Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Letter from Madeleine Smith, Glasgow, Scotland, to Pierre Emile L'Angelier, 1855 October 11 : autograph manuscript signed.

BIB_ID
439831
Accession number
MA 14348.7
Creator
Smith, Madeleine, 1835-1928, sender.
Display Date
Glasgow, Scotland, 1855 October 11.
Credit line
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Description
1 item (4 pages) ; 11.3 x 18.2 cm
Notes
Inscribed and initialed in red ink in a hand believed to be that of Peter Taylor Young, Procurator Fiscal of the Sheriff Court Glasgow, at the head of first page: G. 221 1. P.T.Y. In red ink on fourth page: G. 221/ 2. P.T.Y. On envelope: G 221/2. P.T.Y. What it means remains to be discovered.
Inscribed in ink at the bottom of the fourth page: "Desk, Lodges, JM, BML." These are the signatures of Glasgow sherriff-officer John Murray and his assistant Bernard M'Lauchlin. The inscriptions "Desk" and "Lodges" signal where the letters were found. Same inscription on envelope.
Cross-writing on pages 4-9.
With postmarks and seal; address panel: To / Mr. L'Angelier / 10 Bothwell Street / Glasgow.
Provenance
Bequest of Gordon N. Ray, 1987.
Summary
Expressing regret regarding her conduct toward him; wishing herself dead and asking for his forgiveness; remarking that she wonders if he will ever love her; stating that she knows her father has been cruel to him, and that she can never forgive her father for separating them; reassuring him that she loves him even more now that she knows he is poor, and sharing that she feels she could endure a life of poverty as long as they could be together; feeling heartbroken and noting that no human being knows the agony that she endures; describing her guilt over that "fatal night"; feels that Emile must hate her and probably curses the day that he met her; asking him to send her a lock of his hair; wondering if any happiness is in store for her; asking him to write to her; promising that no one will ever read his letters to her.