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Description
PF2.1.46
Date
8-1-1827
Transcript
Worthington August 1, 1827
My Dear Cousin,
As you said nothing to me about writing when with you, I should, probably, not have written, had I not received your kind invitation to write, accompanied by affectionate wishes, which I received in a latter from Mary & Luthera, of July the 1st. I have received but one letter from home. I have written two home, & one to Cousin Henry. Tell him to write soon. I have but a few correspondents, therefore I can afford to correspond with you, if it should please you. You may wish to know a little of my journey. I wrote a considerable account of my journey to our folks. Perhaps you may have seen it. I had a very pleasant journey, being detained 23 days on the road. The roads were very bad, in many places in New York, & in this state. I rode in the state from Windsor to Utica, & from that place to Buffalo in the packet boat. I visited the falls of the Genesee river, one mile from Rochester. The first fall was 95 feet, & the other over 100. The banks of the Genesee were low above the falls, but belove them were about 100 feet high. The sight was grand & very much like the sight of Niagara falls. We did not stay but an hour or two, at the falls of Niagara, for we were in a hurry to proceed. The wind blew the spray down the stream which prevented our crossing the river. The most beautiful prospect is from the Canada side. The water looks blue at the top, but long before it reaches the bottom, ut becomes white as milk. A cloudof mist continually rises which makes quite a shower in the adjacent country. Our passage of the lake was quite bosterous[sic]. The passengers were mostly sick. I was sick a little, which is all the sickness I have experienced, of any kind. We arrived at this place on the 16 of May. The vacation of four weeks, had commenced a few days before. We are not allowed to go off from the Bishop’s farm without leave. The professor will not give permission for any of the students to go into company. We have still & quiet times, of course. The Bishop arrived here about the first of June, & laid the corner stone of Kenyon College on the 9th of the same month. I did not go to that celebration, because it was about 40 miles from the Bishop’s with whom all the students are. We sat at the same table with the professors and the Bishop’s family. There is a very good Theological library, but it is rather deficient in histories, for a College library. There are two Theological, 13 College, & about 40 Grammar students. We live in log cabins, & are very crowded. The accommodations are not so good as I expected. We shall go up to the College next spring, where we shall enjoy as great privileges as we could at any other College in the Union. The first story of College is built, & the Bishop has 25 hands at work, who will finish the work in a few months. The College is a going to be four stories high, & built of stone, after the Gothic style. When the Bishop is here, we seem to be all of one family. The students have been very well, except one who has had the billious fever, & is now very sick. The doctor attends him constantly. The students take turns in watching. It is a vere[sic] healthy season in this country. One of the small boys has had a the fever ague. The New England people think this a great disease, but the people here pay but little regard to it. Although some years it is a grievous scourge to those who live near stagnant water. I do not study so hard here as at Hanover, but I think that I shall have as much knowledge, when I grauate[sic], as I should if I had staid at Dartmouth, although that knowledge may be of a more practical nature. There are too many in a room to increase rapidly in christian knowledge. Many of the boys from 10 to 14 years are christians, & are excellent and promising youths of course. I have written a letter to Brother Joel informing him of te quality of the land, & prospects of a settlement in this country. He will probably keep the farm, which he now possesses. This country is too unhealthy generally speaking. The soil is of the first rate. The corn grows 12 or 16 feet high, & is sold for 12 ½ cents per bushel. I hope, you have not broken up your sunday school. Go on with it, and you will see the benefits of it in a few years. The people at Cornish are destitute of preaching, as Mary informs me, on account of Mr. Leonard’s sickness. What will become of them without preaching? Write me all, that you find intersint. Mary inform[sic] me of Aunt Cook’s having another daughter, & Cousin Eliza likewise, which is joyful news. Your Brother Alvah met with quite a misfortune in losing his eye. Give my kindest wishes to all my relatives & friends. Persevere in that “good part which shall not be taken from you.” Always remember me in your prayers, together with your other relatives. A good example is of greater avail than many words, but a good example united with few words have the greatest effect. I have always had a great regard for you, & still continue to have. Distance is no hindrance to friendship. Please to inform all our family of my welfare & good health. I have but a short time now, or you should receive a longer letter. May it please God to give you & your family good health, & the choicest blessings. Give my love to all, who have an interest in my welfare.
Your affectionate Cousin,
George F. Cook.
Kenyon College.
Recommended Citation
Cook, George F., "Letter from George F. Cook to Mrs. Godfrey Stevens" (1827). 19th Century Correspondence. 13.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/correspondence_19thc/13