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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
Philander Chase tells Philander Jr about how well baby Dudley is. He tells Philander Jr to bring back any of his father's books when he returns. The family is making sugar. Mr. Sigourney has named Bp. Chase as the guardian of his children if he dies prematurely and Philander is honored. Philander wants Philander Jr. to find a copy of his 2nd Christmas sermon which he lost.
Date
2-3-1818
City
Worthington, OH
Keywords
George Chase; Colonel Putnam; Bp. Griswold; George Allen; William Allen; Dudley Chase; Charles Sigourney; Hartford, CT; Mr. and Mrs. Tudor; Mary Chase; church; college; Mr. Boswell
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Philander Chase Jr" (1818). Philander Chase Letters. 125.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/125
Rights Statement
Transcript
My dear very dear Son Philander
I am going to write you a long letter; but when I shal be able to finish it, I know not. I want to mention many, very many things — but, I fear, I shall some how or other, forget, as I commonly do, above half.
I have now your dear Brother Dudley in my arms, and a finer Boy you never seen. He is teazing [sic] me to make him a picture, and tell him a story. For, you must know, he can talk quite plain and can say all his letters. I ask him how much he loves his dear Brother Philander? He says “so much” holding his hands extended as wide and high as he can. You see how he has made be blot my paper. — Dud ever restless, like all his kindred of the human race, has proved tired of the confinement in his father’s arms, and gone into the other room to see his Maman. She, God ever bless and protect her — is but in a weak and very delicate state of health. — with the very great pleasure of perpetually talking of you, keeps up her spirits — and I hope for the best. To tell you the truth she is in precisely the same situation she was in this day, two years ago: Would to God her health was as good now as then! — Pray for her my dear Son, that her pains and perils may be imposed on her in mercy; and that, in God’s good time, she may make happy both you and me. This is one of Things I wished you to know: for you should know it — that your prayers may be more fervent.
The next Thing I wished to mention to you, is the books left behind. — I find my library in a very mangled state — George has many of my books with him, which you must not fail to see — I have no set of Peaberry’s Sermons, as common as they were, in my house, last year! A Mr. MacLean of [Wentonberry] has a set which he borrowed of me; but never returned. There, or some other two or three stets you must get , if you can. I will subjoin a [cater] to you of such volumes, as are wanting in my library and you must make it a primary article in you memoranda of things to fetch with you.
In the next place I wish to speak with on the the subject of our Church, or primitive Zion in this state. What we have done will appear, in a good degree, bt the Minutes of The Conventions held in Columbus on the fifth of Jan: 1818. Notwithstanding all our difficulties, and they are not a few, I’ll assure you, we have more to make us glad, than could have been expected. Much aid from above we need, to guard as from foes without and keep us in peace within in — Therefore pray for us here also: and let your supplications want neither constancy nor zeal.
And did we forget your loved friends as Brooklyn? No, my Son. They are my dear quandam Parishioners at Harford came aking on our fond remembrance like the grateful shower in may to give life and sweetness to all we said and did. — I wish my pen and ink were better I would day more on this delightful theme, But my fingers are stiff by reason of hard [Carbon]. Indeed you know not how many things I turn my hands to. — With Heaven’s blessings I am determined not to want. Besides one great motive which spun me on is the great desire I have to have things in such advancement and taste there when yon some I may deserve your praise. — Remember them ,when you approach my plantation that when I came on it, last july, it was nearly a desert. Overgrown with thrush and briar and incumbered [sic] with [lossen] But I am tired as no doubt you are Goodnight.
Feb 3 — 1818.
It storms most furiously. Snow nearly horizontally filled the whole fare of nature. — We have had little or not sledding therefore we rejoice for the prospect offered as of getting about and of carry’g our [boys] to The mill by bringing home our boards.
