| | 1 | Author: | Jefferson
Thomas
1743-1826 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | The Jeffersonian Cyclopedia  | | | | Published: | 2005 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | Sir—In response to your letter, I have to advise you that the text of the Declaration
of Independence (the original MS.) as signed by the delegates, reads, at the point
of your inquiry—“unalienable rights”, while the text of Jefferson's MS. draft, as amended
in committee by Franklin and Adams, reads “inalienable rights”. The latter is the paper
printed in Ford's edition of Jefferson's Writings, in fac simile. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 3 | Author: | Wingfield
Marshall
b. 1893 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | A History of Caroline County, Virginia | | | | Published: | 2005 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | "To Colonel George Washington,
"The Lodge, August 6th, 1775: "Patrick Coutts, Robert Gilchrist, John Cross, John Gray,
James Miller, William Fox, Gideon Johnston, Alex Rose, Andrew
Crawford, John Crawford, John Miller, Collin Riddick, and
Thomas Landrum and John Douglass visiting brethren. "Two preachers from Kentucky, Hudgins and Warden by
name, of the Society called Baptists, are preaching about here.
They are extremely warm in their sermons, denouncing wickedness
in very strong terms. Their preaching is having considerable
effect on the people. Four of my negroes have applied to me
for notes to go to the meetings and relate their experiences and
be baptized, provided the Church will receive them. I should
be pleased if this attention to religion among them should be
well grounded in a proper faith in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ, and not be from over-persuasion, hurrying them, without
proper consideration, into the arms of the earthly Church, relying
on membership therein for salvation. This fear and doubt of
mine arises from the short time many of them spend in meditation
before beoming Church-members. I am afraid that when the
enthusiasm of the moment passes they, not being grounded, will
fall back slowly or violently into the old habits thereby bringing
dishonour upon religion." "It was a grief to me to learn that you had made up your mind
not to return to us. I shall miss you from your place in my
class, and, as I had hoped, in my list of graduates. But I do not
doubt that you have acted wisely: and your education is already
ample for you to make of yourself whatever you wish to become.
If, as you propose, you go into the Church, your excellent English
style, accurate and simple, will be your best outfit: and your
knowledge of Greek, and, as I believe, of Latin, will enable you
to carry on your professional studies to any extent, and to become
a distinct force in giving to our somewhat narrow and
degraded forms of religion a wider, truer and nobler development.
One man now who is capable of dealing with the sacred texts of
Christianity and with the early records of the primitive Church,
as an accurate and scholarly interpreter of what they mean, is
worth an hundred who in their blind ignorance go on narrowing
and degrading the faith into erroneous perversions. * * * "To the Inhabitants of Frincess Anne and Norfolk Counties: "Under the Regal Government I was a Whig in principle,
considering it as designed for the good of society, and not for the
aggrandizement of its officers, and influenced in my legislative
and judicial character by that principle, when the dispute with
Britain began, a redress of grievances, and not a revolution of
Government, was my wish; in this I was firm but temperate, and
whilst I was endeavoring to raise the timid to a general united
opposition by stating to the uninformed the real merits of the
dispute, I opposed and endeavored to moderate the violent and
fiery, who were plunging us into rash measures, and had the
happiness to find a majority of all the public bodies confirming
my sentiments, which, I believe, was the corner-stone of our
success. Although I so long, and to so high a degree, experienced
the favour of my county, I had always some enemies; few indeed,
and I had the consolation to believe that their enmity was unprovoked,
as I was ever unable to guess the cause, unless it was
my refusing to go lengths with them as their partisan. I cannot note your passing from the high office of Adjutant-General
of the State of Virginia, without feelings of the deepest
regret. In one capacity or another, I have looked to you for
military administration and guidance for upwards of twenty years.
I gained my first ideas and ideals of military thoroughness and
efficiency from you as inspector general when in the old days
you inspected my company with eyes that seemed to search out
every defect, but always with the spirit of kindliness and helpfulness. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 14 | Author: | Virginia Company of London | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | The Records of the Virginia Company of London | | | | Published: | 2005 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | Sr Thomas Smith knt Thr̃er.
