Letter from Charlotte Cushman to James Fields, Mar 15, 1862

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[page 1] Dear Friend. I know you are very busy & I would not trouble you but unfortunately we cannot get D^r Howe to any action save through your personal pressure. He wrote a short note to Emma saying that he would meet her wishes & nescessities [sic] in the matter of money & send to her by the following mail a bill for a thousand dollars — for [?] is usual in such cases — for her to work upon. It is now a long time since the receipt of the letter & no money (or letter) has been sent. In her correspondence with the Bronzist [?]. (the best in the world) she finds that it will be nescessary [sic] to pay down ^$1000. before they begin casting ^$1000 when it is completed & the remainder when delivering to the vessel at Rotterdam. Thus if D^r Howe sends her the first ^$1000 now. on the 1^st of July. he must send the second ^$1000. & the remainder she must draw for as she may find +++ for it. If it is nescessary [sic] to have some one responsible to him for it! I will beg you to assume this responsibility for which. I am. hack [?], & in all my past letters to D^r Howe responsible to you & to him!. It is nescessary [sic] that this should be understood at the beginning. Emma will be so out of pocket by the transaction. that it is nescessary [sic] for her to be assured that the Bronzists [sic] money should will [inserted] be forthcoming. suppose, to save trouble. D^r Howe sends the money to Henry G Stebbins. for +++ of Emma. who will +++ for it. She is getting on fairly with the work. but it will keep on here until the end

[page 2] of June I fear & this will try her strength, she has made such a lovely little figureof the angel of Youth. the "childrens [sic] angel" carried out from the little photograph which you saw. & a colossal head of the original ("secesher I call it) Rebel. "The Arch Angel Ruined" as she calls it. alas. Lucifer. which is full of power [?] & which ought to be ordered by somebody at home. If Mrs Dove saw this lovely "childs [sic] angel" she would remember the order she promised Emma. I wish if you ever see her; you would say you thought she was going to have something of Emmas [sic]. I had such a nice letter from Mr Seward last week. all good & hopeful. How I have wanted to be at home this winter. My sacrifice has been for the first time very great. in being away! +++ +++ Mr Tilton is coming home this spring with his picture. I hope the times will have been sufficiently good with you to +++ you to take yours. & help him with the sale of others — for indeed they are very fine. +++. I have not had my Atlantics get. & I think it is too bad. you might have sent them to me. even if my name had not been on the subscription book. I was good for them. I hear of you often through my children. & am glad to hear of you always well & prospering. What glorious news. How many Americans we shall have abroad next Year. for miles "the wicked flu +++" — +++ will be rampant abroad when out of danger! It is quiet now, for fear of confrontation. but matters settled. how rabid how fearful they will be to +++. How well they have proved they can even! and more disgrace to a 12 months soldier to +++ — than a three months one. ah well. I am not sorry for this war! How wonderful are the Byrons [sic] papers. There is more said in those papers — than has been said by any writer & speaker yet. not excepting [?] your friend Charles & George Sumner. Good bye. dear love to Annie. Ever faithfully yours
Charlotte Cushman