Letters of Arthur W. Machen; With Biographical Sketch (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1917. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 1809. The personal estate cons sted of a few negroes, household effects, one or two horses and cattle, and of little or nothing else.17 Lewis H. Machen was, in consequence, left with his mother and three unmarried sisters dependent upon him for support. Thus reduced to the necessity of earning a livelihood at once, he obtained employment as engrossing clerk in the office of the Secretary of the Senate.11 Although he devoted his spare time to studying law, in the hope of becoming a practising lawyer, yet he never felt able to forego his salary, and retained a connection with the office of the Secretary of the Senate for nearly fifty years. Within eight months, on February 13. 1810, his mother, Mrs. Ann Machen, died. Not long afterwards, his eldest sister married, and moved, first to Tennessee and then to Kentucky whither his youngest sister. Rebecca either accompanied or followed her. The third sister, Mary, to whose memory my grandfather was deeply devoted, as shown by the loving words quoted above, died of tuberculosis at about the same time.1* My grandfather, writing to one "See tombstone in Congressional Cemetery, Washington. The Latin epitaph, evidently selected by L. H. M. is pathetic: "Heu genitorem Omnia curae casusque levamen amitto." "See inventory in office of Register of Wills, Washington, I). C. L. H. M. wrote his son: "My father was ruined and his family impoverished by a confiding verbal partnership." (L. B. If. to J. P. M., January 15, 1858.) u "It is nearly twenty years, since, more from necessity than choice, I entered upon the duties of the office which I hold. Even then I felt how greatly I hazarded the objects which I had in view, and nothing but a strong moral necessity, even greater than that which has induced me to remain, prompt...