1861 December 31 New York

My very dear Mamma,

We received
a most charming Christmas present
in the shape of your sweet little note of
the 15th inst. which reached us Christmas
Eve. We were delighted to hear the
good news of your well being, and we
earnestly trust it may continue until
we meet again My little family
are all quite well. We came together
about the middle of November and are
now quite settled down to our usual
winter's routine. George is growing in
stature and I trust in grace, is making
good progress in all his various studies,
and gives much satisfaction to all his tutors,
but although his mind is developing so well
his heart is as childlike & simple as ever
and his clear blue eyes and rosy cheeks look
almost as if evil must be unknown to
their owner. Ella is rapidly becoming
a fine looking girl and I think thoroughly
conscientious. she, of course has her faults but
I believe she really tries to cure them, and

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she does everything, even disagreeable studies
from a sense of duty, which will surely
lead her to success. Frankie is
the pantin[?] of the family, pronounced
by everyone to be more & more like Papa,
may he be as good: noisy, thoughtless,
generous, affectionate, passionate, penitent,
he is a difficult child to manage but
I hope to lead him to good in the
end. My sweet little twins,
although somewhat grown out of their
babyhood are as sweet as ever, the veriest
sunbeams in the house, they often speak
of their absent Grandparents and wish
to see the. And now I come to the
plaything of the household, the crowning
joy, out little baby boy, a most joyous,
animated, lively creature the chief object
of the childrens merriment, always ready
to answer their play by a smile or a crow.
He was made a lamb of Christ, on the
27th of Dec. by the name of
Reginald William, the first is entirely
a fancy name, the second after a very
dear friend of yours.

You would delight in seeing my six

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all clustered together, baby in the center,
Ella head nurse, and their dear Papa
looking down on them, with such an
amused air, and generally ending by
joining in the romps, while Mama
strives hard to keep a slight degree of
order.

I have written you a very egotistical
letter my dear Mamma but I was sure
you would like best to hear of us than
of anything else.

We had a nice visit last month from
William who was looking very well
I must now say farewell as my old
man wishes to add a few lines.
With warmest love to Papa & Ella,
I remain your affectionate daughter.
M.A.R.

P.S. He thinks it may not
be expedient for him to write.
He is well & has never for an
instant doubted the ultimate issue.
Believing the New England discussion
of the international question to be
criminally dishonest, he wrote a

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pamphlet on the subject for private
& confidential circulation, which
has been pronounced interesting,
learned, able & thorough.

He denies the right to have
brought in the Trent for
adjudication.

I have no more to add except
the hope that a brighter Year
is now dawning on us.

Matilda Antonia Barclay Rives, 1824-1888, was the daughter of a prominent merchant. She married Francis Robert Rives, 1821-1891, a native Virginian, University of Virginia alumnus, lawyer, member of the New York Southern Society, and formerly secretary of the U. S. legation in London under Edward Everett.

MSS 2313