USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Litchfield > More chronicles of a pioneer school, from 1792 to 1833, being added history on the Litchfield Female Academy kept by Miss Sarah Pierce and her nephew, John Pierce Brace > Part 7
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Mrs. Deveaux and Theodosia arrived on Tuesday night
"Oh the days that are gone When beauty bright my heart's chain wove When my dream of life from morn till night Was love still love. New hope may bloom And joys may come Of milder calmer beam But there is nothing half so sweet in life As love's young dream" Moore
LITCHFIELD Wednesday June 1st 1814.
Such a motto is peculiarly adapted to close the month of May especially when "love's young dream" no longer employs my slumbers - No - Those pleasures that in youthful love I once enjoyed can never be retasted and they were "a light that ne'er can shine again on life's dull stream" - To be sure - I shall choose a wife but it must be a matter of calculation and regularly composed like an Apoth- ecary's bill - ten grains of neatness Do of industry and do of amiabil- ity a tea cup full of "brains" acquired knowledge talents to be im- mersed in a silver cup - with a handful of the flowers of beauty flung in -
Thursday 16 Walked for strawberries after school.
Friday 17 Had a letter from Loring. Aunt Mary went to Boston to day.
ŽAR
JUDGE JAMES GOULD'S HOUSE, THE HOME OF JULIA, EDWARD, WILLIAM, AND GEORGE GOULD Built by Col. Elisha Sheldon, 1760
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Wednesday 22 Tom Perkins and myself called for a few moments at Aunt's to deliver invitations to July ball.
Friday 24 Attended singing school in the evening. Ann and I came up with Miss Goodrich and Miss Huyck, Mrs. Bull's boarders - had a letter from Judd Electa Barrill is married to a Mr. Wilder.
Saturday 25 - Heard in the course of the week that little Martha Rogers is married to a Dr. Gilbert so they go - wrote to Holmes and Aunt Mary.
Tuesday 28 - In the evening a few moments with Perkins at Aunt's - Cornelia made a number of severe observations and I retorted in all the bitterness I could; making Clark mad by laughing at a foolish letter she wrote and occasionally glancing a few sarcastic observations upon Cor but all in such a way that C- did not know what they meant - at nine I called again and Cornelia commenced an open quarrel with me for my conduct during the evening, calling me all the opprobious titles her imagination could suggest - fool - ninny - impudent etc. I was just preparing to retort rather roughly - as Aunt came up and gave her such a trimming upon her bluntness and want of polite- ness in her speeches generally and particularly toward me that evening that answered all the purposes of a scolding on my part - Cornelia concluded her address to me by saying she had done with me and farewell Miss Prudence Positive let it be the last time we speak.
Thursday 30 Aunt had a party of old and young - I was deter- mined to let the girls see that I could enjoy myself except in their rational society and so chattered with Mrs. Beecher upon literary topics and exerted myself to the utmost and to be entertaining and to monopolize the conversation until they separated into groups - I was highly pleased - the little poetess Abbey Bradley was there and I conversed with her I never spoke to C or M they appeared to enjoy themselves with Perkins in one corner - I found Mrs. Beecher a very entertaining woman and the hours glided merrily by -
Saturday 2 - Had a letter from Sarah Deming she seems to speak in raptures of those pleasant hours enjoyed last summer in Litchfield and to lament that they are past beyond recall.