I have been on my [home] to the [Berth] mentioned above: found all well and prospering: But on my return found our Bill for a College had been suspended for the present till the first day of next session of the next Legislature that we shall eventually succeed. Then can be but little the Lower House passed our [bet] of College Privileges without a voice against it. The upper House did the same till it came to the third reading then some friend moved an amendment much, perhaps too much, in our favor which caused a debate giving into some warmth & length of debate. This proved unpleasant and caused an unexpected motion for postponement till next term of the Legislation to prevail by a small majority. Thus God would have it for our trial; let us be submissive and not remit our duty.
Last night I send off by mail the minutes or journals of our Convention to the [?] kind — One I inscribed for you & another for Col. Putnam and another for Bp. Grinwald VC VC. For fear of a miscarriage as is pregnant by the case with such trifles. I’ll send another with then; the expense of postage will not be great I’ll assure you.
I can’t now lay my hands on the catalogue of wanting Books of my Library if I do not send it you in form. Look about you from this day forward till the day of your departure for this; and leave not a volume behind. — Also bring everything else rare or valuable you can come honestly by, Bring a ream of letter paper. My paper is out: I must take another sheet.
Young George Allen, Brother to W’m Allen of Pomfret is with us. If we mutually agree, he has engaged to live with me and work on my farm for one year. He is quite indisposed for the present having taken a violent Cold and [accumulated] much bile on his [?]. By the peaceful [?] his and [remedies] he is notwithstanding the severity of his attack now recovering. — Your dear Good Mother forgot her own infirmities and is happy in the effects of her skill. What should we all do without her! The time of Making Sugar among us is at hand. I am making great preparations to manufacture some 500 Weight. Would that you were here to partake of our Sweets! Whoever in our family is in the dumps at the prospects in this [way] Dad is not one of that member I’ll assure you; for his fondness for maple sugar exceeds that of his [ancestors]. He can grapple with a lump as big as his head. A bad cold which has been [condemning] here has not passed over this dear little fellow; but its ravages on his damask cheek are now scarcely visible: the color to his lovely face and the brilliance to his enchanting eye have returned: These he shows with peculiar familiar when without stretching arms or lifted head he tells how much he loves Bro’r Phi’l.
I’ve rec’d a long and the best of letters from Mr. Sigourney. O that a worth man is this? — My love and respect for him have increased with the distance of space and time which separate us. Especially now when he is suffering the pangs of losing [his] incomparable wife does his dear image call forth all the tender sympathies of my nature. How devoutly do I pray the Good God to support and comfort hm! — That she should have thought of poor me as a proper person to take charge of his loved children in [case] of his own premature death is what I can scarcely believe. Yet this he mentions in his letter to me with so much sincere tenderness that I never read it over, (which I do very often) without tears. You must go to Hartford if practicable before you set off for Vermont on your way [?] See all my [dear] friends there — hear what they say & [?] it up in matter and form in our note book Keep while there; like Ja Boswell a record of every conversation: I love these people Philander more Than — what shall I say? — Would it be [proper] if I were to all [say] more than the whole world before? — Were I to say it I should have abundant reason in the many unexampled kindness they’ve shown me.
But you’ll say where are the Putmans and Mr. Bringley? — Why my son, they’re identified with the [Hartford] Parish: [?] enough.
And now, my dear son Phi— Sat your prayers — speak the Truth — Love and serve our friends — do good & pray for you Enemies — Study your book — Excite your God Trust in God & keep yourself comforted from the world — then [?] then you willfully to the bosom of
The Fondest of Fathers
Please tell Mr and Mrs Tudor that I am not a great letter [writer] yet I dream of them and see them in the glass of fond remembrance almost constantly — My health is better tho’ you’d hardly know me. I’ve lost fill ten inches of my circumference.
I’ve some how or other lost my sermon which I preachd on the 2nd Christmas I passed in Hart? — You or the Brooklyn perhaps took a Copy of this. — You remember; it was topographical and [anachroniological] [?] — but I don’t remember the [last] — [Aclirogeneous]? [?] be you must, remember you must being me for I would not, such is my foolish fondness lose this for Tenthousand times its value to others. Bear this in mind as you love a fond father’s whims.