to voyage forth to Flushing, there to seek out a darky Camp-meeting, there
held. Boat arriving, (not so Holmes as expected) down the breezy, sparkling
sunny East river, past Blackwells Island, Hell gate, and to Flushing
pleasantly. There disembarking we speedily learnt that the Camp-meeting had
ended yesterday. Therefore, the boat having departed, not till 3 1/2 to return we
rambled off inland, in vain hope of finding some little coppice, woodland or treed
nook, but none did we hap upon. Long dusty lanes, with trees sometime margining
stone fence & flat country, myriads of insects dancing before our pathway. A breeze
abroad rendered it not unpleasant, spite of our hungering for trees. Lay down
in shade of roadside willow, speculating in whimsical manner as to mode of existence
and nature of aboriginal inhabitants, Flushingites, in special of the tenant of an
opposite mansion. Having settled to a moiety all points, even to his mode of dining
returned by deviant road to Flushing. Strolled yet awhile, then dined at the
Hotel of the Place. Then fumigating outside till 3 1/2, and the boat arriving, we
embark. There were four or five men removing bricks from a barge adjacent I
wonder whether a murder will ever be committed in the house that those bricks will form
wonder whether a brick might not supposed to feel more content at the bottom of the
cool fresh river than frying on the gritty barge-deck, wonder were one of these
removers
a man of imagination, would he not for sake of the pleasant plash pitch one in
These and a hundred other whim-whams, idle to chronicle did we think of. Return
and to Leonard Street. Learnt that Albert Brown had called
Two things I forgot to add to yesternight. Gave Mrs K a letter to copy purporting
to be from Mrs Kill-hog the fat and irascible old dame of 55 Franklin, unto
Professor Barry testifying how that his Tricopherous had covered a totally
denuded
scalp with luxuriant and flowing hair. Faith he ll prent it, in his next
advertisement. / The other, nought else than that Mrs George Brown had
a desire to be introduced to me. Well! I m agreable. Said so, and
intend to read her book, as preparatory.
| Page |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume Two: page one hundred and sixty-five |
| Description: | Describes a visit to Flushing with Mr. Mansfield. |
| Date: | 1851-08-28 |
| Subject: | Barry, A.C.; Brown, Albert; Brown, George, Mrs. (Bartholomew, Winchester); Gunn, Thomas Butler; Holmes, John B.; Kidder, Rebecca (Morse); Leisure; Practical jokes |
| Coverage (City/State): | [New York, New York] |
| Coverage (Street): | 55 Franklin Street; Leonard Street |
| Scan Date: | 2011-02-07 |
| Volume |
| Title: | Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries, Volume Two |
| Description: | Includes descriptions of Gunn's attempts to find drawing work among New York publishers, brief employment in an architectural office, visits to his soldier friend William Barth on Governors Island, boarding house living, drawing at actor Edwin Forrest's home at Fonthill Castle, and sailing and walking trips taken with friends. |
| Subject: | Boardinghouses; Books and reading; Gunn, Thomas Butler; Military; Publishers and publishing; Religion; Travel; Women |
| Coverage (City/State): | New York, New York |
| Note: | Thomas Butler Gunn was born February 15, 1826, in Banbury, England, and came to New York in 1849. During the Civil War he worked as a correspondent for the New York Tribune and the New York Evening Post. He returned to England in 1863, and died in Birmingham in April 1903. The collection includes twenty-one volumes of his diaries, including newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, sketches, and various other items inserted by Gunn. Diary entries date from July 7, 1849, to April 7, 1863, and include his experiences with the New York publishing and literary world, his descriptions of boarding houses, his travels throughout the United States, and his experiences traveling with the Federal army as a Civil War correspondent. |
| Publisher: | Missouri History Museum |
| Rights: | Copyright 2011 Missouri History Museum. |
| Source: | Page images, transcriptions, and metadata of the Thomas Butler Gunn diaries have been provided by the Missouri History Museum. |
