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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
The church in New Orleans is still unbuilt, and Chase will not become president of the new college there unless there is a church. Glad to hear that Mrs. Fay is doing well.
Date
1-3-1811
City
New Orleans, LA
Keywords
Mrs. Fay, George Chase, Philander Chase Jr., Dudley Chase, Phil Ruggles, Mary Chase, church
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Dudley Chase" (1811). Philander Chase Letters. 40.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/40
Rights Statement
Transcript
New Orleans Jan. 3 1811
My dear Brother Dudley,
Yesterday being new year, I had remitted my cares and strolled into town, and as usual the Post Office attracted my attention. Your kind letter of [?] of Nov. 1810 was handed me - not all the kind greetings of my friends and “compliments of the Season” could compare with the sight of your loved signature. What exquisite enjoyment thrilled thro. my every nerve when I read your fraternal lines! What a crowd of sympathetic pleasures pressed on my mind at the description of your “fireside” and of “the group” of sincere friends and lovely babes which awaited you there! What heightened this pleasure into a kind of rapture was the consideration [?] my very own darling Sons were of the number Yes, [?] indeed I am that they - the lovely ones for whom [w]e toil and have braved intemperate climes - should be so favoured by you as to constitute a part of your Treasures “when you make up your Jewels” - May their names ever be enrolled in your [?] and their robes so pure from the vices of a naughty world as to deserve your favour!
I am however disappointed that they do not write to us, themselves - and when they know this, I hope a reproof will not be necessary.
That my hon’d Mother-in-law is well and with her dear family prospering in the way of economy and patient labour I most sincerely rejoice. Were she an Empress she could do no more that fulfil the duties of her station. May God be with her to strengthen and support her in the ways of well-doing!! I thank you, a thousand times ever, for your kind and [?]ested [burden] of your services in forwarding the happiness and education of the dear Boys Cyrus and [Orrin]. Let the dear fellows attend your Academy - Give them advice and keep them from imposition from others and from idleness and self-conceit - and I hope to trouble you no farther - What I can share shall be done for them and my dear Boys - Only let them go on in the way of a useful education.
With regard to my own sons - I am still of opinion that they are too young to enter on a Collegiate life - am therefore happy that you will consent to continue them under your protecting Roof a little longer as children. I am decidedly against their doing otherwise as yet. What a few months may do with me I know not - Never was I in such doubt as to futurity even of a few weeks - The Lottery owing to a foolish scheme will not “go!” And the Church remains un-built! This has been with me a “sine qua non” as I have before told you. They bristle and “talk very big” but I bear all will not do! The fact is that the presidency of the newly established college of this Territory which has been offered me they think will detain me without building a church now. This will not do - Go I shall if the Church is not begun in the spring and so far completed five years and have become tired with mere profession. So that I think it probably you may see us in the [course] of next summer - or fall the bare thought of fancy of such an event would [?] me alive and enable me to support almost any trouble - Of this latter we are not without our share - My poor wife has again been sick, but thank God considerably recovered. The frequency of these attacks has worn her down almost to a corpse. When you see her you will not know her. She is determined to see her boys next summer whether I accompany her or not, and this hope sustains her spirits and makes the [burdens] of life [?] easy.
Our School is again as numerous as I could wish and things go on again smoothly. Lo [?] I am pretty sure of money enough at least to carry me home, for home it is where you and my boys are.
Mr. Ruggles has not written to me on the subject of my Pough. business - and never will that I know of. Have not I lotted you with authority sufficient to transact this business - Pray [?] the letters I wrote you and put an end to it - Everything [smacks] of [?], [smacks] also of misfortune.
I write the latter part of my letter in great haste to be ready for the mail.
Farewell dear Brother - Embrace your Wife and all friends for me. Devour the Boys with kisses for their loving father.
Philander Chase