Seven Autograph Letters (five signed) from Mary Frances Stevens of Albany, New York: five to her mother and two to her father, including a description of a party at her home for her husband's friend Daniel Webster followed by a political meeting.

Mary Frances Stevens was the daughter of Silas O. Smith of Rochester, and the mother of the novelist Augusta de Grasse Stevens (1852-1894) and of Marie de Grasse, Lady Evans (d.1920), wife of the English Liberal politician Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907). After her husband's death in 1854 she married John Fowler Butterworth. The seven letters in this collection are closely and neatly written; those to her father in brown ink and those to her mother in blue. All seven in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Mrs Stevens writes in a vivacious and intelligent style, and the seven letters contain a mass of personal and family information. The extracts given below concentrate on public matters, including her description of the dinner party for Daniel Webster (Letter Two), and her meeting with former president Martin Van Buren (Letter Three). Letter One (to her mother): 27 August 1842. Addressed to 'Silas O. Smith. | Rochester. | N.Y. | For Mrs Smith.' 4pp., 4to. Signed 'Mary F: Stevens'. 'Mother you cannot tell how much I have to do and think of - in the course of the week we are to have a large dinner party - all the great men.' Letter Two (to her mother): 2 September 1844. Addressed to 'Mrs Smith | Care of Mr Silas O. Smith | Rochester | N.Y.' 3pp., 4to. Unsigned. 'When I wrote you last we were expecting the Hon Mr Webster, he arrived at noon on Monday and when I found myself to receive him, knowing that his comfort & enjoyment for the few coming days rested greatly upon me, thinking of his style of living, of the many luxuries that constantly surround him, and then of the great statesman, the man that I have ever respected for his wonderful mental capacities [...] He was quite ill when he arrived with influenza, which seized him at Springfield, his eyes were inflamed and swollen, and his whole appearance indicated a sad state [...] He went to his room immediately and took a light refreshment and did not leave his bed until our dinner was ready at six [...] a party of eight, and from that number they increased to twenty before they left the table. [...] While in the dining room a crowd gathered about our door (immense - not a spot within hearing distance that was not covered) and demanded with loud cheers the great man. He granted their request and made a short but powerful speech from our steps - he was then followed by Mr Stevens, who spoke with great effect [...] The speeches were followed by Whig songs and loud and repeated cheers for Webster and Stevens. I cannot express my feeling of pride. [...] This was the all eventful day - we were thronged with visitors from seven in the morning until eleven, when the procession formed and came up to escort Mr Webster to the place of meeting. Mr Stevens was president of the day and with Judge Berrian of Georgia and Mr Curtis joined the procession with music and emblematic banners from our door [...] Mr Webster held the crowd in silence for two hours, and then returned home much exhausted, and retired to his quite room'. Letter Three (to her mother): 19 September 1844. 4pp., 4to. Unsigned. 'We returned from Saratoga a week to day, our stay was pleasant but too gay for me there were six hundred at the house all the while we were there and there was food for the mind in studying the different persons and characters brought together in one mass. We found few friends and few acquaintances, still there was enough to engage my time. I found Judge Betts [Samuel Rossiter Betts (1786-1868)] of M.G. a very pleasant man. Also Dudley Field of N.Y. Do you know him? I have his name associated with you or Grand Pa very strongly in my mind. Chancellor Walworth was kind & attentive - Mr Van Beuren [sic, i.e. Martin Van Buren (1782-1862)] - the ex-President honored me by many attentions, but he preffered [sic] some one whose sentiments harmonized better with his own. There was a very gay party from the South [...] We heard the famous Borghese sing. I look upon it as a species of torture. May I be spared from any similar inflictions. Ole Bull played but Alas! Mr Stevens endured so much in listening to Italian singing I could not induce him to go'. Letter Four (to her mother): 24 September 1844. Addressed as Letter Two. 3pp., 4to. Signed 'Mary Frances.' 'We expect Mr Webster early Monday morning - And in addition to that responsibility, (enough in itself) we are to have a dinner party of fourteen in the evening of Monday. Tuesday we will be occupied with his political engagements. At evening, we are to have a large party unless he will consent to stay over Wednesday - in case he does we shall have dinner company every day and party Wednesday evening. Do you not pity me? And yet I shall greatly enjoy it if I can succeed in making it go off well, that is my portion of the responsibility. Oh! if you were only here. Letter Five (to her father): 24 January 1846. 4pp., 4to. Signed 'Mary F. Stevens.' She reports that her husband goes on the following Saturday to Washington, 'to argue a cause of very great importance, a patent case that he was engaged fourteen days upon in opposition to Mr Staples of New York, and gained. Now he has Mr Webster, Gov Seward, R. Johnson & several other opposing counsel, and he stands by himself and firm in expectations of success.' Letter Six (to her mother): 24 September 1848. Addressed as Letter Two. 4pp., 12mo. Signed 'Mary Frances.' 'Our dear little babe has at last been dedicated to God, we have carried him to the Sanctuary of the Lord, [...] he already shows his sinful nature'. Letter Seven (to her father): 22 October 1848. Signed 'Mary Frances.' 4pp., 4to. 'Mr Stevens is very well, and shall I add by way of vanity, very busy.' From the Evans papers.