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 gives his uncle his opinion on affairs in Washington and updates him on their family and events in Randolph and Cornish.

Date

2-18-1826

Keywords

National Journal, Panama, Congress, Mr. Webster, Essex Junto, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Everett, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Ingham, Aunt Chase, Mr. & Mrs. Cummings, Capt. Cotton, Albion, Mr. & Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Blodgett, Bethel, Mr. Clapp, Deacon Washburn

Transcript

Randolph Feb. 18. 1826

My Dear Uncle,

I have this moment risen from the examination of the Congressional Proceeding as Reported in the National Journal, & as it possible that you may be amused by the opinion or rather presumption of one who has so little opportunity to judge as myself, I herewith give you the present result of my reflections, knowing that you will not take it ill if I speak, unwittingly, in a disparaging manner of some of your party. They were discussing the propriety of sending Deputies, Missionaries, Ambassadors or Representatives to the Congress at Panama.

[?] – Mr Webster will never do for a leader – he has emphatically “put a clod on his own head.” I would ask what is the reason that all his sayings & doings should be so much admired, – & especially why one of the members of the notorious Essex Junto could be admitted at all into the councils of Republicans. Mr Hamilton of S. C. aspires to be a wit – & witty he is – but there is too much affected delicacy about him & he never can be the leader of an opposition – he wishes to be courted – neglect him, & he is dead – he can never be a Henry, who would & must be heard & respected. Mr Mitchell from Ten. is an ass – Mr Forsyth is a fault finder who has not wit enough to know where he steps – he may fall into clear water or he may sink into a Bogue bank of mud. Mr Everett is too classical – he will never do – & yet he is a pretty speaker.

Our little Mallary, what can he do? Would that it was wartime & then he might bustle into popularity if he happened to be on the right side. I can not help thinking of the old adage “see how we apples &c” Mr Pearce gave a very sincere & just blow to that old game Cocke from Ten. Encourage Mr P. he will do you credit although he is from little Rhody. Mr Bartlett of N.H. showed a great deal of generalship in procuring a little appropriation to be passed. Let him be of the elect. Mr. Ingham of Pa is I know not what – but don’t trust him with anything – &c &c The Adams party, if there is such a thing, & Mr A. can find time from his consultations of the stars to heed such sublunary things, needs a more efficient leader than any that has been yet chosen, in the event of there being a well organized opposition – Mr Webster will never do – there is too much rumbling & too little lightning – &c &c

My father, it seems, is with you. Was there ever a more extraordinary man? He is most sanguine & persevering in the cause in which he has embarked, when to others his cause would appear the most hopeless. He will I am sure have the consolation of reflecting, at the close of life, that he has spent the best part of his existence & all the energies of body & soul for the good of others, when there was little or no prospect of present benefit to himself. I heartily wish him success in all his undertakings with a real equal to his own. If I ever wished to be independently rich it was always connected with the desire to assist him & in some measure to requite the unmerited favours he has bestowed upon me.

But probably by this time you are anxious to hear something of the friends you have left behind instead of reading my [prosing] disquisitions. Poor Aunt Chase has been harassed to death with visitors now since the sleighing has become good. Mr & Mrs Cummings from Cornish have been there one night – nothing new at Cornish. Capt. Cotton & wife were there also at the same time. We were very sociable & happy that evening. I had taken the Albions & stitched them together with a strong cover, & thinking that you intended them for the perusal of all your friends, I loaned them to him, with the express proviso that he should keep them carefully for your sake.

Mr & Mrs Brown, also, Marys parents were there the same day. Sarah is married & they now take Jemima home with them. Mary has gone on a visit to Sharon & Norwich with her father for the purpose of visiting her uncle & grandfather.

I need say nothing about Mrs Blodgett – her children are all well & she therefore is as contented as ever.

Tomorrow it is understood that I go with the double sleigh to Bethel & carry my wife (who, now I think of it, wishes to be respectfully & affectionately remembered to you) Aunt Chase & one or two others of the family. Mr Clapp is expected to preach.

What is George doing all this while? Why he is making pickets out of the old stuff of different widths & lengths so as not to waste the boards. When my plane becomes dull from the abundance of grit on them, [Mira] turns the grindstone & it is soon sharpened. Almost every day I go to Aunt Chases altho’ I am almost ashamed to go there from the constant throng of visitors they have had – Last evening I attended a Lodge Lecture Meeting where I served as J.W. The older masons are anxious that I should come forward & take a more active part than I have heretofore done. But I am not certain whether the time expended in this business would be greatly to my advantage. – I shall leave the remaining part of this page until I shall see Aunt Chase.

At your house

Aunt Chase requests me to tell you that she has had no visitors for six hours & that she begins to feel quite collected.

We wish very much that you would send us some statement relative to Deac. Washburns taking more wheat. He has already had 10 Bus. whether to pay your taxes or not we can not say. If you have made any particular arrangement with him Aunt Chase is anxious to know it, as she has sent word to him in a letter written according to her directions very respectfully by me, for him to take no more until we shall hear from you.

I am very sorry indeed to vex you with these little details, & the only object of my doing so, is, that you may not think we do any thing unadvisedly or contrary to your interests.

I hope that you are well during the sickness which you say is prevailing at Washington City – & the oftener that you can find time to assure us of the fact, will be agreeable to us all & more particularly to

Your Aff’e Nephew

Geo. Chase

Letter to Dudley Chase

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