Sr Edwin Sandis.
Sr Nath. Rich.
mr Wm Bell.
Sr Iohn Dãuers.
Sr Io: Wolstenholme.
mr Humfry Handford.
Sr Iohn Merrick.
Sr Wm Russell.
mr Rich: Rogers.
Sr Dudley Diggs.
Sr Tho: Wilford.
mr Iohn fferrar.
Sr Nicholas Tufton.
mr Aldr̃an Iohnson.
mr Clitheroe.
Sr Samuell Sandis.
mr Morrice Abott.
mr Caning.
Sr Henry Rainsford.
mr Thomas Gibbs.
mr Ditchfeild. Cr.
Sr Robt Wayneman.
mr Thomas Stiles.
Sr Tho: Cheeke.
mr Wm Greenwell.
Wheras the number of One hundreth Children whose names are hearafter
menc̃oned were the last Springe sent and transported to the Virginia Company
from the Cittie of London vnto Virginia And towards the charge and for
the transportac̃on and apparrellinge of the same One hundreth Children a
Collecc̃on of the some of ffive hundreth pounds was made of divers well &
godly disposed p̱sons [74] Charitably mynded towards the Plantac̃on in Vir-
ginia dwellinge wthin the Citty of London and Subvrbs theirof, and thervppon
the same ffive hundreth pounds was paid vnto the saide Company for the pur-
pose aforesaid, And thervppon for the good of the same Children and in
Considerac̃on of the premises, Itt is fully concluded ordered & decreed by and
Att a generall Quarter Courte this day houlden by ye Treasuror Councell and
Company of Virginia that every of the same Children wch are now liveing att
the charges and by the provision of ye said Virginia Company, shalbe educated
and brought vpp in some good Trade and profession wherby they may be
enabled to gett their liveinge and maynteyne themselvs when they shall attaine
their seuerall ages of ffower and twenty years or be outt of their Apprenti-
ships, which shall endure att the least seaven years if they soe longe live.
The Letter.
A Letter dated the 7o of Nouember i621 directed to mr Deputy ffarrar
and to the rest of the Counsell and Companie for Virginia Whereas I sent the Treasuror and yor selues a letter subscribed Dust and Ashes
wch promised 550li to such vses therein expressed, and did soone afterward,
accordinge to my promise send the said money to Sr Edwin Sandys to be
deliuered to the Companie, In wch letter I did not strictly order the bestow-
inge of the said money but shewed my intent for the conversion of Infidellℯ | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 15 | Author: | Virginia Company of London | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | The Records of the Virginia Company of London | | | | Published: | 2005 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | Present
Right Honoble: Lo: Cauendish1
1The handwriting of most of the first two hundred and fifty pages of this volume is the same as
that of the latter part of the first volume. It has there been referred to as that of the fourth copyist.
Sr Edwin Sandys.
mr Ro: Smith.
mr Iadwin.
Sr Iohn Dãuers.
mr Binge.
mr Kingstone.
Sr Iohn Brooke.
mr Wilmer.
mr Ditchfeild.
Sr Walter Earle.
Capt: Tucker.
mr Caswell.
Sr Edward Lawly.
mr Addison.
mr Sparrowe.
mr Dept̃ ffarrar.
mr Kightley.
mr Wood
mr Gibbs.
mr Withers.
mr Geo: Smith.
mr Wrote.
mr Berblocke.
mr Copland.
mr Paulavicine.
mr Winne.
mr Widdowes.
mr Barnard.
mr Balmeford.
mr ffelgate.
mr Bromefeild.
mr Nich: ffarrar.
mr Cuffe.
mr Shippard.
mr Meuerell.
mr D'Lawne.
mr Tomlins.
mr Mellinge.
mr Barbor.
mr Risely.
mr Robertℯ.
mr ffogge.
mr ffoxton.
with diuers others.
