1847 NYC Stampless Letter Early Dental Ether Norwich Worcester RR Stock For Sale

Original stampless folded letter written in New York City on August 2, 1847, and mailed to M. B. Clark in Amherst, New Hampshire.

This substantial family and business letter contains an unusually early reference to the use of inhaled ether during apparent dental treatment. It was written less than ten months after William T. G. Morton’s celebrated public demonstration of ether anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital on October 16, 1846.

The writer, who signs himself “Thomas,” tells his brother:

“Hope Elizabeth has received no serious injury from inhaling the Ether—and that now, she will have in a good set—for if put in properly they are more than [useful/name]—and with teeth as with many other things ‘well done is twice done.’”

The wording appears to concern Elizabeth’s dental treatment and the fitting of a set of artificial teeth. The letter does not identify the dentist or state where the procedure occurred.

NORWICH & WORCESTER RAILROAD STOCK

The letter opens with a financial transaction involving Norwich & Worcester Railroad stock:

“Yours of July 28 enclosing Certificate of Norwich & Worcester R.R. Stock came safely on Saturday and this morning I made the transfer, enclosing in this the Certificate No. 4031 as standing in your name.”

This records the transfer and registration of an early railroad stock certificate in the recipient’s name. The referenced stock certificate is no longer present and is not included with the letter.

REV. GARDINER SPRING AND THE BRICK CHURCH

The writer also provides a detailed firsthand account of hearing Rev. Gardiner Spring preach at New York’s historic Brick Presbyterian Church:

“Yesterday completed the 37th year of Dr. Spring’s ministration in the ‘Brick Church’—and he preached the best sermon I have ever heard him deliver—subject ‘Human influence’…”

Thomas states that the sermon lasted nearly two hours, but that “no one was tired.” He calls it “the crowning effort of his life” and describes Spring responding to recent newspaper criticism concerning himself and the church.

Gardiner Spring entered the Brick Church pastorate in 1810, making the writer’s reference to the 37th year of his ministry consistent with the letter’s August 1847 date. Spring ultimately served the congregation for more than six decades.

BUSINESS AND INSURANCE CONTENT

Additional subjects include:

• A promised five-percent commission on bills sold to customers
• Efforts to direct customers to a particular New York commercial house
• Proposed business travel to Kingston and Albany
• Plans to leave New York and return closer to family
• A proposed $2,000 fire-insurance policy on the family house
• A quoted insurance rate of 60 cents per $100
• Preference for a cash-capital insurer carrying no assessment liability
• Requests to compare insurance rates around Rockingham, Haverhill and Newburyport
• News concerning relatives, friends and business associates

ADDRESS AND POSTAL FEATURES

The exterior is addressed:

“Mr. M. B. Clark
Amherst
New Hampshire”

The folded letter retains its red New York postmark, manuscript five-cent postal-rate marking and a partial red wax seal.

New York, Monday Aug. 2, 1847

Dear Brother,

Yours of July 28 enclosing Certificate of Norwich & Worcester R.R. Stock came safely on Saturday, and this morning I made the transfer—enclosing in this the Certificate No. 4031—as standing in your name.

I send it back thus promptly—lest in my wanderings something may befall me—and lest while I have not much to do—I become so busy as not to do anything.

My thanks for your letter, and the news it contains. Hope Elizabeth has received no serious injury from inhaling the Ether—and that now, she will have in a good set—for if put in properly they are more than [unclear]—and with teeth as with many other things “well done is twice done.” For Sarah I have felt some anxiety, so am glad to hear of her good health and spirits.

Have not been to the Store today—and shall go no oftener than I can help—on Monday next I shall go to Kingston and to Albany, to be gone some 3 or 4 days—and come home as soon after my return as I can—I have the promise of 5% on amount of Bills sold to any Customers I may carry to a certain house here—this morning I commenced and as yet have only the promise from one man to buy—but I feel sure will do so—as yet there are not many of our Customers in town—I hope in the course of the week to fall in with some whom I can influence to trade with me—and so make something—while I stay—

Mr. Thomas Williams & family have been in town & also Mr. W. P. Boardman—neither of whom I saw—I hear also Mr. [Rice/Sawyer?] is expected in a few days—Sorry for Mr. Holbrook’s illness—and glad to hear the Concert was so successful—

I have been thinking about insuring our House in an Office in this City for $2,000—the rate charged is 60¢ on $100—and the Company having a Cash Capital—there will be no assessments—will you please inquire & inform me the rate charged by the Offices in our vicinity—say Rockingham—Haverhill or Newburyport—for I do not think it safe to go longer uninsured—though Mother may object—still I will pay the premium—and if it should take fire—and burn—she may have the money to build another—

I would like to hear from you and Elizabeth again before I leave—yet can hardly expect to do so, for it is not uncertain but I come home the last of next week—all depends on circumstances—I find myself so much attached to places here—and so many friends around who say you must not go—that really, I feel it hard to part from them—not knowing if we again meet—and so sometimes I get sadly—and even half regret I leave—however I hope to be pleasantly situated where I go—and being nearer you and home, shall pass my time happily, and swiftly—

Yesterday completed the 37th year of Dr. Spring’s ministration in the “Brick Church”—and he preached the best sermon I have ever heard him deliver—subject “Human influence”—an admirable theme—handled as Eternity—and though his discourse was 2 hours long—yet no one was tired—

In closing he made a beautiful allusion to the returning Anniversary—and spoke at length respecting the animadversions that a short time ago appeared in the Boston Register—respecting him and the Church—and gave some interesting facts connected with the Church—I hope it will be published—if so—you will read for yourself—To me it is the crowning effort of his life—and I was the more interested because, as he leaves town for a few weeks—I may not soon, if ever, hear him again—

I have written this to you—yet if Elizabeth will read it—I trust she will think herself included—

Make my best respects to all our friends—and to Mr. & Mrs. Nash when they return—I should like an excursion somewhere with you when I come home—

Good day—hoping this will find you all well—still enjoying the blessings of a smiling Providence, all your labors being prosperous, and your undertakings successful—Long [enjoying?] the blessing of health—and richly crowned with all the high privileges of Grace—

As Ever,

Thomas

ITEM SPECIFICS

• Place of Origin: United States
• State: New York
• City of Origin: New York City
• Destination: Amherst, New Hampshire
• Exact Date: August 2, 1847
• Postmark: New York, August 2
• Postal Format: Stampless folded letter
• Postal Rate: Manuscript 5-cent rate
• Addressee: M. B. Clark
• Writer: Thomas, surname not confirmed
• Railroad: Norwich & Worcester Railroad
• Railroad Document Mentioned: Stock certificate No. 4031
• Medical Subject: Early inhaled ether reference
• Dental Subject: Apparent dental treatment and artificial teeth
• Religious Subject: Rev. Gardiner Spring and Brick Presbyterian Church
• Additional Subjects: Fire insurance, commission sales, Albany and Kingston travel
• Seal: Partial red wax seal
• Quality: Used
• Grade: Ungraded
• Certification: Uncertified

An appealing antebellum letter combining early anesthesia and dental history, railroad finance, New York religious history, insurance practices, business travel and stampless postal history.

Only the original folded letter shown in the photographs is included. The railroad certificate mentioned in the text and any newspaper, genealogical, archival or other research images shown with the listing are provided for historical context only and are not included with the purchase.