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PF2.2.36
Date
2-11-1840
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Mr Jerome Buckingham
Western Reserve College
Hudson Ohio
Kenyon College Feby 11th 1840
Friend Buckingham
I recd yours of Jany 1 – 30 about a week since – I had very nearly given the matter up in despair and concluded that you had buried yourself in old Hudson as in a grave where no thought of the past entered, and from whence no intimation of the present could come forth – But be it as it may I am glad that a sound has at length arisen and in default of a better excuse I will even accept the one you have given – but yet I sentence you to read Youngs Sermon on punctuality in the night thoughts laying particular stress on the passage beginning “Answer to day – tis madness to defer” –
I thank you for your kind wishes and be assured I return them heartily – Though Christmas and the New Year have passed away there is no time when the sincere “God speed you” of a friend is not in season. So you have fine rooms, a good chum, first rate teachers, and a strict examination at Hudson. You could have had the first and the third at Kenyon and whether the last is a recommendation or not is among the doubtfuls – If you rank it among the good things all I can say is – that I would quarrel with you about the possession I regret very much that you did not make out to come down during your vacation for I think if you had done so you would hardly have been enrolled among the Wester R students another term – And more than that the pleasure with we would have hailed you would have given you a better opinion of staying among friends –
Our Society is better this session than I have ever known The duties are performed with a spirit and care which argue well for the improvements of the students – In fact some old members who have visited s say there never was so much talent gathered in the Soc at any one time before – We have 40 members 20 on duty every night – The Magazine about which you have undoubtedly heard much (have you recd my letter & prospectus) is not placed on rather different footing from what it was at first – The Nu Pi Kappas as you know felt that they were compelled for the sake of self preservation to start a Mag. If we did – They accordingly applied to the Faculty for permission who half frightened to death at the prospect of two periodicals, determined by laying on certain restrictions to crush both. This as you may suppose raised a prodigious row – Philos and Nu Pis if they could agree in nothing else could at least join in blowing up the Faculty. The whole affair was on the point of being abandoned and many were preparing to leave the institution when the N.P.K. Soc. very honorably came forward and declared that as the plan had originated with the Philo’s they would yield the track to them, if their Soc went to pot – This set some of the more moderate Philomathesians (among whom I confess I was one) to thinking it would be better for all to join hands with the Nu Pis in the publication of the Mag. After some stormy debates and about a dozen special meetings it was carried 26 to 12 – We then made the proposal to the Nu Pi Kappa Soc who accepted it – A joint meeting of the two Societies was then called and articles of agreement passed – Thus the Magazine will now be conducted by a joint committee of the 2 Soc with Johnny Kendrick at the head – That it will now be started and carried on for a year at least there can be now no reasonable doubt so send on your own name and as many more as you can as soon as possible – Depend upon it you will have the worth of your money –
Your friends here are all well – Buttles is as much engaged in politics as ever and just at this time enthusiastic in the belief that Gen Harrison the wisest man, purest patriot, and best General, that ever lived, and withal sure to be elected President of the U.S. In fact Buttles hobbies are Gen Harrison and the Kenyon Literary Magazine – I wish you could hear him or Andrews or Bryan expatiate on the merits of either – If a phrenologist should examine their heads he would furnish materials for a Chapter in the Natural History of Enthusiasm –
Thos Kane & Thurn have on account of some fall out left the N.P.K Soc – K leaves the hill in the Spring – Hedges was dismissed the other day by the faculty and ordered to quit the hill in 24 hours for sauceing the tutor (Nash) but they afterwards relented and took him back. Ethan is in Dayton now nearly well – He writes that he intends to come back to Gambier in the Spring – Taylor begins to be sick of writing poetry. Whether he will now turn his attention to common sense remains to be seen – Ira French is as usual pouring out words like a young Niagara and Hale is sick with the ague – Andrews is declaiming on the “Collegian” and Trowbidge “rising to a point of order.” – Ban Norton is half drunk and ranting and Ball spouting away about liberty and our country “ore rotundo” – My chum is asleep and C R Rhodes dozing and grunting – Tis past 12 oclock so good bye
Truly your sincere
Friend Luc G Peck
My chum sends his respects – I think I may come round your way and see you in the Spring as I intend to go home and think I may as well come that way – Write Soon I will let ou know whether I go homr or not in the Spring in my next LGP
Recommended Citation
Peck, Lucius G., "Letter from Lucius G. Peck to Jerome Buckingham" (1840). 19th Century Correspondence. 48.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/correspondence_19thc/48