Sr Wee receaved your letters by the George1
1The caption and the first eight words of this letter are in the autograph of Nicholas Ferrar.
directed to the right Honoble
Lordeℯ Cr But before the receipt whereof wee had finished ours wch wee
purposed to haue sent to you by this conveyance without expectinge the
Georges com̃inge but by the vnexpected contenteℯ of yours wee are driuen to
lay aside our former and breifely to declare our mindeℯ in this wherein wee
take no pleasure. [28] Wee are now enforced to write unto your Ldp: of important matter of another
nature which is touching mr Samuell Argoll whom wee made Gouernour in
your Lordps absence. Wee make noe doubte but hee hath deliuered the
Gouerment wth an accompt of his doings into your Lõps hands. Wee haue
received from him by the George a very straunge letter which together wth
those Informations yt wee haue agaynst him by sundry Witnesses lately com̃
from thence doe importe more discontent to the Aduenturers heare & more
hazard to the Plantation then euer did any other thing yt befell that Action
from the beginning. His discontentℯ in yt wee subscribed our letter sent unto
him wth few hands, our terming him to bee but Deputy Gouernour hee dis-
dayning to bee Deputy to any man, our letters to bee deliuered unto him by
soe meane a man as the Cape-merchaunt wth many such like wch wee pass ouer.
And briefely1
1Written over "cheifely."
wee must complayne to your Lõp of his neglecting and trans-
gressing our Commission and Instructions. First hee hath made away all the
Kyne belonging to the Colony and taken satisfaction for them to himselfe
wheras wee gaue him express chardge in his Instructions to preserue and
nourish them to the Common use except some few which wee had disposed
whereof wee writt him in perticular. He hath suffered passengers mariners
and others wth out restraynte to shipp moast of the Tobacko and all the Sassa-
fras for themselues which by order of Courte at certayne rates agreed uppon
are appropriated to the Magazine—Hee armes himselfe and other wth uniust
accusations agaynst us to ouerthrow the magazine. Without which wee know
assuredly yt neither the Adventurers heare nor the Plantation there can long subsist. Hee hath gotten possession and keepes back our Hydℯ under pre-
tence of being Admirall wch cost our ioynt stock well neare—400li—wth a
greate deale of toyle and trouble before wee could obtayne them wth his obsti-
nate refusall to deliver them hee hath doñ us soe greate displeasure at the
returns of this ship as hee could not haue worked to haue doñ us a greater.
Hee hath forbidden all trade and commerce wth the Indians but trades amongs[t]
them wth the Summer Island Frigott and our men to his owne benefitt. Hee
takes the auncient Collony men which should now bee free and our men from
the Common Garden to sett them aboute his owne imployment and wth the
Collonys stoare of Corne feeds his men hee proclayℯ noe man shall dare
to buy any thing of Furr ∥of the Indians∥ but himself as yf the Plantation
and ye people there were ordayned onely to serue his turne. Theese and to many
like Errours of his are layde to his chardge for wch the Adventurers heare will
noe ways bee satisfyd wth out his personall appearance to make his Aunsweare
and they are hardly restrayned notwth standing the Kinges [farr of in?]
