[1840 to 1846 Correspondence from Philadelphian Caroline Mitchell Burroughs. Much news of the city including the Nativist Riots of 1844].

“The mob then became so enraged that they had a regular battle fighting…”

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“I think that some of those Bank Men ought to be strung up.” (CMB).

Collection of letters from 1840 to 1846 written by Philadelphian Caroline Mitchell Burroughs to her aunt, Mrs. William (Nancy) Hill of Bristol, Connecticut.

Caroline Mitchell Burroughs (1818–1892)  was the first child, and first daughter, of famed American publisher and prolific cartographer of American maps, Samuel Augustus Mitchell (1792–1868), and his wife, Rhoda Ann Fuller Mitchell (1796–1876).

Caroline’s husband, Horatio Nelson Burroughs (1812–1896), a Philadelphian banker, was first married to Caroline’s younger sister, Ellen Douglas (i.e. Elenor) Mitchell. Caroline married Burroughs in 1854 after the death of her sister.¹

The letters contain news about births and weddings and parties, fashion and food, travel, art and industrial exhibitions. Other family members are written of as are those individuals outside kinship circles, the town talk. One letter has a quick recipe for gingerbread at its head (12/18/1848). Another letter describes events during the Anti-catholic Nativist riots in Philadelphia in July 1844.

Excerpts from the letters reveal Caroline’s keen sense of observation and eye for detail:

...on Saturday morning we all left for New York, and it was cold enough I can assure I thought that I should be almost frized [frozen] before I got over to the Boat, but we had a very pleasant trip down, and arrived safe at Aunt Lydia’s about 3 o’clock o’clock Saturday afternoon. We found them all well. [T]he honourable C. P. Smith Mayor of Brooklyn and his lady say that you and Grandmother must certainly come on and spend the winter with us, part in Brooklyn and part of it here, they say if Grandmother does not like to come on to Philadelphia this fall that they should like very much to have her spend the winter in Brooklyn, and wait until spring, she could stay with Aunt Lydia and you and Ady come and stay with us. ... I forgot to mention that uncle Gus went down to New York with us, he had just returned from Boston. [H]ad been on there to the great whig celebration. [T]hey must have had quite a time, every home in the place was filled both public and private. [H]e said that they had a very splendid fair but it was so crowded that they had not much of an opportunity to see the things. (September 22d 1840)

I believe I promised to give you a full description of our visit in Troy, wedding, &c. After we left Bristol we went directly on to Brooklyn…remained in Brooklyn until Monday, and then bent our course toward the great city of Troy. We went up in a boat called the Troy, the finest boat that I ever traveled in. We arrived at Troy about 7 o’clock, found them expecting us. ... I found Abby very busy making preparations for the great event that was to take place in a few days. It is no small affair I can assure you to get married in this enlightened age. [A] week before the wedding she is obliged to call on all her friends or leave her card. We had a very handsome carriage brought to the door one morning and we all went with her that is Martha, Ellen & myself. I believe that she left her a card at 100 places… They gave out 250 invitations, there were about 150 present. They were married at quarter past 8 o’clock. The Bridal party looked very pretty. I never saw Abby look so well before. [H]er dress & Martha’s was a very thick white satin trimmed with thread lace, and a Japonica [flower? butterfly?] in the hair. ... I was very much pleased with the groom. ... Two days before the wedding Gains got a lumber box wagon and we all went into the country after evergreens to dress the piazza. We had small trees fixed between the pillars and a large heart made of evergreens with a little Cupid in one corner to protect it. ... They had a very handsome supper table, all kinds of fruit. Peaches. Plums. Grapes. Ice creams Jellies &c. &c. 3 kinds of cake, pound, sponge, & Black cake. And just before the company left had a ring cake brought in the parlour. [T]here was a great scratching after the ring, and would you believe it, that I was the fortunate one. ... We enjoyed our visit to Troy very much [...] Mr. Norton presented the Bride and each of us with a very handsome Bible, quite a pretty present. I think that I shall be able to set up a bookstore in a short time. If you recollect I have had some 3 or 4 presented to me before… (October 18th 1841)

