John Kean

Letter, John Kean to Susan Livingston, May 28, 1793   

Galleries at Kean University · JOHN TO SUSAN

Kean Galleries and Collections, Liberty Hall Collection  

Audio Credits:   

Reader: Jonathan Spivey  

Audio Director: Christopher Mallari, Audio Engineer, Kean University  

I wrote you, my dear Susan, a few hasty lines on Saturday. I am very glad to find Peter is a good boy. With respect to his improving rapidly, perhaps it is not at his time of life to be expected. The highest flavored & best keeping fruits arelongest in coming to perfection, while those that more rapidly attain their greatest point of perfection, the sooner decay and are always insipid. I don't know that this law of the vegetable extends to the animal kingdom. But I am content that Peter should be a child, a lad & a very young man & I hope at last a very good man. Teach him the good qualities of your own heart. Let him be just & benevolent – free from arrogance, self-sufficiency & false pride and although he is not learned, he will be a good, husband, father, master, friend.   

Your brother writes me that they expect a visit from you in New York. They did not know of your being in Elizabeth Town when he wrote the 22nd. I saw Ternant after I wrote you and from what he said I rather suppose his furniture will be for sale & that Mr. Genet is only to have the house. I enquired of him whether Mr. Genet had said anything about Mr. Otto. He said they had not had any conversation on that subject more than that he was very well provided for. His (Mr. Otto’s) allowance I find is 12,000 livres which if paid in real money would be about $2,250. But assignats [French currency] being like old continental money, nobody can say what the value is. From the last accounts, I should not estimate it at more than about $750 & that growing daily worse. However, Mr. O. will have the advantage over a great number of his contemporaries from his experience in this Country. Ternant will be in New York next week; from him you may gather more particulars.  

We have had some extremely hot weather, but a very material change has taken place since Thursday & has obliged me to return to my thicker clothes. The hot weather had occasioned me to change my cloth under-clothes for silk. Health is the greatest of all possible blessings & nothing should be untried on your part to re-establish yours. It is a duty you owe your son in a greater degree than mothers generally do, because the probabilities of my re-establishing mine are not very strong. I don't mention this to depress your spirits or because I am worse. On the contrary, I have not been so free from my complaints at so early a period these several years. However, if you find change of air & exercise do not agree so well with you as resting at home, return when you please. You full well know that your absence is a privation of happiness to me & I submit to it only for your greater good & that of your dear boy. When you do return, I pray you bring a good man servant if you can find one.  

Give my love to all the family & kiss Peter many times for me.   

God bless you & send you health, prays your affectionate husband,  

J.K.  

Last Evening we paid the last duty to the remains of Mrs. Pinkney.  

Philadelphia May 28th 1793  

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