progress from going to the Court to make there Complaynte and to procure
his Mats commaund to fech him home and therefore wee pray yr Lordp for the
avoyding of farther scandall and slaunder to the Gouerment of our Plantation
yt you will cause him to bee shipped home in this ship the William and Thomas
to satisfy the Adventurers by aunswearing such things as shall be layde to his
chardge and for yt wee suppose there will bee found many misdemeanours of
his for wch hee must make satisfaction to the Compagny wee pray your Lorpt
to ceaze upon such goods of his as Tobacko and Furrs wherof it is reported
hee hath gotten together a greate stoare to the Collonies preiudice and to sende
them to us to bee in deposite till all matters bee satisfyd and yt yr Lop: would
bee pleased to take back agayne thos Kyne and Bullocks wch by his unlawfull
sale are dispersed heare and there and yt they may bee brought together
agayne to the Collonies use and to such others of the Hundreds as the Generall
Courte by yr Lopps consent did order and appoynt. Iohn Seuerne Maisters mate of the Iames affirmeth, that cominge one morninge
to Captaine ∥Natha∥ Butler for some monny due to him from the said Cap-
taine, hee the said Captaine brought a Writinge in his hand sayinge hee had
been wth the Kinge and protested that the writinge was for the good of the
Contry and desyred him the said Iohn Seuerne to sett his hand there vnto and
began to read some of itt butt the said Seuerne beinge in great hast did not
attend the matter nor give ear what itt was butt sett his hand to the writinge,
esteeminge and conceivinge Capt Butler to be a ∥verie∥ worthy man but since
vnderstanding yt itt was a writinge in disgrace of the Country the said Iohn
Seuerne doth Disavowe the said writinge, as vntrue, and protesteth that hee
vppon his Oath must say the contrary. Iohn Lowe Boatswaine of the Iames cominge alonge wth Iohn Seuerne to Capt:
Butler sett his hand likewise to the writinge esteeminge Capt Butler to be a
verie worthy gentleman and heard not but a few lines onely of ye said writinge
read wthout markinge itt, butt now hee vnderstandinge yt itt was a writinge
in Disgrace of the Country hee Disauoweth his said handwritinge, and protest-
eth that vppon his Oath hee must say the contrary. A Declarac̃on made by the Counsell for Virginia and Principall Assist-
ants for ye Sumer Ilandes of their Iudgments touchinge our ∥one∥
originall great cause of the dissentions in ye Companies and present
opposic̃ons. The most humble petic̃on of ye Companies for Virginia & ye Sum̃er Ilandℯ. Wee whose names hereafter followe have audited the Accompts in this Booke
p̢sented vnto vs by mr Nicholas fferrar Deputy, of his Disbursments for the
generall Company and wee finde the estate therof to stand thus—(vizt) Wee the Auditors and Comittees of ye Company for Virginia hauing
this present Twelueth of May 1623. audited ye accompts of the Right
honoble Henry Earle of South̴ton for ye yeare Last past begining at the
Two and Twentith of May 1622, vntill this present Twelueth of May
1623, doe find that there hath beene receaued by the said Right honoble
the some of 320li of monyes taken vp at interest accordingly as in the
said Account is expressed; for wch monies mr Iohn fferrar hath giuen
his Bondℯ vnto ye Lady Rumny for 200li and to mr Melling for 120li
So that ye Virginia Company doe owe mr Iohn fferrar the some of
Three hundred & twenty poundℯ. In witnes whereof wee haue here-
vnder sett our handℯ, Dated the Twelueth of May 1623. The Treasuror and Company of Aduenturers and Planters of the
Citty of London for the first Colony in Virginia to all vnto whome
these presentℯ shall come greetinge: Wheras Nicholas fferrar Deputy
Treasuror of the said Company hath by one Booke of Accompt of
his Office of Deputishipp of the said Company extendinge from the
2
2A blank space in manuscript.
