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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 and we have come from London since ½ past 11, or else lose the next mail. Since my last to my precious Mary, I have rec’d your long and most interesting letter, in which you mentioned your trouble about your [?], the attachment of the Regt., the most pleasing testament of Company C. your honorable desire for [?] part of the duty of the [parish]. The last however, I believe is not my influence. My dear Wash’ton I feel answers [?] trust you enough. You have been a most faithful servant of your Country, a wonderful and useful servant to your Reg’t. You have seen a service and scenes then in danger, which to have anticipated your age would have seen at most improbable, but which you will look back on with intense instinct all your life. You have doubtless derived great [?] good and consolation from your [?] experience. The Lord be praised for all and give you health and grace for your name[?] hereafter. How delighted dear Mary and the darling children must be to have you home again.

I suppose you expect me when I write to tell trust things have been well, then you will learn from the letter [?] my preaching at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Last Sunday, I preached for Edw’d [Backentell] at Hampton on some of the late good Sr. B. [?] the table on the previous day was his [?], one of which wrote “[Doing] and [Duffing].” I read them that part of your letter in which you spoke of that book and he, dear fellow, was so much pleased. Nan and Anna stayed in Hampstead from Sat. till Tuesday with Dr. [D?] an intimate friend of Dr. Chambers and Hugh [?] from whom I learned that the former used to recommend my Evidence to his students and the latter thought it the best argument he knew of [?] to send me a copy of one of his books as [?] of his sense of indebtedness for it. Last Es. I dived in the Audit [?] of the Chapter of Westminster in the London Chamber. During such proceedings the Bp. of Lond and Oxf’d present. Many arrive cautious, as “the loving cup” [?] the grace kept and after we “Benedictus Benedicanus” nothing more. One of the [?] (which are always the same) was “the three Royal Colleges.” Another “Horeat.” All a [?] of antiquated formality. Dr. Phillimore, the great lawyer who [?] the Ep. [?] before Dr. [?] in the Court of [?] in London [?] apparently went over 40 or 20 and then: “I fear you have a heavy head in you” he said, “We have derived good help, praise an American writer.” “Do you mean (I said) the work of “An American Lawyer.” “Yes. It is very well done.” “Dear Chase (I said) Published it here.” “[?] at my insistence.” Then I told him who the author is and I said I should let him know that he would be so very pleased to have such approbation from such an quarter. “It is literally true,” he answered. He then got my [?] and seemed very desirous of extending his acquaintance with me. You must tell the Dr. the true [?] [?] I was presented by my engagement at the dinner from meeting Lord Landidran and [?] Dr. Henry Hillards. Today, or rather tonight, we came to Oxford. We are staying with Dr. Acland Reg. Prop. of Med. who was Physician to the Prince [?] and was at [?] house. We had hardly got our hands worked after getting here, before the Prof of Anglo Saxon came in to see me and as soon as he sat down he began to speak of my Evidences and of my little Tractate on Inspection, as being so remarkable for the purity of the length of Saxon. He seemed to have a great admiration of my style in that respect. Capt. [?] I supposed he must be speaking of someone else. I know many men are to breakfast with Dr. Lyddel the [?] of the Greek Lexicon, and I dine with the fellows of [?] and Oxford [?] must use or it might at Dr. Acland’s. On Sunday I come to preach at the University Church and it is advertised all over Oxford by placards. The Bp. of Oxford preaches in the afternoon and I at night. The Lord gave me grace to be simple, faithful, seeking only this [?] and hammer. We stay till Thursday and the Vice Chancellor has us on Tuesday. All this has a measure of gratification, but there is a good deal of [?] in to [?] falls in however with my peculiar object and I must go through with it. We see (I mean Americans) a great change in the aspect of things in England towards our cause, in the last month. The Government is quite settled in a pacific [?]. There is no tendency towards interference. The late success-- (Fort Henry and the capture of Roanoke Jul. Being the last we have heard of) have had their effect here. I’ve sent on some important [?] as to the blockade that he took out of his office records, and which I sent to the Duke of [Argyle], who is Lord [?] Seal, and I have an excellent letter from him; thanking me for them. I will now go to bed, leaving the letter unpublished till I see the paper in the morning and learn whether there is any later news. The dear book “Words of Jesus” is with me and I am just going to take a little repast out of it.

Saturday-- March 1-- No more news. The children have been out all the morning. Breakfasted in the Lodge of Christ Ch. Landed with a [?] of All Souls. I must now close my letter-- Dearest all good bye-- Precious ones-- how I love you all. The children’s best love-- Remember me affectionately to friends in [?].

Dearest Washington,

Your most affectionate,

Father

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

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