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Description
PF2.1.86
Date
9-5-1837
Transcript
Gambier Sept 5 1837
Dear Sir,
The tone of your letter is so painful to me that I would gladly let it pass unanswered did it not contain some errors in point of fact which my duty to myself requires me to rectify.
You are entirely mistaken in supposing that the article contained in the agreement & quoted by you was formed upon your written account to Mr Wing of the points on which you & I conversed--a reference to the date of the agreement will show you that it was made at another time. The conversation between us at Cincinnati took place in September 1835, The agreement was made June 13th 1836. That contract was reduced to writing at my request & for my protection immediately after I discovered that the monopoly of the sale of medicines in this place which you promised me was not secured to me. The article referred to was interested by my desire to specify the persons who were entitled to medical aid. The underscoring is accidental in the copy you have--in the original in my hands which is also in Mr Wing’s handwriting the words “without charge” only are underscored. The clause you particularly refer to viz. “So the latter in term time only.” I requested to be added so as to satisfy the students remaining during vacation that the had no claim to my services. Nothing on the subject of my being bound to be present during vacation was spoken of at the time. On the contrary the article was drawn at my suggestion for an express & different purpose. I am writing however to give it all the force that can be claimed for it under the strictest construction although the contract was made by me without foreseeing or expecting this consequence. Accordingly I have authorized the agent to call on the services of Dr. Russell of Mt Vernon whenever they may be required during my absence & I gave made arrangements to have him speedily notified without expense or trouble by leaving word at my house.
The conversation at Judge Ester’s is very fresh in my memory. You do me but justice in rejecting the supposition that I meant to evade your question & come here under a mistake on your part. My [new ark] as to my not expecting to the absent during vacation was not in connexion with any requirement on our part that I should be present during vacation. No such stipulation did I understand to be made--had it been I could hardly have acceded to it without a saving clause to cover emergencies like the present. I must therefore expressly state that I did not understand them to be any such stipulation on your part & of consequence could not havepressed any willingness to come under it.
The only other point I should notice in your letter is the P.I. Usage would justify me in declining explanation called for in such a tone & in a letter penned with great disregard of my fe[ling]s & containing gross imputations on my character. I shall not however allow these considerations to prevent me from disclaiming in the fullest manner all intention to say anything offensive to your feeling or imputing to you anything derogatory to your character for truth or honesty.
In conclusion I shall submit your letters & them subject to the Board of Trustees until they may have acted on them I would rather decline daughter correspondence it seeming to serve no other purpose than to wound my feelings
Very respectfully
Yr mo obt sert
B.F. Bache
Recommended Citation
Bache, Benjamin F., "Letter from Benjamin F. Bache to Charles P. McIlvaine" (1837). 19th Century Correspondence. 8.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/correspondence_19thc/8