Monday 4 - In the forenoon exercises for the celebration of inde- pendence commenced Mr. Charles Perkins delivered the oration it showed a lively imagination but no very great strength of mind - it failed in unity very much - its parts were disconnected and some things were foreign to the subject but generally the language was very good and the ideas were handsomely expressed- the gentleman then attended dinner I did not dine - in the evening of course a ball and of course I attended I assisted the manager in getting the girls there - went to Miss Edwards with Brooks to Aunts our house Mary Ann
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Lewis and C. Stones Brooks King and Talia Fiero managers I first danced a volunteer with Miss Woodruff - a young lady I have men- tioned before and who I think probable, would be my flame provided I felt any disposition to coquette this summer - but I do not - but as Lord Pedagogue I must content myself with mere admiration. I then drew Hannah Catlin - my number was one I had rather have drawn someone else tho she is an excellent partner - a good dancer a great belle and a very fine girl she feels so much above me that it is unpleasant I danced volunteer with Eliza Mulford who is a very pretty girl - Betsey Cowles of Farmington memory who is here on a visit - Eliza Van Kleeck and Miss Woodruff again and drew Charlotte Landon - I did not dance much I had so much introducing to do that I could not as I officiated in that business entirely enjoyed myself very well the ball went on regularly and agreeably - Mary Clark and Miss Huyck are considerable belles as well as Harriet T. and Ann Miss Huyck has very much pleased the gentlemen lately - tho in my eyes not very handsome and of course she was very admired at the ball but the admiration she recieved completely crazed her. Broke up at three I went home with Miss Edwards and Mrs. Bull's boarders - tho I did not enjoy myself as much as I did last year when I had the sweet Huldah to take care of still I was entertained beyond my expectations - Tuesday 5- In the evening called at Miss Edward's -found I could not enter upon as familiar terms as I did last year and tho' I found the girls agreeable Mrs. Woodruff Mulford Atwater and C. Buel still I saw they felt a constraint that destroyed sociability -
Friday 8- Was agreeably surprised by the appearance of Mrs. Marcia Starkweather and her husband - Marcia looked talked and acted just as she used to do when a member of the Tammany - was glad to see me - spent the evening with her at Aunt's I believe she is pretty well married - Saturday 9 Mrs. S. went out of town Sun- day 10 In the evening on acount of the rain waited upon Miss Ogden home Tuesday 12 had a letter from Holmes and a short confab with Clark upon our quarrel she informed that Cornelia had made the reso- lution on account of the lecture Aunt gave her to treat me as she does every other gentleman - I thought so but she has over strained and has not treated me as well. Friday 15 - A cotillion party but I did not attend
Monday - commenced my labors we have 96 on our bills
Thursday Had a party at Aunt's Caroline Shipman and Jeanette Bradley being in town
All Aunt's girls Ann Charlotte and Clarissa Deming Charlotte Bradley Eliza Mulford and Caroline Atwater Perkins Chester W. Deming Steele Sheldon Jackson and myself enjoyed myself the most in hearing Clarissa play
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Saturday 23 Spent the day in search of minerals
Saturday July 30 The beginning of the week was employed in my usual avocation and variegated by performances by walks for minerals being engaged in the study of mineralogy with Perkins and Chester - On Thursday night drank tea with a party at Colonel Talmadge's. It was the first time I was ever invited to Lady Harriet's of course I felt under the necessity of going tho' at the same time it was a pleasure attending. If Harriet did not feel so much above me I should enjoy myself very much in her company. She is extremely handsome in just that style of beauty I admire - the face of Roman outline marks how haughty the feelings are that reign within - but notwithstanding her haughtiness still she is beautiful extremely so - * it is a beauty that awes while it charms and dazzles like the sun beyond the reach of mortal touch or mortal envy while at the same time it is dispensing its rays upon all. Harriet treats her company well uses no partiality and is careful that all should receive entertainment - * Enjoyed myself very much conversed some with all was en- tertained by Perkins gaiety and King's eccentricities he is very entertaining -
The party consisted of Mrs. C. Deming Shipman Bradley M. Lewis M. A. Lewis Charlotte Betsey Burr and Ann - with Mrs. Delafield and Hallet who reside at the Colonel's. Messers King and C & T. Perkins W. Deming Longstreet * * * * Bruin Taliafiero Mason Brooks Halsted and Ward. On Friday evening attended a cotillion party did not enjoy myself much - too few ladies there danced with Mrs. Woodruff S. Cook M. Jones C. Minturn twice and went home with her On Sunday Mrs. Cornelia Tomeranchyke? was in town did not see her much -
August 6th 1814 have been too busily employed during the week in examination and making up credit marks it being the last week in the quarter to write journal - the examination commenced Tueday and was conducted in real college style the girls were all arranged in alpha- betical order and I examined them - on Tuesday afternoon in America Wednesday afternoon same Thursday afternoon Europe Asia and Africa Friday afternoon in Grammar and English History Saturday forenoon in Latin grammar Friday afternoon in Virgil - girls and boys passed a good examination Ann Catherine Beecher and Fanny Sherrill got the most credit marks the evening spent in walking with Perkins and Chester - gallantry with me is about over - had a letter from Professor Dewey he represents College as flourishing wrote to Charles Loring. The school this quarter has been very industrious and orderly and I have been exempted from the repetition of last winter's painful scene - a look or word is all the authority I used this summer.