I have not much news to write except that all the Banks are going to destruction. There is a great excitement on account of them and I can assure you that it is very inconvenient to say the least of it, for if you leave money that is good one day, perhaps by the next it will be good for nothing. They got quite a laugh upon me to day. You recollect perhaps my mentioning last summer that when I returned home I intended purchasing a crape dress like Ellen’s. Well father gave me 8.D. [$8] early in the season for that purpose, but as I have not been invited to many large parties this winter, I thought that I would keep my money until Spring and then by something pretty nice with it. And what do you think! Why the Bank has gone all to Smash. [I]t is not too bad, but I keep up pretty good spirits considering. [indistinct] says that he will have a meeting of the credit tours to morrow morning at 10 o’clock for the purpose of ascertaining how much I can pay on a Dollar. But without any joking it is most dreadful times here. Everything seems to be all upside down. I think that some of those Bank Men ought to be strung up. They are living in splendid style and cheating the poor widows & orphans out of all they have. I think that the people will become desperate if they play this game much longer. (January 30th 1842 [fragment])

I was very much pleased with my bed quilt which I received last evening and feel very much obliged to Grandmother for the trouble she has taken. I was sorry that I did not send enough calico, but understood you that 7 y[ar]ds of each was sufficient. I think that is a beautiful way of piecing one, it is much handsomer than any that I saw at the exhibition of the Franklin Institute, which took place last week. Father says that I ought to have had it to exhibit. I wish that you could have been here to attend. I think that you would have been pleased. They had about everything that you could mention. I do not see the use of sending to Europe for any of our goods, as they appear to make everything in this country so well. They had a great variety of stoves some very handsome ones, most beautiful carriages Dry Goods, Furniture, Pianos, and bed quilts some of them the pieces not larger than a quarter of a dollar, and in fact everything that could be thought of. November 1st 1843)

Ellen gave her Bridal party about a month since rather of an old Bride I expect you would call her but she thought that it would be more pleasant to wait until cold weather. She gave out 100 invitations and had 70 there. [H]ad a supper table set with all kind of refreshments such as Pickled Oysters, Chicken Salad, Ice cream, Jellies, cake &c. [T]he company appeared to enjoy themselves very much. Ellen was dressed in a plain white silk. I wish that Ady could have been here Christmas to see the shop windows they looked very pretty as usual. [A]t Parkenor’s[?] they had a chimney placed over the front door Chriskringle going down loaded with Toys. [I]t made quite a comical appearance and attracted a great many persons to see it. [O]n Christmas Monday we all dined at Ellen’s and spent a very pleasant day. I think that I never saw Chesnut St. more crowded than it was on that day. (Jan 8th 1843)

You asked in your letter whether the excitement that we had about 2 months since had ceased and peace was again restored; it had every appearance of it until the 4th of July. [O]n that day the Native American party got up a procession and marched about the streets with banners, many persons thought that it would cause more disturbance but the day passed off very quietly. Since then we have had more cause for alarm as there has been a great mob collected about one of the Catholic churches down town. [T]he military are out and trying to disperse them but find it rather difficult. ... Tuesday Morning [July 8]. We have had great excitement since Sunday. It is all quiet again but how long it will remain so I cannot tell. Onn Sunday there was a great mob collected around the Catholic church down town St. Philip’s [St. Philip Neri]. [T]he military went down and tried to disperse them, but they refused to go. General [George] Cadwalader then ordered his company to fire upon them they did so. The mob then became so enraged that they had a regular battle fighting until 12 or 10 o’clock at night. What a way to spend the Sabbath. They said they would not be put down by the military. [O]n Monday morning they were fighting until 12 or 10 o’clock. [W]hen the military gave out and left the mob to themselves, they then dispersed, but declared if the military returned that they would they would fight until the last. The Governor [David R. Porter] arrived here on Monday evening. They have also sent to Washington for the government troops. Several companies arrived here yesterday. [F]rom the interior of this state it really appears like war time. [T]o think that we are obliged to have so many troops here to guard the city. I suppose that Aunt Lydia told you that we are very near the handsomest Catholic church, but the mob have not tried this since their first attempt. This is what they need used to call the city of brotherly love. I think that mob town would be a much better name. (July 7th 1844)

Almost fifty quarto pages of correspondence from a well-educated and socially-connected young Philadelphia woman.

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