Original Letters; Wm. and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol. 2, No. 4; 1894 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Original Letters William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol. 2. No. 4 (Apr., 1894), pp. 237-241. ORIGINAL LETTERS. LETTER(1) FROM THE REV. JOHN CAMM(2) TO MRS. McCLURG(3). WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE IN VIRGINIA, July 24, 1766. MADAM: I beg pardon for not acknowledging the receipt of your very agreeable letter sooner. Indeed, it wanted nothing to make it more agreeable but an as- surance from you that your brother was perfectly recovered, that you and the Doctor had met with every satisfaction in England, and that you were all three preparing for a speedy return to Virginia. My delay in writing to you was owing to the long expected return of Mr. Balfour from whom I hoped to receive some news of you at Bath. But when he came at last I was much disappointed, for I found that publick affairs had engrossed his whole attention; and he was so much taken up with persons of consequence during his short stay at Williamsburg that I could get but a few minutes discourse with him, for which, however, considering his late accession of importance, I ought no doubt to be very thankful. Since you and Mrs. Balfour have done such eminent service to your country in the day of its distress, if you cannot return soon that I may beg your influence with the Great here, pray speak a word or two for me to the Secretary of State, Mr. Pitt, with whom your late successful endeavors in behalf of your afflicted country must have brought you acquainted. A clear income or Living of one hundred a year will bring me to make you a visit at Bath. But observe, tho' a Living of one hundred nett will do, I care not how much larger the Living shall be. If by conversing with the Great, you have learnt their manners and are unwilling to bestow so considerable a favour on a friend _______________________________________________________________________________ (1)Dr. James B. McCaw, of Richmond, has the original of this letter. (2)Camm qualified as professor in 1749, and was President from 1771 to 1777. (3)Wife of Dr. Walter McClurg, father of James McClurg, who represented Virginia in the Federal Convention of 1787. Page 238. without some way or other finding your own account in the transaction, which the unpolished call taking a bribe, you shall make your own terms with me. I will submit to what you think reasonable, and then you know the larger the Living or the Post is, the better for both. I have a strong inclination to set you a task for your next letter. This I beg you will let me wait in expectation of as little a while as will any way suit with your conveniency: which, considering my apology above for delay of writing on my side, I am afraid you will call a modest request. If you do, I must lie at the mercy of your good nature, and to that I appeal. Besides an account of your success with Mr. Conway or Mr. Pitt in soliciting for me, and your remarks on the people and company at Bath, pray let me know how your brother's recovery proceeds, how it is with the Doctor, particularly with your- self, whether the Bath waters have yet made you fat and unwieldy, whether Eng- land or Virginia be the most agreeable place to settle in according to your present estimation, what is become of Kempe, whether he be alive or gone to his own place, whether anything has been yet done in that affair, and whatever else of the like kind you think proper of have room for. You will not excuse me, notwithstanding the length of my letter, unless I tell you some news of our dear country. I will give you, then, the good news first. Grass looks better of late than I have ever seen it do for many years past at this season of the year. The planters hereabouts say they were burnt up last summer and are drowned this. These honest discontented gentry, I am afraid, secretly murmur at the wise Disposer of events, and sometimes seem to give shrewd hints that his affairs would be better managed if they might be entrusted with the direction of them. One of our most active, flaming and applauded sons of liberty, Col. Rich'd Henry Lee, who burnt poor Mercer in effigy, raised a mob on Archy Ritchie, etc., etc., etc., has been lately blown up in the Publick Prints, it is said, by Mr. James Mercer. It appears that Lee, previous to his Patriotism, had made interest to be made Stamp Master himself, from letters it seems now in the possession of Col. Mercer, so that Lee will find it difficult hereafter to deceive any body into an opinion of his Patriotism. Now for the bad news. I am sorry that there is reason to call it bad indeed. Col. Chiswell(1) has committed a murder on the body of one Mr. Routlidge. He was sent down by the examining court ______________________________________________________________________________ (1)See note 34 on page 235. Page 239. to take his trial at Williamsburg. Instead of his being lodged in the jail, three Judges of the General Court, led to it no doubt by Chiswell's connections, out of session, have carried their power so high as to stop him in his way to the Prison and admit him to bail, which is like, as well it might, to put the whole country into a ferment. You may see a great deal on this subject if you can come at Purdie's Virginia Gazettes, immediately preceding and following the date of this letter. After all this, I will not trouble you with college matters any farther than to let you know that I, who was so lately to be turned out(1), a second time, am now the only person left to take care of the youth above the Grammar School, Mr. Graham(2) having embarked for the mother country almost six weeks ago and