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Abbey Bradley took the lead of the paper for the three months then Beecher Leonard Brace and F. Sherrill. Thomas Perkins has just gone and has written me once he was a fine fellow * He had engaged himself very deeply at Aunt's and appeared to be quite smitten with Cornelia. His excellent taste his amiable disposition and engaging entertaining manners rendered him deservedly a favorite there and elsewhere. He was my most intimate companion in office and I shall feel his loss very sensibly. His letter contained an account of the attack on Stonington and came the day I was drafted from the militia to which I belong as one of the 90,000 men ordered out by the Presi- dent I do not think there is any danger. (Thomas Shaw Perkins married Cornelia for his first wife she did not live long, but died of the consumption in 1844) Mary Clark has returned from New Haven where she made a visit of a week. Called on Sunday night at Harriet's with Aunt Mary found her cold and reserved.
Tuesday 22 attended this evening a party at Charlotte's Harriet Miss Delafield Clarissa Deming Maria Mary Ann Lewis Cornelia and Mary C. Lucy Sheldon and Betsey Cutler King Longstreet H. Sheldon W. Deming Brooks Halsted C. Perkins and Mason.
Harriet T. looked uncommonly elegant and showed off her superior charms to great advantage. Once or twice I met her eye It thrilled through me - I obtained a seat by her and so far conquered the reserve I felt in her company as to enter into conversation with her and Henry Sheldon upon the merits of some modern novels.
Enjoyed myself in a conversation with Betsey Cutler upon those times that are now sunk far back in the vale of years On Wednesday night we had a whimsical party at Aunt's a mixed up set of old maids and triflers - the Misses Collins who came into company in the old grandmother style and have all their notions as antiquated and all their manners as starched as the grograin gowns of their progenitors. Then there was Mrs. Deveaux with her very liberal notions respecting refinement who can't find anything sufficiently good for her ladyship out of New York The Misses Pardee and Gracie and Mrs. Isaac Sheldon and for gentlemen in the evening King Longstreet and Isaac Sheldon Had some sport with Misses Pardee and Gracie - On Friday evening attended a Cotillion party waited upon Ann and Cornelia and several of our boarders Miss Goodsell and Catlin Ruth Benedict and Abbey Smith - enjoyed myself tolerably well Danced with Ruth Price Goodsell twice Catlin and Abbey once and Charlotte Landon and Hannah Wolcott -
Ruth Benedict and Abbey Smith are two little girls from Albany that board with us and are two as fine little girls as any in school - Ruth is between thirteen and fourteen and at that age ranks among the first scholars in the school she being the fourteenth from the top on the
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paper in our great school she possesses a good mind, great application and a very aimaible disposition. Abbey is a good scholar for a girl of her age tho' not good as Ruth she possesses great amiability joined to a very interesting playfulness of disposition but she is peculiarly beautiful - regular features a fine complexion a good expression a keen black eye mark her as one of the handsomest girls in school. Monday evening took a long walk with Clark and ran over old times especially last summer when I was not obliged to preserve such a grave face and such an abundance of Dignity - but it is better for me - (July 16, 1850 Ruth Benedict lived unmarried for many years, she at length married Hon. Micah Sterling who had a been a member of Congress from the state of New York and she is now a widow. Abbey Smith married E. C. Delavan Esq. of Albany and died in the summer of 1848 very suddenly at Boston)
September 1st 1814 At present our attention is peculiarly engaged by political affairs and the existing state of the country. We have just heard that a British force consisting of 6,000 men have taken possession of Washington and burnt it. Such is the manner in which the present administration have defended the country and such their courage and their conduct. Disgraced, ruined nation! the American name will be a by word of reproach among the nations. Friday 2nd Cotillion party but did not attend, it is extremely pleasant occasionally to unbend from the dignity of Lord Pedagogue and trifle a little with the only two girls with which I can trifle.
