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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
Eliza discusses her family and Chase's friends in England as well as her continued support for Chase and his cause.
Date
6-9-1826
Keywords
Dr. Ward, Platt, Miss Macfarlane, Indian students, Henry Clay, Lord Kenyon, Knox County, Timothy Wiggin, Mrs. Wiggin, Philander Jr., Emily Wiggin, Mrs. Haigh, Huddersfield, Chiswick, Oxford, Ben Chase
Recommended Citation
Wiggin, Eliza, "Letter to Philander Chase" (1826). Philander Chase Letters. 625.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/625
Rights Statement
Transcript
44 Harley W June 9th
1826
My dear Bishop Chase
Although a very long time has elapsed since I received your most kind & welcome letter, I hope you have not attributed my silence to want of affection, for no day has passed without your being thought of with the greatest love & esteem. I know how much you are occupied & have felt almost unwilling to trouble you with a letter from me when I am sure Papa writes you everything interesting that occurs. When however I heard that Dr. Ward was going to send a box to Ohio I could not allow it to leave Enlgand without something to recall you to remembrance that your Platt friends are as warmly interested for you & the good Cause as ever. Miss Macfarlane has been with us for more than a week & we have sometimes sat up till midnight talking of you & Ohio. I really think the friendship of your London friends is stronger than ever. You will no doubt be glad to hear the Organ for your Church is finished & will soon be packed up & sent to you. We have all been to hear it & were much pleased with the selection of the [?] & the sweetness of all tones. I need not say how interested we all feel for your ultimate success with the 6 Indians who have quite surprised us by their already rapid progress. What a blessing it would be if they could all be civilized. I think if anyone can succeed you will. We were very much gratified by Mr. Clay’s kindness & particularly by his allowing his little son to accompany you it will show in America how highly he thinks of the proposed Seminary. I am very glad you have named your college after good Lord Kenyon. I am delighted you have at last fixed to have the Seminary on the land in Knox County for Mama & I was quite as sorry as you when we found Papa could not buy it but I trust it was for the best & that this will not prevent the Church in the West from continuing to flourish. We were all very much concerned to hear that your little son Philander was ill but sincerely hope that he will have been restored to complete health long before this letter reaches you. I suppose you know that last October our family received the addition of a little girl who has been called Emily after Mrs. Haigh of Huddersfield. Since I last wrote to you I have left school & I have now been at home 9 months. Catherine is still at Chiswick. She is very much grown & we thing improved. Ben has been at Oxford 6 weeks & I am most happy to say has so far been very steady. If he but follow your good advice of saying No I am sure he will do well. Charlotte is now quite a tall stout girl quite recovered from her late severe illness. Your little God daughter is a very healthy child & begins to talk – very distinctly. Cousin Ben Chase has been twice to see us this year. You would be quite pleased to see how rational he has grown he is quite changed. My health has not been good for the last 6 months but I trust the warm weather will be of service to me. I cannot at all bear to think I should never see you again & I constantly hope some happy circumstance will cause us to meet either in England or America. Present my best regards to Mrs. Chase & say to her how much pleasure it would give me to become acquainted with her. Papa & Mama & the rest of the family join me in kindest remembrance to him & yourself.
That the good & gracious God may bless you & all your family & prosper your good endeavour for the success of the Church in the West, is the fervent prayer of your most respectfully affectionate & attached daughter
Eliza Wiggin