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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
George speaks about how poorly his school is doing. He decides to go to Yale College to become a lawyer. George is just recovering from a near-fatal illness. He shares poetry written by Mr Huse. He voices things about college that will give him pain or pleasure.
Date
3-8-1815
Keywords
Yale, Huse, George Chase, Hartford, Point, Mr Sigourney
Recommended Citation
Chase, George, "Letter to Intrepid Morse" (1815). Philander Chase Letters. 162.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/162
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Transcript
Hartford March 8th.1815.Wednesday
Dear friend. With a heart warmed by affection but a hand scarcely able to guide my pen I proved to give and answer, a long delayed answer to your last. Condemn me not unheard for this repeated delay. Sickness has laid his hand upon me and thy friend lay once even at Deaths door. But thanks be to God, his kind Providence and the excellence of a youthful constitution have preserved my life. Let us give thanks to Him for this mark of his unbounded goodness toward me a sinner. How dreadful to call to mind when fearing the approaches of Death the many heinous sins I have been guilty of during my past life! Perhaps in a few hours I am to render an account for them at the bar of God! How many poor wretches who have waited for that moment have been deprived of their reason by delirium and sent out of the world with all their “imperfections on their heads.” I even doubt whether a death led repentance will be accepted at all. But we know not what God in his infinite mercy may do. The chance however against us is so great it behoves us always to be prepared. I came from the Point a fortnight or three weeks since when I was immediately attacked by a most violent fever and have but just recovered. I never even imagined so much pleasure could be taken from viewing a clear sky a spring morning as I [more][take-garing] upon the blue expanse from my window. Confinement renders it doubly charming.
My imagination now paints to me in the midst of summer a cool and shady retreat--the tumbling waterfall darkened by the foliage of the neighboring beach--the clear blue sky above and in fact a perfect “vale of [?].” But alas the “f[?] from whose looks I would see them reflected” is far distant.
You will probably expect to hear something concerning that Paradise of delight the Point yes will relate. My school which [ever] has been the worst in the State, I loath to think of. One of my promising scholars I expect will be sent to new-gate to atone for the crime of stealing. Others would be glad to do the same could they do it undiscovered. To govern these was a task--and for me a youth of seventeen such confinement was irksome. I had some difficulty with the parents to encounter with, but nothing serious. With the bitter there is almost always some sweet--instead of little toddling wee things of rosy cheek girls I had them of 14,15,16,17 years of age. I however escaped the fate of poor Morgan. Cupid fluttered over the schoolhouse in the form of a vile-rooster but fortunately never made his appearance within. Although it is said I had the handsomest girl east of Connecticut for a scholar. My evenings were generally spent with the Rev. Mr Huse a widower of 30--who tells a good story, and has a heart open as day. [We] have frequently sat up till 12 or 1 chatting or reading the plays of the immortal Shakespeare. He frequently read to me some of his own compositions--he has a singular way of expressing himself in the [pulpit]. I quote on expression as near as I can remember for your perusal--describing the Resurrection-- “The angels of Heaven shall flutter among us--the veil of Eternity shall drop--and the eye of God shall beam its celestial effulgence upon us.” Mr Huse is a man of very tender feelings. I once unwarily touched upon the subject of his lost child and wife--he shed tears at the recollection. It is said she was a very beautiful woman and that he loved her with the [loudest] affection.
I have now done with the Point and proved quietly to Hartford I was home at the grand Illumination for Peace--and “beheld the lighted windows flame.” Followed a burning tar-barrel and hurraid [sic] with the crowd till I was hoarse. Our good friend Mr Sigourney who was captain of the [troop] has been dubbed the Knight of the Tar-Barrel. There were some pretty transparent paintings but nothing of any consequence. My future destination in life is now fixed and in less than a month I shall be in Yale College Cambridge is given up it being at such a distance [Soinian] and [dissipate]. Yale has also it objections but none that can be obviated. I must say I look forward to a College life with mixed feelings of Pain and Pleasure, of Pain experienced at Examination through fear--of finding myself surpassed by many and many a and-- of Pleasure I shall take in reading and studying. If God spares my life I shall enter into a lawyers office as soon as my education is finished, your next letter (which oh may it be speed) will be directed to Hartford and the following to New-Haven. Grandmother who has returned from Vermont--about six weeks since gives but a sorry account of our democratic relations. They conduct like madmen whenever the hateful subject of [politicks] is mentioned. Uncle [Durkus] affairs [CUT OFF]