day of May 1622 till the 25th daie of Ivne 1623 exhibited vnto
ye Courtℯ of ye [331] said Thr̃er and Compa: a true and p̱fect Acco of
all monneys by him receaved for ye vse of the said Company; In wch
accompt hee hath allso p̱ticularly declared how the said monneys
haue been disbursed and expended for the vse of ye said Company by
lawfull warrants wth Receipts endorced or subscribed or otherwise
Wch Accomptℯ accordinge to the Orders of the said Company haue
been dulie examined Audited and approved by the Auditors of the
said Company as appeareth vnder their hands, and afterward the said
Booke of Accompt haue layne openly on the Table in the Courtℯ of
ye said Treasuror and Company duringe the time in ye said Companies
Orders appoynted and noe excepc̃on hath been taken to itt. The said
Thr̃er and Company therfore accordinge to their Orders in that case
established haue for them and their Successors acquitted and dis-
charged and by these p̢ñts doe for ever acquitt and discharge the said
Nicholas fferrar his heirs executors and Administrators of and from all
and everie the said Monneys by him received and of and from all
further Accomptℯ by him to be rendred for the same. And of and
from all Acc̃ons Suites and Demaunds for or by reason of the monneys
or Accompt aforesaid; In wittness wherof the said Thresuror and
Company haue hereto caused their Legall Seale to be affixed. Given
in a great and Generall Quarter Court of ye said Thr̃er & Company
held the five and twentieth day of Ivne 1623. And in the years of
the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Iames by the grace of God Kinge
of England Scotland ffraunce and Ireland defendour of ye fayth Cr
vizt of England ffraunce and Ireland the one and Twentieth and of
Scotland the six and ffiftieth. To the Kings most Excellent Matie: The humble Petic̃on of Iohn Boyse,
Richard Brewster, Henry Wentworth, Williã Perry, William Best and
others the poore Planters in Virginia
Most humbly shewinge.
That where yor Matie for the advancement of ye Plantac̃on in Virginia, &
encourragment of Aduenturers thither was heretofore most graciously pleased
to pryveledge ye said Aduenturers from payinge any Custome, or Impost
vppon their Tobacco Cr vntill the said Plantac̃on by Peace became somwhat
settled and enabled to returne such duties to yor Maty: aswell in gratefull
acknowledgment of yor Maties: said favour as in regard of ye many great ayds
and supplies they received from many Collections & Contribuc̃ons flowinge
from yor Maties: like gracious disposic̃on towards the good of the said Plantac̃on.
Butt now soe itt is that aswell ye generall State of yt Plantac̃on, as the p̱ticuler
of every Planter beinge fallen into a farr worse and poorer estate then they
were in former times when yor Matie spared to demaund those duties. And
yor Petic̃oners p̱takinge in the generall Calamitie of famine and scarsitie, sick-
nes, mortallitie and bloody Massacre wch hath befallen the said Collony, haue
p̱ticulerly been more neerly pressed then ever, not onely with the now vrginge
and Continuall assaultℯ and surprizes of the incensed enemie wherby they are
inforced by one halfe of their men to secure and gaurd the §labour of ye§ other,
butt allsoe by the many Imposic̃ons and Levies laide and made vppon them
towards the support of the Company from whence heretofore they were wont
to receive releife. By wch occasions beinge impoverished if they shalbe com-
pelled to pay yor Maties: Imposic̃on vppon Tobacco (made cheap by the great
glutt of that Comoditie from Spaine and other partℯ) beinge 6d p̱ pound, and
the Custome 3d p̱ pound (the Customers haueinge abated 3d) this 9d wth other
incident charges will make the cleered proffitt soe little that out of that (though
yor Peticonrs: sole help) itt wilbe impossible for them to raise such supplies of
provision as must necessarily be returned thither, much less shall they be any
wayes enabled to send such more Company of men and servantℯ as they doe
otherwise intend for and towards the advancement of the said Plantac̃on. [374]
The Petic̃oners most humbly therfore pray
That yor Matie out of yor Princely Compassion to the many endurances of yor
Peticoners (many of them haueinge been the ruynes of the late Massacre) and
most gracious affecc̃on to the good of that Plantac̃on for releife of yor Petic̃on-
ers and encourragment of them to continue and others to becom Adventurers
in the same, Graciously consideringe the premisses and that as greate or greater
causes returne for contynuinge of yor Maties former favour to them, will ther-
fore be graciously pleased.
To abate for the present yor Maties: Impost of 6d p̱ pound vppon the
Tobacco now brought in by the said Planters wherby they intend not to
preiudice yor Matie for the future butt onely to releive and able them-
selvs for the present to returne and settle in their Plantac̃ons, And by
yor Maties: most gracious takinge yor said Planters into yor Royall mercie
and Protecc̃on to free them for ye future from the greivous Imposic̃ons
of the said Company wherby they shalbe better enabled herafter to
render more cheerfully yor Maties: said Duties: And yor petic̃oners Cr.
