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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
Sparrow tells Morse that Chase and William Walker are to work on bringing Indian students to the school. He updates Morse on the progress with the school's bookstore.
Date
10-23-1825
Keywords
Alexander Wells, William Walker, George Lyman, Mr. Fay, Mt. Vernon, Norwalk, Ashtabula, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Lady Rosse, bookstore
Recommended Citation
Sparrow, William, "Letter to Intrepid Morse" (1825). Philander Chase Letters. 544.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/544
Rights Statement
Transcript
Worthington. Oct. 23rd. 1825
Rev & very dear Sir,
I cannot let Mr. Alexander Wells depart without returning by him my warmest thanks for your kind & comforting letter. I shall endeavour to follow your good advice and wait with patience till Heaven think fit to extricate me from the difficulties in which my folly has involved me. It has been my endeavour some time past to throw myself unreservedly on the Divine mercy & providence and as more peace of mind has been the consequence for the present I can rely upon his goodness that complete deliverance is reserved for the future. How deep & mysterious are the ways of providence! ‘Tis true I am now the victim of disappointment & chagrin and my mouth is closed from uttering before the world those precious truths from which my heart derives all its comforts and on which I am convinced the destiny of mankind depends; but what of this? If when I am permitted to declare to my fellow sinners the unsearchable [niches] of Christ I can do it with more humble & consequently correct views of myself, with a deeper experience of their value and more knowledge of the world, prudence, & circumspection, I surely have reason to rejoice at my present difficulties & like the great Apostle, “glory in tribulation.” My only grief is, that tho’ I am conscious, as Heaven witnesses, of no evil intention in my past foolish conduct yet I feel convinced that had I lived nearer to God [?] [contained] that frame of mind with which in previous days I had been blessed I should not now be writing on this disagreeable subject. May the Lord for Jesus’ sake pardon his weak and misguided creature! May he enable me to make amends in some small degree for injury I may have done the Christian cause and as much has been forgiven me to love much. But I did not intend saying so much on this matter. My feelings are so intense upon it that I am aware there is danger of being obtrusive & tedious.
I have just returned from the north. Part of my business there was to bring down the “red men” but George Lyman had gone to a council held in Detroit. William Walker is to pass this way in a fortnight or so & the Bishop is to continue with him some method of bringing down the Indians. The little I have seen & learned of them during my late expedition has interested me much in the Indian character. “Yankeeism” is no lo ingredient in it.
I send, as you desire, your [?] & we trust that Mr. Wells will find the other books at Mr. Fay’s in Columbus. Our numbers are increasing and before long I think we have quite as many as we can accommodate. I hope the Mt. Vernon scheme pleases you all & that something will be contributed in your portion of the country towards the purchase. I have been circulating subscription papers thro’ the north – have left one at Norwalk, & sent one to Ashtabula & Brooklyn near Cleveland.
Have you heard that Lady Rosse has given an organ to the chapel? Her munificence is exhaustless.
I remain, Rev. Sir, your grateful & affectionate friend & servant,
William Sparrow
I fear that you can hardly decipher these hieroglyphics.