and am yrs cordially,
DL Dix
Address letters to me under care to Honble Horace Mann
(4) 83 Mt. Vernon Street (Boston MA], 18 August (no year, but likely 1850).
83 Mt. Vernon St.
August 18th
Dear f[rien]d. In asking for Tracts or Books for far off distribution, please understand that I am willing to act as a distributor, but that I should not receive the appropriation as a favor to myself personally, since it would not oblige me. I only thought it might be a channel by which useful pamphlets might be scattered – of which yr. Association might incline to avail itself.
I hope, Providence protecting me, to be here again shortly – I go now to the Provinces – where I have long desired to do something – do not go now to get a Hospital, but to put things and people in trim[?] for it.
With cordial regards to Mrs. W. I am yr fd D L Dix
[NOTE: Members of the Channing family lived on Mount Vernon Street in Boston.]
(5) Washington DC, 6 September (no year, but likely 1850).
Washington, D.C. Sept. 6th
Dear Sir, I addressed to you a letter some little time since suggesting the plan of forwarding from this city the Vols. of Mr. Burnap's work – not having heard from you on the subject nor having recd the Books, I write a line for information respecting yr decision – I have lost the opportunity of sending to nine States, by direct private conveyances, on several occasions, and regret this as the need of establishing correct opinions in some benighted regions is very great. – Other opportunities may occur – one cannot certainly tell. Farewell with very sincere regards – and briefly speaking for lack of time,
DL Dix
(6) Washington DC, 19 December 1850.
Washington D.C.
Decr. 19th, 1850
My dear Sir,
I have just recd the Vols. (Rectitude of Human Nature) which you sometime since wrote me were forwarded – Professor Henry of the Smithsonian recd them forwarded without my name & address, very insecurely wrapped up – and not knowing for whom or what they were designed. – On my arrival three weeks since I made inquiries for the expected package and yesterday learnt where the Vols were deposited – they are a good deal defaced and bruised by rough usage in the Transportation – I write now especially to acknowledge the receipt of ten volumes – as they came to me with no wrapping at all.
I do not know if these were the amount sent. I shall embrace the first opportunity I can command of distributing them according to original design. --
I called twice[?] at yr residence in November hoping to see yr self and Mrs. Waterston – leaving my written address as you were daily expected from New York – but you perhaps failed to notice the Cards amongst many likely to have been left about the same time. I was much occupied while in Boston –
With friendly regards to Mrs. W. I am yrs cordially
DL Dix
I am sorry that here in Washington we get no sufficient supply for the Unitarian pulpit –
I should have supposed that the importance of the station would have engaged the interest of the Association in Boston – though the Committee might not feel that the Church itself was entitled to special aid – Mr. Elliot is in the city – his health decidedly infirm – can preach once a day – Mr. Moore a Methodist clerk in the Treasury Department preached, all the first Sunday of December – and since twice at evening – Of course most of the Unitarians who are not fixed residents feel rather indifferent about attendance –
My address under Envelope to Honble Horace Mann M.C. or Edward Stanly – M.C.
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