Scope and Contents The author, James Chrystie (b. 1811), was the second son of Adden Nicholson Chrystie and Rev. James W. Chrystie. Describes in some detail a trip by stage from Newburgh, New York to the Fews' residence in New York City. On the following day Chrystie, accompanied by his uncle Albert Gallatin, visits with several professors at Columbia College, to discuss his entrance examinations. Alludes to the death of his mother, on 28 December 1828: "I went out to see Grand mother [i. e., Frances Witter...

Scope and Contents Response to a letter from James W. Nicholson sent care of Maria for Albert Gallatin, now in Washington. Word of family members, particularly the Chrysties, in the wake of Adden Chrystie's death. Reflections on her father, James Nicholson, and on her husband James Montgomery: "Oh! dearly did I love my Father! never was there a more noble heart than his — he rests in peace, and lives in more than filial tenderness in my remembrance. He whom I last lost I thought bore in character and...

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Recent trials of an (unidentified) young woman named Amelia. Wishes to send Albert G. Nicholson (1814-1857), the fifth child of James W. and Fanny Nicholson, her gold watch.

Scope and Contents News of James W. and Fanny Nicholson's sixth child, William Few Nicholson (1816-1847), now at school in the East. Albert Gallatin still in Washington. Comments on President Jackson's First Annual Message to Congress (8 December 1829): "Well! we have the President's message to day. he has provided work, with reforming and overturning, for a long time to come — it is well written and very plausible. but I hope the Supreme, will over rule, even this ruler, for his glory and the good of the...

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Safe arrival in Savannah of Matilda Few (b. 1794), daughter of William and Catherine Nicholson Few, apparently traveling south for her health; the four Chrystie sons are returned to New York from Fishkill, where they spent the holidays. Maria writes of her own poor health, and her melancholy "at the remembrance of the past."

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A letter to James Chrystie, Jr., from an individual identifiable only as "J B", regarding complications arising from the purchase of a lottery ticket.

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A brief letter relaying news of the death, on 14 August 1832, of Frances Witter Nicholson.

Scope and Contents Albert Gallatin and family are arrived in New York. Unhealthy conditions in New York City have caused Maria to remain at Greenwich: "at present there is still apprehension of Cholera — more deaths of that disease occurring last week than the preceding, owing probably to the return of our citizens generally, greatly increased population, and eating forbidden fruit & vegetables, and absence of proper precaution in ventulating their Houses — but still tending to shew that the air is...

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Mention of James Witter Nicholson's sons William (whose erratic course has been the cause of much family concern), Albert, and James; James Chrystie's consumptive illness apparently abating.

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In response to James's inquiries in the wake of his mother's death, Maria writes of the whereabouts of various heirlooms, including silver and several family bibles. Alludes to the death (in late 1832) of James Nicholson, oldest son of James Witter and Fanny Nicholson.

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Just returned from the Albert Gallatins, where she spent the holidays; their abiding kindness to her. Engagement of Matilda Few, and attendance at the wedding of a granddaughter of her uncle, Samuel Nicholson. Thankful that James's wife Fanny is "considered out of danger".

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Consolation on the death of James's wife, Fanny.

Scope and Contents Maria writes at length of her disillusion with the world (including her feelings of being neglected, since her husband's death, by many in the family), but affirms that such worldly trials are a small price for the blessings of eternal life. "In this wilderness world weeds grow and choke the heavenly seed but ere long my heavenly Father will take me to that celestial Paradise where we need not the light of the Sun nor of the Moon . . . ." Continued illness of James Chrystie; his peculiar...

Scope and Contents Catharine alludes to James's weakened health and depressed spirits in the wake of the deaths of his son and wife; religion must be his consolation. "Maria [Montgomery] seems very much engaged in Societies &c—and as I mentioned to you before, very well off in her circumstances & property, which with her habits, must accumulate exceedingly . . . ." Sister Frances living with her son in New Haven; Gallatins well. The poor in New York suffering from the cold weather: "emigrants crowd our...

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Maria seeks to alleviate her brother's distress at his son William's plan to go to sea. News of others of her siblings' children, and grandchildren.

Scope and Contents Catharine likewise seeks to encourage James regarding his son William's sea-faring: he will not be tempted by idleness, at least, and temperance and tract societies have done much to improve the moral climate aboard ship. James's daughters surely a consolation to him. "Mr Gallatins family are all in health & as to the things of this world, I should say very prosperous—but how devoutly to be wished that Young and Old were more occupied in the things that make for their everlasting peace...

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Albert Gallatin occupied with work "relative to the Indians;" alludes to the waywardness of James's children, with the exception of the deceased James; mentions the Pittsburgh General Assembly of 1835, and increasing tensions within the Presbyterian Church.

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Maria responds with alarm and affection to an apparent health crisis of James's.

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Maria pleads with James, on her own part and for the family, not to entrust his son William with a (New Geneva?) postmaster position, lest it be "a public Trust betrayed."

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News of numerous family members, mostly grandchildren of Maria's sisters; Albert Gallatin indisposed with rheumatism but his mind "in full vigour;" reports the departure from New York, that very day, of the huge steamships British Queen and Great Western: "who could have believed this and many other occurrences in the march of Intellect for the last few years".

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Consolation on the death of James's wife, Mary.

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Catharine sends word of Maria Montgomery's diminished eyesight (something about which she had occasionally complained in her letters to James). She has lost the sight in one eye and can only use the other "with great precaution"; hence her failure to write as usual. News of Catharine's daughters Frances and Matilda, her granddaughter Mary, and other family members.

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Maria's weakened eyesight now allows her to read only her Bible. Departure of Albert and Frances Chrystie and family for Europe, "in quest of health" for daughter Mary (Albert Chrystie was the brother of Rev. James Chrystie; his wife Frances was the daughter of William and Catharine Nicholson Few). Maria mentions her address as No. 630 Broadway.

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News of family. Also, "These Men complain of great pressure in the money market—yet there are Balls given every night—our city is filled with foreign paupers—yet as provisions are plentiful & cheap, while they are starving in great Britain I say let them come—but Oh they bring the corruptions of the old world with them and vice stalks abroad in our streets, undismayed—"

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James's son William now in Texas. Removal of rheumatic ulcers from her formerly blind eye has improved Maria's vision, "and at times [I] can read and write for a short time." Poor health of Mary Chrystie in Europe.

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Preceding Maria's letter, on the first and second pages of the folded letter sheet, is an obituary for Mary Chrystie (1824-1841), in the hand of "Rev Dr Knox". Letter also contains news that Mary Chrystie, Maria's niece, died at Nice in the last week of February 1842.

Scope and Contents Beneath Chrystie's text on page 1 of the folded letter sheet, in an unidentified later hand, is the pencilled notation "Albert Gallatin Born Jan. 29, 1761 Died Aug. 12, 1849". Pages 2 and 3 of the sheet, as well as the address leaf, are filled with a list of book titles. The author of the letter is Frances Few Chrystie (1789-1885), wife of Albert Chrystie and daughter of William and Catharine Nicholson Few. It reports on the condition of Albert Gallatin, who by the winter of 1848-49 was...

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A letter of unknown date addressing legal, professional, and personal matters, written to Thomas Chrystie by his brother Albert (b. 1815).