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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 updates Dudley on Aunt Chase's affairs, the harvest season, and financial logistics of the ledger balance. He provides other general life updates and provides notes on the ledger balance.
Date
Winter 12-14-1825
Keywords
Washington, Aunt Chase, Tayloresses, Albion, President's Message, Zimmerman, Horace, House Journal, Northfield, Mr. Wilbur, Mr. Patridge, Washburn, Mr. Chadwick, Deacon Wilbur, Mr. Eddy, Ledger Balances, Mr. Weston, Court, Capt. Smith, Capt. S. Chase Jr., Bethel, Mrs. Batcheldu, Hermitage, Dr. Smith, Mrs Blodget, Hale, Micah Ford, Mr. Durkee
Recommended Citation
Chase, George, "Letter to Uncle Dudley" (1825). Philander Chase Letters. 567.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/567
Rights Statement
Transcript
Randolph Dec. 14. 1825
My Dear and [Honoured] Uncle
You have arrived safe at Washington and are well. The letter which you wrote [soon] after occupying your lodgings, was you may be assured, received and read with great pleasure and the deepest interest. You have the art of exciting our curiosity to a great degree I must confess. The enclosed letter was not to be shown--it related too, the circumstances of an accident which had befallen you: nothing less would have been expected than that we should compel Aunt Chase by our, abundant curiosity and solicitations to read it to as [for] can I see the least thing in that letter which you should not wish to have seen. I am sure you need not blush at your characteristic generosity to the stage proprietor who was poor and had a large family--I should expect nothing less of you --and the letter, the style, was exceedingly amusing and interesting. Pray do not have any more private communications, (unless on particular subject to Aunt Chase) we all wish to see and read. It is not expected, and I hope you will not exact it of me, that family letters written in haste should be penned with all that accuracy and neatness, as if they were going to the press.
Aunt Chase, commenced, the day before yesterday a letter in answer to yours--but you would excuse her not having completed the task if you knew by how many troubles, I mean [Tayloresses] visitors [?] she has been surrounded. We had entered into a sort of an agreement that she should write in the [forepart] of each week and I should in the latter part, that you might not receive both by the same mail--but I believe she will not, at present, be hardly able to fulfil her engagement.
This morning (Wednesday) I received your short letter and also the “Albion”--for both I am greatly obliged to you, and should be much more so if I could receive them frequently. I have had quite a [feast] today in this my hermitage, in perusing the President’s Message, the Albion [?]. I took up the small Duad. Ed. of Zimmerman’s [folitude] the other day, and thought that the frontispiece or rather engraving represented my situation exactly. I laughed heartily at the folly of such writers who have scribbled so much in praise of solitude. If they did but know it, it is a thing we are very anxious to get rid of, and we are very thankful for every little bit of a stray paper that we come across, which tells of what is passing in this great Babel, the world. We have migrated from the parlour into the kitchen, where the stove this very keen and cold weather can alone serve to keep us comfortable. For the accommodation of the stove we have every reason to be thankful to you. I might say to conclude the sentence “for everything else”.
When I was at your house today I [ported] all from Horace’s paper and my minutes, (excepting what is on my “House Journal”) on to your Day Book. Horace [?] from Northfield 2 hogs, one of which Mr Wilbur had and Mr Patridge the other. Their [lot] was 453 lbs & 28lb charged to V. Washburn on division. 25 lb 8 oz Butter from [A.] was taken by Mr Chadwick [?] being all that he can have. Deacon [Wilber] and Mr Chadwick have taken some grain. It is the universal complaint this year that the summer [wheat] is not well filled. Mr Eddy says it does not generally average near ½ [?] to a [shock]. I think therefore that the Northfield Wheat may be sold this winter to advantage. Our wheat at home has been partly [thrashed]--it is not well filled and is in the same predicament with the wheat of our neighbours.
Mr Eddy proposes to purchase your share of the [porch] and will pay you a higher price than can be obtained of the merchants, who [?] are endeavouring to keep it at a low rate. He is [desirous] to know whether you will consent to this arrangement or not.
