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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
Dudley wants Chase to visit him, but Chase cannot because of want of money. He is starting to feel better after his sickness.
Date
7-17-1816
Keywords
George Chase; Philander Chase Jr.; New Orleans; Phoenix Bank; Dartmouth; Dudley Chase; Cambridge; money
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Dudley Chase" (1816). Philander Chase Letters. 52.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/52
Rights Statement
Transcript
Hartford July 17th 1816
Dear Brother,
Your favour of the 11th inst. is this moment re’d...In reading it, I feel a great disappointment, mingled, I confess, with much gratitude, that you and yours are well and remember us with fraternal affection.
Your request that we should all come up to see you cannot be fulfilled, for several reasons - among the which are the following. George is in college: and after his long absence thence to attend me in my last sickness, must apply himself strictly to his studies. Philander, after discharging the manifold duties of Major Domo, during the same eventful period, must now make up for lost time in preparing for Cambridge. “The Boys of all boys”, Dudley, subsisting, as yet, on the nourishment of “Old [B]rowny” and having an [aparatus], to carry the process to that effect, equal, at least, to that of Dartmouth Laboratory, cannot be slated from his moorings at frequent. These if no other would be the execution of such a project. But there is another reason more potent than all. The want of money. So great a want as to preclude idea of a journey, even the favourite one so strongly, urged by my physicians, and friends, for myself. This day a bill of $250 from N. Orleans, which I had negotiated at the Phoenix Bank, was returned from Bristol R. I. protested: and I have the money unexpectedly to raise the parish, also, are unprecedently in the [?] with me. In [?], my purse is empty and I know not whence to replenish it. I did hope to see you, that we might [?] some plan together. But I see this can’t be; so I must plan to myself; and bear up manfully under my burdens. I had ten thousand things to say to you, in great confidence and love - But these must (as it perhaps is best they should) be unsaid - our muttered along by myself. So no more of self or of fond wishes.
Thanks to a kind providence we are all as well in health as we could reasonably expect after our late sufferings. I this day rode in a carriage - tho. but on a walk the whole of the way. I found some relief from despondency, in any event the least, amendment of my poor, shattered frame God grant I may continue to recover!
You say not a word of the coldness of the seasons with you. It has been unusually severe with me - Hay but half a crop - gardens one month behind what has been usual. Corn in general very poor. Sunday before last we wanted fire to make us feel our usual comforts. Whoever knew this in our latitude on the 7th of July? I almost long for the warmth of the south.
My dear wife, Hon’d Mother - and all our family desire to be kindly remembered to all their friends.
I wish your wife were to see our Little Dud. A finer Boy is not to be found among us. It seems he was formed to bow the hearts of all who see him. Next Sunday, if God permit, he will be baptized - the H. D. Chase spon. by Proxy. That you’ll think of me in your prayers is my [earnest] desire - that you are most devoutly remembered in mine, I assure you.
Most affectionately,
Your Brother
Philander Chase