Quarto bifolium (ca. 25x20 cm or 9 ¾ x 7 ¾ in). 3,5 pp. Brown and blue ink on bluish wove paper; maker’s blind-stamped monogram in the left upper corner of the first leaf; addressed and with a postal stamp on verso of the second leaf. Foldmarks, occasional staining, second leaf with a minor hole after opening slightly affecting the text, but overall a very good letter written in a legible hand.

An extensive, content-rich original autograph letter with a contemporary account of the 1850 elections in Massachusetts. The compilers were a Newton Corner merchant, Josiah Widnell and his wife Emily, originally from nearby Waterton (Obituary: Mrs. Emily Widnell// Brooklyn Eagle, 11 April 1901, p. 3). In the letter the couple informed the addressee about their plans to move to Brooklyn, which they did shortly after, and lived “in the Hill section of this borough for fifty years,” becoming “constituent members of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church” (ibid.). The letter is addressed to Emily’s elder brother, Captain John Knight Stickney (1817-1898), who went to San Francisco during the California Gold Rush but eventually returned to his maritime career in New England, retiring in Waterton in 1875. Stickney became a treasurer and later vice-president of the Waterton Savings Bank and a member of the Massachusetts Legislature (Captain John K. Stickney of Waterton// Boston Evening Transcript. 23 September 1898, p. 10).

At the beginning of the letter, Josiah Widnell expresses his joy at the fact that his brother-in-law “had got into your old line again, for you are more likely to do well in that way than by gold digging…” Most part of the letter is a detailed account of the 1850 elections (gubernatorial, seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives) in Massachusetts, which the Whig Party (the main predecessor of modern-day Republican Party) lost. Widnell provides details on the vote counts, changes in the Whigs’ political platform, talks about “Fugitive Slave Law” (Fugitive Slave Act, passed by the 31st U.S. Congress on September 18, 1850) and names several politicians Horace Mann (1796-1859, Massachusetts’s 8th congressional district), Daniel Webster (1782-1852, former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, then the U.S. Secretary of State), Stephen C. Phillips (1801-1875, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, second Mayor of Salem), U.S. President Millard Fillmore (1800-1874, in office: 1850-1853), and others. The second part of the letter is written by the compiler’s wife and the addressee’s sister, Emily, who talks about family and hopes to see her brother back on the East Coast soon.

Overall an interesting first-hand account of the 1850s elections in Massachusetts.

Excerpts from the letter (spelling is original):
“<…> We were glad to find that you had got into your old line again, for you are more likely to do well in that way than by gold digging. There are but few who get rich at that & many of those who do, would I expect be glad to be as they were before, both morally & phisically [sic!], if that were possible, even at the sacrifice of all the gold they have got. We do not know when to expect you home, for we understand, there is a possibility of your going to China or India before you return <…> Emily & I have it in contemplation to go to N. York to live. As the Bag Trade is now good for nothing here, & feeling convinced that N. York will be a better place for my Carpet Business that here being more central in situation, we have decided to do so. We shall sell our beautiful little cottage & build another in Brooklyn very near to Mary <…>

As I do not know that I have anything more to say of private matters, perhaps you would like to hear something of Public. First & foremost then in the Election for Governor &c on Monday week the Whig Party in this Whig State of Massachusetts got such a defeat as they never had before. They have lost Governor Briggs by 8000 majority, they have lost the State Senate by 14 majority, the House of Representatives by over 20 majority, & consequently have lost the choice of a Whig Senator of Congress for 6 years. In short they have lost everything.

The abandonment by Webster & the leaders of the Whig Party here of the anti-slavery sentiments they had professed for years, & their opposition to all those members of Congress who had the courage to stand up in behalf of the old Whig Platform of Principles when deserted by their leaders, have caused this defeat. Mr. Mann MC for this 8th District was rejected by the Whig Convention as a Candidate avowedly because he opposed Webster & the Fugitive Slave Law, has notwithstanding been elected by a majority of 2530 over the Webster Candidate; altho Webster is reported to have said that “he would rather consent to lose the whole State, than that Mann should be elected.” In the 9th the Webster Whigs tried to overthrow Mr. Fowler their own member because he had done the same as Mr. Mann, & altho Webster voted against him & he was deserted by a large number of the Old Hunker Whigs, he was elected by 3500 over all. In the 10th District Mr. Scudder the Whig Nominee was defeated by a portion of the Whigs going against him, because he declared himself opposed to Webster’s course. In short there have been but 3 elections, 1 in Boston & the 8th & 9th districts, in the 2 last the men elected being opposed to the administration policy, in 4 out of the other 7 districts there is no prospect of a choice. This defeat has been brought about by an Union of the Free Soilers Democrats, aided by a great number of Whigs who were disgusted with the proceedings of their Party & felt that this was the only way to punish them for it.

In N. York State the Administration Whigs joined with a part of the Democrats to defeat the Whig Candidate for Governor, because he avowed his opposition to the Fugitive Slave Law, & would have succeeded, but that some thousands of the Barnburner Democrats fled to the rescue & he was saved & the majority of Whigs – Free Soil Whigs – in their Legislature, will secure an Anti-Slavery Man for United States Senator. Here the Governor will be Democrat, & in all probability Stephen C. Phillips of Salem will be United States Senator. Free Soil. In short, the Administration Party is being used up in the North. Mr. Fillmore will have a majority against him in next Congress of not less than 40. So much for abandoning principle. <…>”