Att the Court att Theobalds 8th Aprill 1624:
His Matie beinge verie Compassionate of the miseries and povertie of the
Planters (and willinge they should haue releife) is graciously pleased to referr
the Consideracon therof to the right Honoble: the Lord Treasuror and Mr
Chancellor of the Exchequor yt some good order beinge established amongst
them they be not soe much opprest by the Company as is alleadged and that
they haue such releife concerneinge ye Impost as they in their wisedomes
(weighinge the Petic̃oners necessities) shall finde most Convenyent. wcihinge | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 17 | Author: | Virginia Company of London | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | The Records of the Virginia Company of London | | | | Published: | 2005 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | Most reuerend Fath9 in God, right trusty & welbeloued Counsello9,
wee greete you well. You haue§ heard§ ere this time of the attempt of
diuerse worthie men or subiectℯ to plant in Virginia (under ye warrant
of or ɫres patentℯ) people of this kingdome, aswell for ye enlarging of
or Dominions as for propagation of the Gospell amongst Infidells: wherein
there is good progresse made, and hope of further increase. So as the
Vndertakers of yt Plantation are now in hand wth the erecting of some
Churches & Schooles for the education of the children of those Barbarians:
wch cannot be but to them a very greate charge, and aboue the expence
wch for the civill plantation doth come to them. In wch wee doubt not
but that you and all others who wish well to the encrease of Christian
Religion wilbe willing to giue all assistance and furtherance yow may:
and therein to make experience of the zeale and devotion of or well minded
subiectℯ especially those of the Clergie. Wherefore wee do require yow,
and hereby authorize yow to write yor ɫres to ye seuerall Bishops of ye
Diocesses in yor Province, that they do giue order to the Ministers &
other zelous men of their Diocesses, both by their owne example in
contribution, and by exhortation to others, to mooue our people wthin
their seuerall charges, to contribute to so good a worke in as liberall a
manner as they may, ffor the better aduancing whereof, our pleasure is,
that those Collections be made in all the particuler parishes foure seuerall
times wthin these two yeares next comming: And that the seuerall
Accountℯ of each parish, together wth the moneys collected, be retourned
from time to time, to the Bps of the Dioceses, and by them be transmitted
half yearely to you and so to be deliuered to ye Treasurors of that planta-
tion, to be imployed for ye godly purposes intended, and no other. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 19 | Author: | Carkin
Philena | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Reminiscences of Philena Carkin | | | | Published: | 2005 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | During the first and second
years of my work in Charlottesville
we had occasional visits from a Mr. Frost
who was, I think, located at Gordonsville.
I have no numbers of the Freedmens
Record for 1866, and do not remember
what position he held under the Society
in Boston, but I think he had some
kind of supervision over the schools in
that vicinity. I recall that our supplies
of books etc came through him. It
was only for a short time that he was in
any way connected with our schools. I never saw her but once. She was a tall,
finely formed, handsome woman — I think
a quadroon. The most noticeable feature
about her was the weary look of sadness
in her large brown eyes. My friend
who was with me when we had occasion
to meet her on a matter of business
knew her story which she related,
substantially as follows. Joanna was unlike Margaret. She
had so little of the negro blood in her veins
that no one would have suspected she was
not pure white. Her master was a wealthy
plantation owner, who had so many
slaves that half of them could pass him by
unrecognized — a not uncommon
circumstance on large plantations, I
imagine. As far as I know Joanna was
comfortable and happy enough in her life
on the plantation. She probably had
enough to eat, and was kindly treated
according to the code of slavery. But
one day she found herself in a new
position as regards the life of a slave
woman. She had become a mother.