I have examined the Ledgers Balances and put those [?] on the opposite page into Mr Weston’s hands, altho’ nothing particular is to be done with them until we have our directions. When he attends Court I thought it probable he might with propriety speak to those [indebtted] to you and obtain some funds. As Mr Weston and myself were knowing to the situation of most of them I hope that the selection is judicious.
As to my own business I scarcely know what to say. When I am not at your house and engaged in your affairs, I am at home scribbling away for the want of better employment. The school business is out of the question, the people have such a particular regard to [Hale] and [Lillie] that I have said nothing upon the subject. The well cannot be dug and I am kept constantly trotting (purely for the sake of exercise) with the pails from Capt. Smith ½ mile distant. There is nothing about the house I should wish to have altered, the chimneys draw well and everything is snug and comfortable.
Capt. S. Chase Jr. was at our house on Saturday. I was here and did not see him but learn that all were well at Bethel. [Mrs Batcheldu] who has been very dangerously ill, is much better.
I am glad to hear from my father. Anything relating to him is interesting to me but [?].
My wife who is nodding here by my side on the settle, and urging me to leave writing for tonight, desires to be most affectionately remembered to you. I will not offend your delicacy by telling you how often and in what terms we speak of your [renewed] kindness to me. I hope you have the justice to think of me that though I do not often speak of the extent of obligations I am under they are not the less present to my mind.
P.S. Thursday Morning 15. Dec.
I am now at your house. All are well. I met [Betrey] in the waggon with Horace on the way to my [Hermitage]. The day is remarkably warm and pleasant succeeding the coldest weather known in this country. Dr. Smith is here and desires to be respectfully remembered. The boys are at school. Mrs [Blodget] desires me to send to you a great deal of her respects and love.
Mr Huckley - 1.00
J. Collam[ce] - 6.67
Jo. Penney - 1.88
Rufus Adams - 3.00
Nathan N. Kendall - 2.00
Fred Pettes - 15.08
Leonard Wilcox - 6.00
[Samuel] Morey - 13.00
Harris Edson - 3.00
Stephen Pengrey - 11.00
Moses “” - 23.00
[?] Libby - 4.00
Jo [A] Myrer - 4.37
[?] Stevens - 5.00
[?] Brown (apply to Mr Hale) 3.44 < perhaps this was intended to be vetted by her
husband’s note 10.56--but as this [bal. 3.44] appeared still to be due Mr Weston to make inquiry of Mr Hale.
[?] Flint - 2.00
Chester [Belknap] - 5.00
[]Elisabeth] [Merrill] - 2.00
Jeremiah Dewey - 8.27 = Mr D. is making considerable by his spring lancets and he
may be in funds and disposed to settle their account
[?] Babcock - 6.00
Geo. Perkins - 9.00
[Daniel] [?] - 5.00
[Antipas Marble] - 18.75= Nothing to be done with this until we have your particular
directions. 8.75 of this account is money actually paid out
by you [to] [printer] Court.
Darius Dewey - 10.00
[Levi] Bacon - 6.00
[?] Raymond - 8.08
Harvey Coggswell - 12.09
[Amos] Rising and Joseph [Hyrer] - 4.37
Jedediah [Funch] - 5.00
[Billings] [?] - 3.00
Rufus Hutchinson - 3.00
[?] [Hubard] - 3.00
Mr Weston says that Micah Ford has an interest in some real estate which prevents his going to jail. He has a small [?] [against] him which he thinks will be paid before he goes to jail. In case he pays that, he is directed to collect something on the note in [your] favour [against] him and which he, Ford, promised to pay last summer. He confessed on it before Mr [?] and no [cost] need be made. The note is Mr Durkee’s property but if paid will answer out [your] [?] Mr Durkee.
By this time I think I have wearied your good nature and it is time therefore to stop. Adieu
Your affectionate Nephew,
Geo. Chase