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Farmington Academy Dec 3rd 1835.
My Dear Brother,
The room being so full of smoke that studying is out of the question, I have seated myself by an open window to write probably the last letter of mine that will ever go to Windsor. But with the united obstructions of the smoke and the tears which it calls forth, I can hardly direct my pen. We have had a new stove set up this morning, and it does not go very well; and the fresh morning air being more tolerable than the suffocating smoke, we have opened the windows and put on our fur capes and other out-door apparatus. -- I suppose you knew that Mr Clark had returned to Yale. Mr Grout, former room-mate of Edward L Hart, is the present teacher. He is very mild and gentle; whether he has dignity enough to keep noisy boys in order, time will shew.
The Hon. Daniel Tuttle, Editor of the Farmington Universalist paper, was tried at our house for disturbing a Methodist meeting. Father fined him seven dollars, and he appealed to the County Court. The case came up yesterday. The jury could not agree, and the State’s Attorney has withdrawn it. This is the present cheering state of things in good old Connecticut; that six of the twelve jury-men should uphold a man in such conduct. A. H. Lewis says
he wishes Tuttle would get up and dance a horn-pipe before the minister, and then see if the law could not make the old man sting.
The other day, Asahel Lewis brought a little wagon to show to us. It was made by a black boy of Middletown, thirteen years old, and was as perfect in every respect as the most elegant wagon I ever saw. His father wishes to apprentice him to some accomplished coach-maker; but no one will take him because he is black.
Asa Phelps has been here, but is now in Boston. I believe he expects to return soon, and lecture. Dr Porter has quite come off from his Colonization, and is, of course, not far from Abolition. In his prayers on the Sabbath, he does not forget to mention the slaves. Most ministers omit them altogether. Dr Hawes does not. He is a very decided Abolitionist. Thanksgiving day, he told the congregation that he was going to preach a sermon such as they never heard before, and entirely different from the common style. Then having gained their attention, he proceeded. Uncle Timothy said the next time he went to Hartford, he would ask Dr Hawes to come and preach it here. – Since cousin Austin returned from new York, (about fourweeks ago,) his relations have quite altered their minds upon this subject. Chauncey, in particular, is within an inch of Abolitionism. Mr Bidwell has been gone, for some time, to the West. He hesitated about going, so great was his fear that Mr Phelps would lecture during his absence: and he proposed that a Committee should be sent to request him not to say anything of Anti-Slavery here. Instead a committee have been deputed to wait upon him, and request him to favor us with a course of lectures on Slavery.
And yet, if you said any thing to Mr. Bidwell, he would preface his reply with “I am as much opposed to slavery as any body.” Now Duff Green’s bold, unqualified assertion that “slavery is neither a sin, a curse, or an evil,” terrible as it is, is better than the hypocrisy of those, who would make you believe that they are its enemy while they are doing all they can to uphold it.
I dined at Dr Porter’s Thanksgiving. Noah, Giles and Rebecca were at New Haven. We had a very pleasant and lively time. The Dr has been to visit Dr Humphrey since his return,and amused us at dinner with stories of England.
John Hooker arrived about a month ago. I believe he is rather dissatisfied with the voyage, but, of course, he would not confess it. Brockelsby was at the Hooker’s last week. His father and sisters have gone to Georgia to stay two years, and left him to keep the castle alone.
I understand that Mr Norton Richards is the editor of a newspaper called the “Green Mountain Boy.” If you know any thing of such a paper, I wish you would endeavor to ascertain what has become of him and his amiable lady.
The sleighing was very good last week, but is not now. I suppose you will almost regret leaving the place which has been so long your home. But, we are anxiously awaiting the time when you will return to us again.
Your very sincerely,
Charlotte L. Cowles
Mr Goodman’s boarding school does not go very well. Mr Hart’s is quite full, and very flourishing.
Mr. Samuel S. Cowles
Windsor,
Vermont
[annotation by Samuel Cowles: Dec. 3, 1835]