She had heretofore felt but little anxiety
about herself and her own future, but what
about her child? She knew that little
children were often sold from their mothers
at a tender age. It was not uncommon on
her masters plantation. What should she do?
How prevent this dreadful possibility? For
weeks and months she was haunted by the
horrible fear that some day her child
would be taken from her until at last
her mind was made up to escape from
slavery by running away. I do not know
how she got away from her masters
plantation with her child unsuspected,
but she succeeded in reaching the
railway station some miles distant
without any trouble. There one of the
first persons she saw was her master.
He did not recognize her as his chattel
or even as a colored woman. He saw
in her He saw in her only a young
lady travelling without an attendant,
and encumbered with an infant, so he
kindly assisted her upon the train, found
her a seat, and performed such other
acts of courtesy as his chivalrous nature
suggested, then left her undisturbed to
pursue her journey North. Whether he
ever learned that he had assisted one
of his own slaves to escape I do not know. The following anecdote will serve to show
that chivalry, which the southern white
man has so long claimed as a trait peculiar
to himself, may sometimes be found among
the humblest of Gods children. She was a dressmaker — a quiet, hard working
woman, with a very small amount of negro
blood in her veins, being in fact so nearly white
that one would hardly suspect she had any. She
sent at different times all of her children to
my school — four boys and a girl. The father
of these children was a prominent white
citizen of the place, and none of the boys
showed any trace of color, having fair skins
and light, straight hair. The little girl was
somewhat darker with a slightly yellow tinge
in her complexion. This was all that hinted
of her African descent. Arriving in Charlottesville last
Friday I found your letter and now acknowledge
its receipt with many thanks. Although I
date my letters from this place Charlottesville
is still my home — Keswick is my express office. Words of mine cannot express
the obligations I am under to you for the letter
sent me in April. I have been tardy in answering,
as I wished I wished to gather some information
which I knew would interest you. I feel sure
you will do your best in the matter of the books
so I will proceed to give you an idea of the
changes in Charlottesville and its surroundings I am unable to find words to
express my gratitude for the letters you are so kind
as to write to me. Please to accept my thanks for
your interest in my school. I will endeavor to give
you a description of it. We are situated about 10
miles east of Charlottesville, on the old "Richmond
Turnpike," and have a neat house. The ground
(one acre) was furnished by the patrons, and the
School Board put up the house for us, after we had
got half the lumber and paid for hauling all the
materials used. We got the lumber by each patron
giving so many pine trees on the stump, and
so determined were they all to have the house that
a number of the larger boys would go into the
woods, and fell and cut up a tree preparatory
to sending it to the saw mill. Our white friends
aided us by lending teams etc. I am afraid you are being
annoyed by our constant expression of thanks
for what you have done for us. I assure you
it is no small thing, and we appreciate
it very highly. Since your wishes must be
respected the pupils have decided to call it
the "F. B. Sanborn Library" though they wished
very much to call it by your name. Now I wish
to ask your perusal of the accompanying
little letter, written, without my knowledge
by our little secretary who is only ten
years this coming June. Her father is a
prosperous blacksmith and is, apparantly
one of the latest importations from Africa
he is so very black and ignorant. This
child was in her "letters" as they say less
than four years ago (our school year consists
of seven months) and now reads in the 5th
Reader. I send you the childs letter
because it seems to be the outpouring of
of the heart. Hoping you will kindly think
of us and with kind wishes for your happiness
from many here. I will spend this pleasant
afternoon in writing to one I have never seen
but I have often heard my teacher speak of you
and read letters from you to us, and talk
of you as being his teacher. We are strangers
but that matters but a little. I can write to
you with just as much love as to any of
my friends. We received your box and all
were very proud of it indeed, and all my
schoolmates thank you and your friends
for your kindness. They are such nice books
and make such a respectable little Library
— just what we had talked about a long while
and O, if you could just see if now it looks so
beautiful! You said you didn't care to
have it named after you, but we had no other