Monday 5th Training day chose a captain etc Lieut. Charles Buel Capt. David Buel. Lieutenant & Norman Buel Ens. I was run for corporal but did not get in In the evening read Schiller's Robbers aloud to Cornelia Mary and Ann they were very much interested. The play has great merit in point of composition but has a very bad affect I know of no drama that has scenes of a more truly tragical nature than this. It shows the author had a great knowledge of human nature. Its tendency is to make us believe that we can excuse our wickedness because fate governs our actions.
Wednesday 7th In the evening a reading meeting at Miss Edward's. Read "The Unknown Friend" by Miss Edgeworth had a very full and pleasant evening
Friday 8th For three days past I had kept school alone with Aunt Mary she giving me absolute authority Aunt Sarah having been absent upon a visit - how totally different is last winter's school from the summer - then I had not sufficient authority to restrain those termi- gant spirits Now my authority is undisputed and feared. My boys behave well the girls all fear me and I have not that difficult task I had last winter which destroyed all my happiness and poisoned every enjoyment and made me wish myself at home again where I am now
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enjoying the sweets of reputation and employment. My exertions this summer will be blessed in such a way I trust, as will insure me a number of scholars next winter sufficient to support me - The summer is the only profitable time. Friday - two parties to-night at Aunt's and Mr. Collin's Saturday 10 Heard considerable news from Williams College that it was flourishing and would increase.
(July 16, 1860) Caroline Dewey married Hon. Samuel R. Betts judge of the southern district of N York. I believe she is yet living.)
I have just finished "Lady Morgan's O'Donnel" Irish tales have been rendered fashionable by Miss Edgeworth's success in that kind of composition.
Monday 12th In the evening read at Aunt's in Porter's Russian Campaign.
Thursday 15th Was called out in the afternoon to do military duty rather unpleasant in the rain In the evening a Cotillion party all the school almost attended - I managed - Rained hard in the evening so I gave my umbrella and surtout to Miss Edward's girls got them completely muddy and wet - attempted to carry little Mary Jones across the mud and stubbed my toe pitched down head first with her under me lost my hat and spoiled her silk gown. (oh it was a clean thing)
Abbey Bradley has the greatest right to be mentioned in these pages - the flashes of the greatest genius emanate from the finest black eye tempered by the loveliness of amiability. Thursday 22 A batallion review - quite a dispute among the officers on account of the appoint- ment of Isaac Sheldon as Adjutant. They all refused to come out and we were commanded by our sergeants - the captains were all arrested. Saturday 24 Went after minerals brought home a most superb speci- men of sappur that would weigh several pounds with crystals of tate adhering to it - presented to Prof. Silliman Nov. 24, 1814 it was equal to any of his European specimens.
Tuesday 4th I heard that Juliana Mclachlan was married to a Mr. Gardiner a lawyer of New York (Note: July 18, 1850 - Her husband was killed by the explosion of the cannon on board the Princeton)
Few know the share I had in forming the friendship after it was broken in the fall of 1812. I took a curious method by Juliana's leave of letting him know that he need not despair when he supposed all was lost by writing "nil desperandum" in the lecture room to him.
Monday 17th Holyday on account of Gen'l. Smith's funeral.
Wednesday 12th Heard that Eliza Benton was married to a physician at Hartford
Thursday 13th Commenced instructing Miss Lucy Sheldon in Arith- metic and Grammar shall be there every Monday and Thursday evening.
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Friday 14th A party at Aunt's Ladies Mrs. Lord and Mrs. Pier- pont, Frances Lucy Sheldon, Cornelia & Ann Hodges Torrey Jackson and myself.
Sunday 16 After nine Uriel Holmes and myself went up to watch at General Smith's he having lately died never watched with a corse (corpse) before but did not find it very unpleasant.