no other Professor being yet arrived, in his or Mr. Small's room(3). I shall only add that nothing distresses me, at present, more than, sometimes, an impertinent wish I could be transported to Bath in one moment and be removed back again in another, whenever I should find myself so unfortunate as to need or desire it. I am your most obliged & obdt. Servt., JOHN CAMM. LETTER FORM HUDSON MUSE, OF VIRGINIA, TO HIS BROTHER, THOMAS MUSE, OF DORCHESTER CO., MARYLAND NORTHUMBERLAND COURTHOUSE, April 19, 1771. DEAR BROTHER: Brother Daniel has just showed me your favor to him of the 26th ulto., wherein I observe you desire me to Dunn Mr. W. Chilton. I really have pestered him sufficiently, but to little purpose, for I have not yet been able to get one farthing from him, nor, in short, can I tell when it will be got; he always promises mighty fair, I believe would pay had he the money, but you may well judge how the poor fellow must be pinched in his circumstances - so far business. ______________________________________________________________________________ (1)There had been great dissension between the Faculty and Visitors, some account of which is given in Perry's Historical Collections, Virginia. (2)Rev. Richard Graham, Professor of Moral Philosophy. (3)William Small, the friend of Darwin and Cooper, and preceptor of Mr. Jefferson. He was Professor of athematics and Natural Philosophy. The only instructors at the college at this time were Thomas Horrocks, President; John Camm, Professor of Divinity, who conducted several departments; Emanuel Jones, Master of the Indian School; Mr. Patterson, usher of the Grammar School, Mr. King. sub-usher, and Mr. Mathew Davenport, Writing-master (Faculty Minutes). Page 240. I now must give you & your consort joy in your little girl; I did not in the least doubt but she'd be a great beauty, at least in your eyes, & really is some advantage, especially in the fair sex, as the first sight commonly pre- judices the world for or against a person; though I must confess should be heartily glad to see you all over here this summer, should have commended you for deferring the trip a while had your buildings been all completed, knowing that such a jaunt must have been very disagreeable with your little beauty - but a few months may strengthen her sufficient to undergo a Bay sleep. Though I could not indulge myself that way, returning from Cambridge, as I expected, being much terrified in my first nap by a full broadside from the whole cabbin crew (bugs I mean), that I ever after was afraid to shut my eyes together, for as I may hope to be saved they were so numerous that the night I lay in bed I caught several galloping over my face, which seemed to be their favorite amusement & slick lusty doggs they were. But lucky for me after two days & nights, we fell in with a vessel bound to Rappahannock, on which I immediately agreed to give the ragged Capt. two dollars for the trouble he'd been at & discharged him - afterwards my berth was very agreeable tho' the trip was teadious - for although we had been out so long we had made but small progress on our journey. After I got into my new berth the Capt. run us 8 or 10 back to get to harbour round Hills Point, I think they call it, where we lay two nights & a day within 15 miles of Cambridge. My new Capt. being a young man, & well acquainted on shore, for want of better amusement he pursuaded me to walk at least six or eight miles backwards and forwards on the shore side to show me the yanky girls, & though the distance was so short, I almost believed myself to be in a new world from the neighbour- hood of your town - so much poverty I never before beheld, for to the best of my knowledge in the several houses that I visited the best furnished one had two chair frames without bottoms, a few stools & a block table & their diet appeared to be suitable to their furniture, for in three houses where the family happened to be at dinner, it consisted only of a tray of boiled potatoes & beverage, what still surprised me more, those very people might have got a great plenty of excellent oysters, fish & crabs within a hundred yards of their doors; in short, I cannot tell yo how miserable these poor, lazy, ragged devils appeared. In a few days after I got to Virginia, I set out to Wmsburg, where I was detained for 11 days, tho' I spent the time very agree- Page 241. ably, at the plays every night, & realy must join Mr. Ennalls & Mr. Bassett in thinking Miss Hallam super fine. But must confess her luster was much sullied by the number of Beauties that appeared at that court. The house was crowded every night, & the gentlemen who have generally attended that place agree there was treble the number of fine Ladyes that was ever seen in town before - for my part I think it would be impossible for a man to have fixed upon a partner for life, the choice was too general to have fixed on one. About the latter end of this month, I intend down again, & perhaps shall make out such another trip, as the players are to be there again, and its an amusement I am so very fond of. I left my Father's yesterday where they are all very well and will be over- joyed to receive your letter. My brother Daniel has just opened a large assortment of goods, & being court day he is too busy to write, he desires his compliments. I suppose he'd tell you he has given out his great house for a year or two till he gets cleaverly settled. I have got into my old cabbin, where I shall ever be happy in seeing you & any of your acquaintances - be kind enough to give my compliments to the Transquaking & Shoal Creek families & others on the Easternshore that I was happy enough to make an acquaintance with there. Yr. affectionate Brother, HUDSON MUSE.