Mary Wollstonecraft to Gilbert Imlay
September 17, 2008 by Carol
Filed under romantic love letters
Gilbert Imlay was the father of Mary Wollstonecraft’s daughter the young girl that so looked like her father. By this time this love letter was written he had left her and departed for England. It took her nearly two years to realise he had no intention of returning and their romantic relationship was now over.
When she did come to accept the reality of the relationship being over she attempted suicide on a number of occasions the first time taking laudanum the second by throwing herself in the river. Even after these failed attempts she continued to pursue him for a number of years even undertaking business trips on his behalf to regain his finances which he had lost due to poor business decisions.
Paris, evening, 23 September 1794
I have been playing and laughing with the little girl so long, that I cannot take up my pen to address you without emotion. Pressing her to my bosom, she looked so like you (entre nous, your best looks, I do not admire your commercial face), every nerve seemed to vibrate to the touch, and I began to think that there was something in the assertion of man and wife being one for you seemed to pervade my whole frame, quickening the beat of my heart, and lending me the sympathetic tears you excited.
Have I anything more to say to you? No; not for the present — the rest it all flown away; and indulging tenderness for you, I cannot now complain of some people here, Who have ruffled my temper for two or three days past.
Her closing comments obviously relate to the changing situation in Paris France where she still lived and the revolutionary guard who were taking strong interest in her and a number of close friends. Yes Gilbert had left her (and their daughter) there to face possible death on the guillotine.
See http://loveletterscentral.com/333/wollstonecraft-gilbert-imlay-2/ for more details about the love relationship between these two people.
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