Files
Download Full Text (6.6 MB)
Content Warning
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 thanks Lord Kenyon for his and his daughter's last letters and updates them on the progress of the school, its library, and support for his cause in Congress. Chase also promises to send Kenyon samples of certain fruits and trees from America.
Date
10-12-1825
Keywords
Margaret Kenyon, Lady Rosse, Ohio garden, Mr. Wiggin, Mrs. Chase, Cincinnati, Henry Clay, Thomas Bowdler, Mr. Kirtland, Mrs. Reed, Alum Creek, Brownsville
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Lord Kenyon" (1825). Philander Chase Letters. 543.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/543
Rights Statement
Transcript
Insert this letter except the [ ] see pg. 7 of the MS at bottom
Worthington Ohio
12 Oct, 1825
My very Dear Lord Kenyon,
[After incessant interruptions I have this day furnished a letter of 16 pages to good and very dear Mr. Wiggin; and as I know the intimacy with which you honour him and the love and veneration which he bears to your Lordship, I think I may spare myself the recital in this of what that contains. The reasons for writing the whole story to him instead of to your Lordship will appear on the face of the letter alluded to. I am permitted therefore to proceed immediately to the very pleasing work of answering two most dear & cheering letters, the one under date of May 30 & the other of the 17th of July, from your Lordship] Omit.
That you thought of me there where, of all places in Eng’d. I saw the most interesting objects, the orphan Children of the Church of England Clergy gives me a sensation of great pleasure: but that you went so far as to remember me on Whit Sunday and on the anniversary of our pilgrimage to the tomb of the Sainted Jones of Maryland and of our kneeling at the Altar where he ministered; and that you and dear Margaret should so condescend in your reminiscences as to trace the events which happened on the 15th & 17th of July as connected with me is so much beyond my [deserts] that I fear in indulging what I thought as a pleasure [the sin of vanity will lie at my door; – and that as in our wild wood where the roses cluster most, there the Serpent most entwines, so here amidst the fragrance of your Lordship’s favour the Enemy of my Soul would see to do me harm.]
The new Statement which your Lordship mentions has already reached me. May the Good God reward you for this! That the cause of Ohio should be thus patronized by your noble pen & still more noble heart shows that God is with us and pouring out his choicest blessings on us.
What your Lordship says of the solemn blessing of your Noble Father; & of the fulfillment of his fervent prayers in the enjoyment of your worthy Son affects me exceedingly. The nearer we approach to the faith of the Patriarchs the more sedulously we shall imitate their plain & pious manners: & wherever the latter is the free & natural permit of the former God’s blessing will most surely follow. The truth of this remark I see in your Father, yourself and your excellent Lloyd: and to the affecting acct. you give of this matter I would add my, however feeble yet, very sincere prayers that this great blessing may descend to many generations of your Noble Family.
Of the continuation of the beautiful disposition of the good the excellent Lady Rosse I can express nothing adequate. At reading what your Lordship was pleased to write of for Ordering and Organ for the Ohio Chapel, my heart spontaneously turns to God by whose spirit only, it is evident that good Lady’s mind and heart are guided. Make my grateful sentiments, I beseech your Lordship acceptable to that best of Ladies.
To the solicitude of prayers felt and offered to God for his preserving mercy by those who are much more worthy than myself I undoubtedly owe it, thro’ Jesus Christ that I have returned safe & laden with blessings from my late long and tedious tour thro’ the northern and eastern part of the Diocese [This I think I mentioned in my last letter to your Lordship. It was long, because (besides from the Coshocton trip) it [encompassed] the travel of 877 miles; it was tedious because done in the heat of an uncommon warm summer; & from Augst the 7th to Oct 8th I performed divine Service 48 times - another Clergyman assisted me in reading prayers – preached 50 – baptized 21. And administered the Holy Communion to 354 – besides attending & ministering to the sick; and almost incessant exhortation when in private houses] My however (omit), thro’ God’s mercy has not suffered so much as in former continued exertions of this nature: and my health is in other respects remarkably good. I think I am fatter than when in England. Indeed I am too much so for my own comfort and especially that of my horse. I hope the time will soon come when I can exchange the saddle for a seat in some carriage. In that case 3 fourths of any fatigued would be remitted.
But whither I am going in saying so much about myself I have yet to answer your Lordship’s fav’r of the 17th of July 1825, the anniversary of that day in which I bade adieu to the revered, the loved shores of Old England.
