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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.

Description

Mr. Sigourney invites Philander Chase to visit him and his friends in Hartford. He has also sent a letter to Albany incase Chase missed this one. He also predicts that Chase will be successful in Great Britain and urges him to expand his business there too. Mr. Sigourney would like Bishop Chase to stay at his home while in Hartford and give a service at the church.

Date

9-9-1823

City

Norwich, CN

Keywords

church; England voyage, Charles Sigourney, Philander Chase, Hartford CN, Albany NY, Norwich CN

Transcript

Norwick, Conct., Sep. 9, 1823.

My Dear Sir,

I wrote you briefly just at leaving Harford, & directed my Letter to you in Albany. I presumed that in your way to the City of New York, you must necessarily pass thro’ chat place, & there I hope this ‘the kindness of the postmaster, to whom I presser’d my request, some means may be taken to place the letter in your hands. — But lest you may not stop in Albany, or passing thro’, may not obtain my letter, I write a few lines to meet you in New York, which I shall direct to the care of our good friend Capt. Roland See. —

I have received both the letters which you have written me from the State of Ohio. God knows I grieve, I most sincerely sympathize with you, in the depressed & unhappy Condition of our Church in Ohio. — But such are my obligations, and duties, & engagements, where I am, I cannot meet you, as you wish, in the City of New York, between the 20th & the 30th Come thus to us. — Your friends here are apprized of your object. Spend with us a few days — with those who love you, & who probably will retain for you, as long as they live, the attachment they contracted for you while you were their Parish Clergyman. We can all [far] together give you better council here than any single individual alone could give you in N. York. Your coming shall be no expense to you. — I am sorry to learn you are poor. Poverty, it is true, may abridge our means of usefulness, & of doing good. Yet is not in itself an evil to the religious & philosophical mind. On the contrary it sometimes acts as a foil, to render the virtues of such a character the more resplendent. The packets for England sail from New York four times in every month. — If you go not in the 1st, you can in the 8th October packet; & a week’s delay, I should think, would be no detriment to your mission. —

I think you will succeed in your object. At the least to a certain extent. You have, thro’ the periodical publications, become favorably Known to the British publick [sic]. And it is my belief they will take an interest in you personally, & in your object. — The opinions of the age we live in seem to incline more to religious object, & religious feelings, than of any [?] period, since the age of the Ancient fathers. A primitive Bishop, — poor & pious — abounding in good work & labours of love, tho’ not in the wealth of this could — proceeding from the log-house of Ohio, & calling to the inmates of the episcopal places in Great Britain “Men of Israel! Help,” will excite attention, will command respect & veneration, & humble trust will accomplish successfully his object. —

Go then, & may God be with you, strengthen your hands & your spirits, — smile upon your enterprise, & give you his blessing. You will have the best wishes of your friends here, in Hartford — & I trust their constant, I am sure, their sincere prayers. But before you go, do come to us, & let us see one another face to face, as of old time, & take “sweet counsel together” — Arrange it so as to possible to spend a sunday with us, & give us the Holy Communion. — Write to me as soon as you get either of my letters, this to N. York, [and] the one directed to you in Albany — that we may know your intentions, & prepared for, & comfort to them. When you arrive here (that is at Hartford) do me the favor to make your home with me. It will afford me & my good wife the pleasure of seeing, & hearing, more of you than the nature of my engagements otherwise would permit me. I do not expect to be at home much if any before the 27th. I go on tuesday to Providence RI — on the businesses of the Bank I work for. I hope you will get the letter I wrote to you — in Albany. It is rather more particular in some point than this. — May the Almighty bless us both, & permit us to meet — here in our earthly domicile, — & hereafter in those “buildings which are not made with hands, in the heavens” — is the prayer & wish of —

Your faithful & affectionate

Charles Sigourney

To the Right Rev’d

Bishop Chase.

Mr. Sigourney is the treasurer of the Bishop’s Fund in the Diocese on State of Connecticut. N. America.

Letter to Philander Chase

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