name that we thought would suit so nicely as
yours, and the scholars all seem to love that
so well that we were compelled to name it
the P. Carkin Free Library My Dear Friend and Teacher. It
is a long, long time since you were here,
and I've been thinking for several years of
writing to see if you were still numbered
with the living, but have kept putting it
off from time to time until I've made it
very late, but I hope not too late. Your letter of the 10th inst was
duly received. It found us well, and indeed,
more than glad to hear from you. I am sorry
to know that your sight has gotten so poor, but my
prayer is that it may not grow much worse for
years to come. I was glad and thankful to
receive the picture of the "Minute Man" I
remember so distinctly about your telling, and
trying to have us understand about them years
ago. And not only that, but you told and read
to us so much that I recall and which has
since become real to me, that I have often
wished that I could see you, and make some
apology for my ignorance and ingratitude,
for then it was meaningless to me, and as
with me, so I presume it was to a greater or less
extent with the others. But much of the
ignorance, inexperience and darkness that
met you here, have disappeared, and it is
beginning to look like a real dispensation of
freedom in which every one has some sort of a
chance in the race of life. "The old building where you taught has
long since been torn away and all that part
of the town is laid out in streets and thickly
settled It would be hard for you to tell where the
old school house stood. The new school house is
farther down, near the Court House. If you
remember where the gas house was, it is on the
same street. x x x I should be glad if you
could see this place again and witness the strides
the colored people have made from barbarism
to civilization. I did not think to tell you in
my last, that they own and publish one
newspaper in Charlottesville x x x I will tell you
my age as well as I can. I call myself 54. The farm
house where I was born was burned in May 1865,
and
with it all the records. My mother, a short time
before her death, took me with her to the old place
to get our ages, and what they gave us was all
guess work. I was born in January 1855 or 1856
Mother knew it was three weeks after Christmas. That
was all she knew about it. I am still vigorous
and can do more work at almost anything
than the average man." I had sent Mr. Minor some pamphlets of the
Humane Society and asked him if there was
anything of the kind yet in Charlottesville. To
which he replied as follows.
"No, they
have nothing like a humane society any
where in Virginia that I ever heard of certainly
not in Charlottesville or in Albemarle County
I hope to see a "Red Acre Farm" here in our
state some day. At present worn out horses
as well as worn out men fare tolerably rough.
There is nothing like a "Rescue League" These
things have not been thought of yet x x x x
"No, they
have nothing like a humane society any
where in Virginia that I ever heard of certainly
not in Charlottesville or in Albemarle County
I hope to see a "Red Acre Farm" here in our
state some day. At present worn out horses
as well as worn out men fare tolerably rough.
There is nothing like a "Rescue League" These
things have not been thought of yet x x x x Your last letter of Sept 16th was
duly received. We were glad to hear from
you and to learn of the many helpful
Societies among you. I thank you very
much for the "horses prayer." Some horses
do need to say it daily, but I am thankful
to say mine have not said it this winter
though the winter has been long and
severe, interspersed with a day or two
of mild weather now and then. x x x x
I am quite busy preparing for
my crops, and at present the prospects before
me are quite bright. I have a great deal
more work than I can do but and cannot afford
to hire help but am doing very well alone,
and when school closes in April Mabel and
Irene will help me a little. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 20 | Author: | Patton
John S.
(John Shelton)
1857-1932 | Requires cookie* | | | Title: | Jefferson, Cabell and the University of Virginia | | | | Published: | 2005 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | Until the dawn of the eighteenth century education
in Virginia was a special privilege. It was for
clergymen and gentlemen,—distinct, as elements,—
while the sons of the common people, a term then in
frequent use, were well enough employed in making
tobacco. The planter who had Madeira in his
cellar almost certainly had a tutor in his library
for the intellectual behoof of his children; or he
sent his sons to Princeton or to the universities of
the mother country. The offspring of less fortunate
folk grew up in an atmosphere in which Madeira,
the clergy, and the pedagogue were little
known. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
|
