George Chase

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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

George discusses his family and the affairs of the people in Randolph, he also asks Dudley to provide more updates from Congress.

Date

12-25-1825

Keywords

Aunt Chase, Mr. Grover, Olivia Hoyt, Mr. Durkee, George Morris, Mr. Woodward, Mr. Thomas, Albert Martin, Senate

Transcript

Randolph–Christmas Day–Dec. 25–1825

My Dear Uncle

Many joyful returns of this anniversary to you and in this wish I am joined by every individual in your family from Aunt Chase down to our little friend Dud. Your letter of the 17th [just] was received this morning, for which please accept my acknowledgments. We are not however pleased with seeing long words occupy, each one of them, almost a whole line. It seems, almost, as if you was weary of the task of writing to us, and hastened to discharge it as soon as possible. If you are anxious to hear the minute particulars concerning us–please to remember that we also indulge the same anxiety with regard to yourself. Every newspaper from Washington is critically searched to see on what committees you are placed, and about what business you are engaged. You can surely indulge in description, for none of us have ever seen Washington, and but few of the Great men who are now assembled there, while we will endeavour to requite the obligation by giving you a faithful narrative of everything that we think may be interesting to you, here. The Christmas I shall observe here at your house. My wife and the little [?] have gone to Mr. Grovers, Mr. G. having provided a conveyance for them to B. I thought not best to go to B. myself under existing circumstances–and in this view of the subject my wife concurs. I do not wish to visit too often at Mr G.’s so long, as I have good reason to believe, that such visits would be charged to the account of my having some object to attain. I wish them well and so far as I care anything about it, wish them to think will of me. Olivia Hoyt arrived here last night in the stage from Burlington. She brought a letter from Mr Durkee to Aunt Chase in which he requested us to find a conveyance for her to B. (which can be done in Mr Grover’s return carriage tomorrow).

Mr. [Durkee] is not married and in all probability will not be to the Lady we had anticipated. He gave Olivia free permission to tell all she knew of the subject to his friends here. The story goes that she rejected him of course. But Mr. D. speaks so lightly on the subject &e, that I shrewdly suspect that your letter, caused him to pause, to make inquiries, (which could not result very favourably to her) & finally in all probability your letter was shown to her. The result may easily anticipated him of instability and fickleness of character. Mr. Durkee will be here in a few days. He is only detained by a Court to which he is summoned as a witness. It is possible some other plan may be in his futile imagination. Indeed I am convinced of it from the character of the man. He lately sold his goods in store at B. by auction and cleared $1000. Olivia says he has filled the store anew.

Mr Geo. P. Morris of N. York City has sent me 20 Nos. of the N. York Mirror & Ladies Literary Gazette with a free subscription for a year and solicits me very urgently to become a Correspondent. The paper is well calculated for the amusement of Aunt Chase & the young Ladies during the winter evenings and I am glad they have arrived so opportunely. Mr. S. Woodworth and Mr. Geo. [Bund] have also sent me the [Athenaeum] &e, so that at present we are not wanting papers to read. Do not let that however deter you from sending everything in the shape of a paper you can lay your hands upon. The debates in Congress are quite as interesting as anything I find.

I understand from Mr. Thomas that some people have been cutting on your Lot near Waldos Mill. I shall go over there tomorrow with him & Mr. Eddy–find the bounds–and if there are many logs cut on your land have them drawn together, and marked, preparatory to drawing them to Waldos Mill when snow shall come sufficient for sledding. There is a good road through your lot to the Mill, which Mr. Thomas wishes to improve this winter.

Excuse this miserable writing–my fore finger to my right hand was cut when cutting up the beef and I can not use it very well at present. I have filled 1 [bbl] of clear [pork]–one large bbl. With beef and the [pork] hams–over which I have [poured] a pickle prepared according to the recipe in your Farm Book, which we obtained from Gen. French. What with cutting up the meat–trying out the fat–making sausage meat and I have been made so stomach sick, it seems as if I never should wish to taste of another piece of pork. My wife was not very well and [Maria] being gone to Bethel (her brother being about to be married to [Cardine] Maynard) I had the principal part of the work to do. You see how very particular I am, that you need not complain. Ye Gods! That such vile thoughts should mingle with and shoulder out Reflections due to the Nation’s Weal!

Albert Martin seems to have given himself [wholly] up to the possession of the Evil one. He has again been convicted of stealing-–what do you think? A pair of cowhide boots from Patson Eastman’s boy and has been fined $7. I conjecture that his object is to obtain a seat in the State’s Prison, where he will not be the most degraded person, but will find companions in Vine. I shall not seal this letter at present–but wait until Tuesday, before the mail goes out, that you may have the latest edition of news.

Monday Dec. 28. On the whole I have concluded not to wait until tomorrow before I close this letter–probably tomorrow I shall be so much engaged that I can not come up to town. [If] a very blustering uncomfortable day and winter in reality seems to be approaching. I saw Mr Weston yesterday–he neglected to take the List of Ledger Balances with him to Chelsea and of could could collect nothing. He thinks best to commence a suit [vs] Robinson–his reasons for doing so, I believe, are that you would otherwise lose the debt–Mr. Isaac Blodgett and myself as his [assistee] & [advisor] have a plan, I call it a good plan, in our heads of which more [anon]. I assure you however that there is nothing in it that leads me to risk any properly. Pray write to me often–you can scribble a line to me in the Senate Chamber, during the progress of some dull debate–you speak of packages enclosed to me, only one has arrived “the Albion.”

Ever your affectionate friend and servt.,

Geo. Chase

Hon. D. Chase

U.S. Senate

Letter to Dudley Chase

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