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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
Chase details his travels including the loss of his luggage and health issues he has had.
Date
12-18-1829
Keywords
Wheeling, Colonel McDowell, Mr. Drane
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Sophia Chase" (1829). Philander Chase Letters. 822.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/822
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Transcript
Hagerstown Md. 1829.
Saturday 18th of Decr.
My dear Wife:
The last time I addressed you was in a very short letter written in Wheeling, I think on Wednesday, just as I was getting into the Coach. Feeling so much love and tenderness for you and the dear Children from whom, for so long a period, I was about to turn my face I was conscious that I did injustice to myself to you & to them by putting into the office so short a letter: and could solace myself no other way than by indulging a fixed resolution that I would make amends for the future. And the first opportunity I have had for carrying this into effect is the present, here in Hagerstown where I am detained by the loss of my luggage. My Valice – an excellent article of that nature which I borrowed of Colonel McDowell of Columbus was missing last night when the luggage was shifted from one coach to another and another of a similar shape & colour was found in its stead. No alternative therefore remained but to write an advertisement and attach it to the [?] bill of the return coach & wait the issue. This measure seems the less inconvenience to me on acct. of my very great fatigue in riding & in being so long deprived of my sleep. Not a bed have I seen since I left Wheeling till now and my whole frame is sore with one continued jolting. I can not therefore regret my detention here a few days tho’ I confess I feel some apprehension left the Valice be intirely [sic] lost. But to anticipate evil, you know, is a poor expedient for present consolation. I will therefore wait patiently & resign myself entirely to God’s will.
I am in a sing. bedroom at the Inn and the Servant says he will soon inform the Rev. Mr. Drane that I am here; & so my mind for a few moments is at rest: but of my body I can not say the same. To the aching of my bones, join in your immagination [sic] a very sore and swollen tongue hardly permitting me to stir much less to eat with, it without pain. If you desire to know how comes this: I will inform you that whenever I fell asleep in the coach, (for who can resist the importunate demands of exhausted nature) the muscular [?] of my cheeks relaxing my teeth opened so as to admit my tongue between them and so sure as this happened the next hard jolt would so pound them together as to bite my tongue. This has often caused me to start from my momentary forced naps in such agony as to make me cry out in shrieks. But a little time I trust will cure this evil.
I am called off
Your faithful and affect. Husband
Phi’r Chase