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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 apologizes for asking his uncle to write more often, he provides more updates on the people in Randolph.
Date
1-12-1826
Keywords
Attakapas Gazette, Grandma Fay, Dr. Fay, Oswego, Common Law, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Eddy, Mr. Pember, Mrs. Grover, Bethel, Mr. Wood, Esq. McKinstry, Mr. Speare
Recommended Citation
Chase, George, "Letter to Dudley Chase" (1826). Philander Chase Letters. 572.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/572
Rights Statement
Transcript
Randolph Vt. January 12. 1826. Thursday
My Dear Uncle
I received your letter of the 2nd[inst] & also the enclosures of the 4th[inst], the Attakapas Gazette & the Albion. For your kind attention to my reading wants please accept my grateful acknowledgements. I am very sorry indeed that I even complained of the brevity of your letters to me since it has brought down on my devoted head the severe scolding you have given me in your letter. But seriously I am always thankful & ever shall be for your good notices to me, however short they may be. I did not think, when I complained, of the multifarious duties you have to attend to & how necessary it is for you to answer letters even on the most trifling matters of business, previous to those of mere friendship. The people are so jealous of their representative that the slightest neglect is made a subject of complaint & feeling an interest in your affairs equal to that for my own, I should not wish you to sacrifice their interests in the least to my pleasure. Write to me therefore as best suits your convenience, long or short, & I shall be contented & thankful.
The letter from Ohio for Grandma Fay, I enclosed under cover to Dr. Jedediah Fay Postmaster, Oswego N.Y. with whom she is living at present. Doct. [Timo.] Fay intends the ensuing spring to bring her from Oswego, by the way of the Canal. I have been reading the Attakapas Gazette & have been most amused with the advertisements, as they serve in some measure to show what a singular state of society exists there. I should be glad to know whether a Code Livingston, like the Code Napoleon is to established in place of the Common Law, or rather where it has never been established, in Louisiana. It has been a matter of great doubt with most Lawyers whether it were possible to establish any code in the place of the Common Law, of England, that would answer the purposes of Justice. On the contrary it is my humble opinion that it is very possible, without any of the ridiculous results to which an adherence to the principles of the C. Law sometimes lead us. It is easy to magnify the difficulties of such an attempt & the mere assertion of its impossibility so frequently repeated seem to have prevented any critical examination if its feasibility &c &c. I will not weary you with my crude notions. Day before yesterday I wrote to you & nothing worth writing has since transpired. This afternoon we expect Mr and Mrs Murphy and Mr and Mrs Eddy here on a visit–the first they have made us–I believe they begin now to think that we are not quite [bears] & may therefore be handled with safety.
Our snow is entirely gone–What shall we do?
Adieu–Ever your affectionate nephew,
Geo. Chase
Hon. D. Chase
Washington City
Randolph Jan. 14. 1826. Saturday
My Dear Uncle
An accident prevented my sending the preceding letter to the P. Office in time for the last mail, & now for the want of leisure do not think proper to transcribe it. On Thursday Mr. & Mrs. [Murphy] & Mr. M’s sister Mr. & Mrs. [Bipel] Pember made us a visit & staid to a late hour at night. They were apparently well pleased with their visit. Yesterday Mrs. Grover made her appearance [here for] the first time & has left us today. Nothing new at Bethel–Miss Alvord is better. Great difficulty exists between Mr. Wood & his son Chauncey. The latter can get no settlement with the old gentleman & intends to move to some other situation. Esq. Flynn and Mr. McKinstry were called upon to arbitrate between them & it was their opinion that Mr. Wood should, in case Chauncey staid with him, deed him one half the farm, or in case he left him to give him $100 a year ever since Chauncey was 21. But Mr. W is not satisfied with either & has taken to walking the streets as is always the case when he has any mental affliction. Then you see I am very particular in gleaming information whether it may or may not interest you. Do not laugh at me as it is only my intention to keep you advised of the passing events. But the most singular circumstance is behind. Yesterday Old Mr. Speare of Braintree hung himself–it is said terrified with the idea that he should not have grain sufficient for his family’s use. Although he has great hoards of money. I will spare you the repetition of the [?] & reflections in the mouth of everyone. “Don’t you think that Old Speare could swear” that he was in reduced circumstances & in need &c “without the moral guilt of perjury?” It would be a good comment on our Pension Law–which requires the oath.
Day before yesterday I was praying for snow–it is now falling.
Adieu Your Affectionate Nephew,
Geo. Chase