Letter from Allard Belin Barnwell, Savannah, GA, to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell. Barnwell discusses his salary and expenses and describes a recent business trip where, to save time, he jumped off the train as he passed his destination rather than get off miles ahead at the depot stop. November 10, 1870.
Joseph Walker Barnwell, Gottingen, Germany, writes to brother, Allard Belin Barnwell. Barnwell talks of how being in Europe has made him more of an "American" rather than a "Southerner" and discusses weekly social activities with his compatriots. He mentions the near universal editorial contempt for a recent magazine article by Harriet Beecher Stowe concerning Lord Byron and hopes a similar "justice" will one day fall on "Uncle Tom's Cabin." He also derides the antics of anti-Catholic preacher, John Cumming, and describes the curious wedding custom of smashing crockery and dinnerware at the door of the bride-to-be.
Letter from Joseph Walker Barnwell, Gottingen, Germany, to sister, Esther Hutson Barnwell, commenting on the business-like characteristic of German marriages, his taking weekly tea with the "Fraulein" landlady to improve his German, and the frankness of Germans in regard to personal matters.
Letter from Joseph Walker Barnwell, Gottingen, Germany, to sister, Mary Elliott Barnwell, with details of his instruction in German, a description of local ice skaters and an amusing comparison between the Beaufort newspaper and the London Times.
Joseph Walker Barnwell writes to sister, Esther Hutson Barnwell, from Germany, where he is matriculating at the university in Gottingen. Barnwell describes the difficulty of learning the language, the bathing habits of the Germans and his views on German servants, and comments that the Americans he has met abroad do not distinguish between Northerners and Southerners. October 24, 1869.
Letter from Joseph Walker Barnwell, Gottingen, Germany, to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell. Barnwell writes of trying to speak only German, a task made harder by an increase in other Americans arriving in Gottingen, and discusses the current state of Prussian political and military affairs. October 1, 1869.
Letter from Joseph W. Barnwell to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, informing her of his success with his United States Court examination. He jokingly describes his first trial, a larceny case, as a "brilliant debut" before conceding that he "did not say a word -- the case was too clear." June 17, 1869.
Joseph Walker Barnwell writes to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell, about his lack of religious conviction and a mix up with a package that led to the spoilage of its contents. June 14, 1869.
Letter from Joseph Walker Barnwell, Gottingen, Germany, to mother, Catherine Osborn Barnwell. Barnwell writes of attending a performance of a men and boy's choir visiting from Hanover, comments on his inexperience with cold winters and describes a large, traveling market of peddlers which descends on the city four times a year. November 1, 1869.
