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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
Chase advises Uncle Dudley against providing his father with any assistance as requested and updates his uncle on the progress of his farm work.
Date
4-23-1826
City
Randolph, VT
Keywords
Aunt Chase, Grand Council, Mr. Kip, Mr. Woodworth, Mr. Morris, Mr. Eddy
Recommended Citation
Chase, George, "Letter to Dudley Chase" (1826). Philander Chase Letters. 456.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/456
Rights Statement
Transcript
Randolph April 23. 1826. (Sunday)
My Dear Uncle
My wife has gone up to “meeting” today and I improve a moment to write to you, although I have no news, & but little to say and that perhaps not of the most agreeable nature. I refer to what you wrote to Aunt Chase concerning the request which my father had made to you desiring assistance. Sincerity, real sincerity without the least particle of affection, leads me to say that being one of the “Grand Council” I can not suffer this mail to go out without entering my protest against any interference in my father’s affairs. One great reason is there are here so many dependent upon your good or ill fortune, that I would not risk any thing upon any new scheme whatever.
My father is an active man, a man of the world, and will no doubt, as he always has done, find means and friends to assist him in any emergency.
Permit me to say that if the sum already advanced by you to Mr. Kip had reference at all to myself, i.e. reference to what my father may consider I owe him, I can not consent, so far as my consent is desired, to have the burden whatever it may be shifted from his to your shoulders. Enough of this disagreeable subject—I have only to say that my Aunt Chase and myself are both, I believe, of the same opinion, and I hope therefore you will not be offended with my freedom.
In your last to me you say that you are formed for “domestic life” and that you are the happiest when in the family circle. Our tastes in this respect are similar—ambition is dead within me, and except writing now and then an essay to oblige Mr. Woodworth or Mr. Morris, I am sick of public display—it is a thankless employment and all I wish is that I were able to earn my living by hand labour.
You smile about my sugar works—it has been a very poor season, but I have made notwithstanding about 60 wt., and lugged every pailful of sap to the house. My wood pile is mostly placed in a convenient place in the wood house—my house unbanked—Mr. Eddy has 8 head of cattle and 1 horse here of which I have the care.
I feel as if when the frost gets out of the ground and April wears her sunny face that I shall be able to take hold of work and do—about half as much as other folks. (Bye the bye I wish when you come home that you would buy me a penknife—you see by the terrible scratches that my pen makes that. I have no knife wherewithal to mend it)
Probably at this season you have as much business as is possible for you to attend to, and therefore you would not wish to receive a long prosing letter.
Ever your affectionate friend and Nephew,
Geo. Chase