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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 requests money from his parents in order to afford board.
Date
11-5-1796
Keywords
Money, Board
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Parents: Dudley and Alice Chase" (1796). Philander Chase Letters. 4.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/4
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Transcript
Albany, November 5th, 1796
Dear Mom Father
My good [?] in getting into [??] my present prosperous [?] and my pleasing hopes for the future, I know must fill your heart with gratitude. To that Being that governs all things eagerly as they do my own--to think otherwise would give me pain. Indeed my comfort and pleasure would be but half so pure and perfect were it not that I am confident my dear friends participate in my prosperity.
Although my income is amply sufficient to maintain me in genteel [?]--yet my expenses are greater than I can reasonably wish them to borrow out at 4 dol. per week and to find all my washing and mending [?] beside augment my expenses to an unnecessary height.
The good Mr.Ogden called on me on his way from York to Troy. He entered into my affairs with that same warm and tender friendship that you know he is ever ready to exercise to warm all whom he thinks he can serve. He was much surprised that I should [?] board at this expensive rate when I might keep house for myself with half the money. “If you” (said he) “had 200 dol on hand you might save [?] by the expiration of the year by purchasing furniture and living for yourself.”
I have pursued this hint still further. There is a gentleman now boarding and rooming with me, a teacher of Trinity School in this city who is also with his present expensive of living his on [?]. He is a man of superior understanding and education being an European and brought up in one of the best colleges in that quarter of the world.
This friend and gentleman has offered to him a house and eagerly discharge the expense with me--living in a genteel, independent, and more reputable than we possibly could do in a boarding house. All this with half the expense that we are now at--This plan, with the [?] advice of Mr. Ogden and of my other friends, I make no [?] to pronounce good--If it is put into execution at last it will save me an 100 dol. at the end of the year.
Now [?] could I not persuade you to add to the money that I was to receive from you..55 or 60 Dollars! To furnish the house with necessary and convenient articles an 200 dollars will be required. The money that I sold my horse for is almost expended though with [?] it will keep me a few weeks longer. Think, Sir, how disagreeable it must be for me to pay for [?] very little things that Mrs. Chase could do as well as not, half money enough to support a good table!
At the first of January I receive for my teaching the school 200 dollars..This will help me then in paying the debt that I shall have incurred [?] this and the time of my begining to keep house--in [?]and tides of [?] and preparing for the next [?]. The legislature of this place is expected for the [?] to come to set in this city. If this happens, consider my situation. The board will of course [?] still higher. What a fool I should be to board out at 6 or 7 dollars per week when I might as well as not have my own house and by taking one or two boarders save myself from my expense.
Mr. Ogden is not [?] of this therefore he [?] with me. Pray Sir, be so kind as to send me an hundred dollars as soon as possibly be. I cannot but think my dear Father will oblige me in this one instance as I have pushed forward so bare as to the warm clothing of money--and as it may be (and I [?] hope it will be) the last time that I shall be in that situation as to be obligated to ask you for money. If you are prevailed upon to do me this great kindness--you can send the money in a bank bill enclosed in a letter in the mail.
Write to Mr. Ogden at the same time that you have sent it [?]. I mentioned in my last [?] Mrs. Case’s sending for money on the reason of my taking hers--[??]. If you have sent her any deduct it out of the above [?].
Philander Chase