Download

Download Full Text (18.0 MB)

Content Warning

The Charles P. McIlvaine 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

Meetings in and around Oxford

Date

2-28-1862

Keywords

letter, McIlvaine, Du Bois, son-in-law, Oxford

Transcript

Oxford, Feb. 28, 1862

My dear Son –

I must write tonight, though it is quite late & we have come from Lond. since ½ past 6 – or else lose the next mail. Since my last to my precious Mamy, I have rec’d your long & most interesting letter, in which you mentioned your trouble about your Col. – the attendance of the Regt. – the most pleasing testament of Company C – your honorable [?] & resumption of the duties in the parish. The last however, I believe is only my interference. My dear Wash. I feel anxious about your cough. You have been a most faithful servant of your Country – a most devoted & useful servant of danger, which to have anticipated a year ago would have seemed the most improbably – but which you will look back on with intense interest all your life. You have doubtless derived great spiritual good & consolation from your severe experience. The Lord be praised for all & give you health & grace for your own quiet ministry hereafter. How delighted dear Mamy & the darling children must be to have you home again.

I suppose you expect me when I write to tell about things here. Well, then you will learn from this letter about my preaching at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Last Sunday I preached for Edwd. B[?] at Hampstead, son of the late Mr. B. at the table on the previous day were his two sisters – one of whom wrote “Doing & Suffering.” I read to him that part of your letter in which you spoke of that book & he, dear fellow, was so much pleased. Nain & Anna stayed in Hampstead from Sat. – till Tuesday with Mr. Dunn, an intimate friend of Dr. Chalmers and Hugh Miller from whom I learned that the former used to recommend my Evidences to his students & the latter thought it the best argument he knew of & tried to send me a copy of one of his books as expression of his sense of indebtedness for it. Last Ev. I dined at the Audit dinner of the Chapter of Westminster in the [?] Chamber – [?]. The Bps of Lond. & Oxfd. present. Many curious customs – as “the loving cup” etc. The grace before and after was “Benedictus Benedictam.” Nothing more. One of the toasts (which are always the same) was “The Three Royal Colleges” – another “[?]” – all a sort of antiquated formality. Dr. Phillimore was there, the great lawyer who conducts the suit against Williams, & other writers of the Essays & Reviews – before Dr. Luckington[?] in the Court of Archers – a handsome man apparently not over 40. I said to him, “I fear you have a heavy load on you.” He said, “We have damned good help from an American writer.” “Do you mean (I said) the work of “An American Layman?” “Yes – at my instance.” Then I told him who the author is & said I should let him know & he would be much pleased to have such approbation from such a quarter. “It is literally true,” he answered. He then got my address & seemed very desirous of extending his acquaintance with me You must tell the Dr. above with my love.  I was prevented by my engagement at that dinner from meeting Lord Lansdown & others at Mr. Henry Hollands. Today – or rather tonight we came to Oxford. We are staying with Dr. Acland, Reg. Prof. of Med. who was Physician to the Princes’ party & was at our house. We had hardly got our hands washed after getting here before the Prof. of Anglo Saxon came in to see me. As soon as he sat down he began to speak of my Evidences & of my little Tractile on Justification, as being so remarkable for the purity of the Anglo Saxon. He seemed to have a great admiration of my style in that respect. At first I supposed he must be speaking of someone else. Tomorrow morning we are to breakfast with Mr. Lydell, the author of the Greek Lexicon & I dine with the fellows of Baliol – & Oxford [?] meet us at night at Dr. Aclands. On Sunday I am to preach in the University Church & it is advertised all over Oxford by placards. The Bp. of Oxford preaches in the afternoon & I at night. The Lord give me grace to be simple, faithful – seeking only his blessing & honor. We stay till Thursday. The Vice Chancellor has us on Tuesday. All this has a measure of gratification, but there is a good deal of [?] in it. It falls in however with my peculiar object & I must go through with it. We see (I mean Americans) a great change in the aspect of things in Engld. Towards our cause, in the last month. The Govt. is quite settled in a pacific policy. There is no tendency towards interference. The late success (Fort Henry & the capture of Roanoake Isld. being the last we have heard of) have had their effect here. He sent me some important statistics as to the blockade which he took out of his office records & which I sent to the Duke of Argyle – who is Lord Privy Seal – & I have an excellent letter from him, thanking me for them. I will now go to bed, leaving this letter unfinished till I see the paper in the morning & learn whether there is any later news. The dear book “Words of Jesus” is with me & I am just going to take a little report out of it.

Saturday – March 1 – No more news. The children have been out all the morning. Breakfasted in the Lodge of Christ Ch. – Lunched with a Professor of All Souls. I must now close my letter – Dearest all good-bye Precious ones. How I love you all. – The childrens’ best love. Remember me affectionately to friends in Chillicothe.

Dearest Washington

Your most affectionate

Father 

Letter from C.P. McIlvaine to G.W. Dubois

Share

COinS
 

Rights Statement

No Copyright - United States