I am penetrated deeply at the manner in which this same day is remembered by yourself and dear Margaret I am not worthy of all this. [Crossed out]. Would to God I had the 100th part of the merit and consequence with which you crown my memory! [Crossed out]. Bye the bye I wish I had gone there to Hoy Lake that I might know something of the place where you all spend so much of your time and where your esteemed letters are so often dated. Of Gredington Dear Margaret has given a most valued picture, and in return I have [tryed] to give her some idea of our present humble dwelling. The mention of this occasions a sigh of much regret that no opportunity has as yet offered to send the box containing ‘les plumes Dindon’ and that little trifle, to the lakes. How mortified was I at this when I returned from my tour I leave you to judge. I could not blame my dear Wife; for, she has never been from home a moment, except to Church, since we parted. Indeed she is literally a slave to our College, in fatigue and labour for the young men quite beyond my desire to tell, or your power to believe. The box shall go and that I trust soon. While at Poland a place in the Northeast part of the Diocese I obtained a promise of Mr. Kirtland a man very particular in the rearing of excellent fruit that he would send your Lordship a choice supply of his best shoots for grafting. I have the same he has but have lost their names & could not send them so directly as he could. By this time no doubt they are on their way to England. I wish I could gratify Dear Margaret with a plentiful supply of American flower seeds but I fear what I can do will in that way will be hardly worth her acceptance. The Cluster Rose however which with us grows to the height of 20 or 30 feet may serve to adorn her rustic walks. That she has called one of them the name of Ohio is an honour we shall ever prize. [We have a large beautiful flower of an appearance about a medium between the Althea and the single Holy Hock of which if I can obtain the seed they shall be sent with the Cluster Wild-rose. When I saw them in my late tour it was in august and no seeds were sufficiently matured for gathering. The owner of the land whereon they grew (for they are wild [need] care as well as very beautiful) promised to send them to me.]
But to return to your kind letter, I was and indeed am delighted with its two enclosures. To that from under the hand of good and dear Margaret I shall return an answer the best in my power: the other is most valued and that for the precise reasons your Lordship mentions. Religion like the radiancy around Moses’ head is seen by others rather than by self. Of it Mr. W. will never boast though I trust we shall see it gild his character especially in the [evening] of his days, with increasing brilliancy. His judgement of me and my measures it shall be the endeavour of my life to deserve – though conscious I am that I fall far short of that degree of perfection to which his great partiality for me has [raised] it.
But I tire your Lordship with my long letter, let me then say a few words in brief – After a short vacation our School will recommence in about 12 days. The number of Students this winter I think will be from 20 to 25. Would that we could accommodate more!
Mr. Thomas Bowdler’s books have arrived and joined with what was my own library (700 vols) and the other numerous & valuable presents I had already red. from Eng’d. the whole exhibits the choicest collection in the western Country!! The Globes too have arrived in good order! With the 100£ transmitted by good Sir Tho. Acland the printing press has been purchased in Cincinatti [sic] and is brought hither and when the types come we shall commence our printing; I have heard of the arrival in N York of something; [duties] but about 30 Dollars. This surely cannot be the types! I think they must be the Stereotype plates for our Prayer Book. If so we shall be much rejoiced for never never was there more need.
I have just written to Mr. H. Clay our Sec. of State to engage his patronage to a bill to be preferred to Congress for the remission of all our duties past, present, and to come, on articles in good faith given to our Seminary. The members of that body from this state I have also spoken with; and most happy I am to observe that they all enter into our wishes with feeling interest, and promise me their utmost aid. So that I have not the least doubt of our success. By letters rec’d from all quarters of our Country I learn the extensive & still increasing spirit of good will in relation to our successful & blessed mission to [?].
Among all the instances of prosperity with which it has pleased Divine Providence to crown our endeavours there is perhaps not one that equates our achievement at Brownsville, Pennsylvania; for the particulars of which I refer your Lordship to a detailed acct. in a letter which I have just written to Mr. Wiggin. It is twice as advantageous as our offer on Alum Creek – the 1000 acres from Mrs. Reed we shall at all events retain for the Church – most faithfully am I your Lordship’s grateful friend,
P. Chase
Please send all letters for Bp. Chase under cover to the Hon’ble Henry Clay
Sec’y of State, Washington, District of Columbia, America