Great struggle at present to obtain credit marks Cornelia Abbey Bradley and Ann will be the three first candidates it is very certain and for the others there is much striving - it lies between Goodrich and Pledger - at present it seems most probable that Pledger will have it - Mary Peck and Ruth Benedict are striving for the second - if Mary had commenced her exertions half a month before she did she would have got it but she only commenced about a month ago and now has raised her name very high - Friday 28 English History class examined Ann Cornelia and Mary - they got a great many credit marks - Latin likewise - yesterday afternoon the maps and charts were shown to Mr. Pierpont to give their credit marks he likewise decided the prize of writing it was given to Mary Peck First motto for improvement to Emmeline Minturn second to Mary Smith third to Nancy Mulford and Hannah Wolcott - Amelia Lewis and Mary Jones had great praise for their improvement - Saturday 29 credit marks for industry ' * the girls have exerted themselves a great deal exam- ination in Roman History in which Virgil Peck took the palm - in the afternoon walked to the north for minerals Monday 31 examination in Mason on Self knowledge - credit marks reckoned up and then it was ascertained that Leonard Bradley Brace and Good- rich were the four candidates for the prize in the afternoon the prize was adjudged by a number of ladies and gentlemen at Aunt's Miss Bradley was distinguished for the elegance of her composition her journal showed that her genius in writing was of the first order - but Miss Leonard far exceeded her in her workmanship and to her the prize was unanimously adjudged - Cornelia Leonard deserves high credit for her great exertions for the last three months indeed her industry has been unparalleled in the annals of the school - The first three months she studied Tom Perkins more than any thing else and permitted Miss Bradley to get above but she and Ann had studied very hard for examination and Cornelia has passed a very good one - she had upwards of 300 more than Miss Bradley she received the prize for her uncommon industry and for mending her temper so much as she had - Abbey Bradley is a girl of uncommon genius her writings show her mind to have been formed in no common mould - She has great industry but cannot execute near as well as Cornelia with that degree of neatness she composes most beautifully perhaps with more feeling and genius than any other woman of this country then acquired
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her place by her good lessons and good and extensive examinations she is not naturally industrious but has been considerably so this summer but worked slow - Cornelia Goodrich is a girl of great industry of good talents and amiable disposition and well deserves the Fourth place in school spent the evening at Aunt's wrote until twelve - November 1st 1814- In the forenoon closed the summer school some ladies and gentlemen called in to be present at the finish - the paintings were all exhibited around the school room and girls were all arranged in their best apparel those who were to receive prizes in one place after the ladies and gentlemen had looked as long as they pleased and the credit marks were read I delivered an address in which I gave the prizes-Miss Bradley had the second prize for composition - Ann and Goodrich mottoes - Pledger a prize for politeness Ruth Benedict in her class, girls between fifteen and thirteen, Abbey Smith and her class under thirteen Timothy among the boys writing has been men- tioned Griswold for Arithmetic and Jones for Spelling. At the close of my address I had exerted myself considerably in the pathetic but did not succeed as well as I did last year circumstances were very different some cried but not many thus ends the summer school of 1814 one that can be described in the annals of the school as being peculiarly industrious and orderly, ambition has been raised to an uncommon degree and our exertions have been wonderfully answered - It is true that I have not enjoyed love and friendship nor did I look for it - I asked for respect it has been granted me - as a master I could not be a lover or a gallant - for the goodness of the scholars see the credit mark paper - The belles have been first Miss Huyck and then Eliza Merkle and after that Miss Hoffman was admired besides Ann Mary and Cornelia Goodrich S. Buel Hale Woodruff the Hunts Mulford Atwater and Pardee have had considerable attention - Wednesday 2 made preparations for my journey to the northward - went to sing- ing school in the evening -
Tour to the Northward
(I took paper with me and rapidly wrote off the events of my jour- ney - I give them without alteration tho' in many places I could wish to make some alterations) It was on Thursday on six o'clock in the morning on the third day of November I started from Litchfield to take a pedestrian excursion to Sheffield - But in such a journal as this I should begin with a rounder sentence and a better turn'd period in order to give an eclat to what follows - ecce signum - the sonorous bell had struck five strokes when I aroused from my "curtain'd sleep" (bye the bye a good way of telling that I had curtains to my bed) and having broken my fast I commenced my journey. (That is always the way I never can begin a round sentence but what I come out of
HOME OF MARY PECK, WHERE SHE LIVED WITH HER UNCLE, DR. ABEL CATLIN
She was pupil and teacher at Miss Pierce's School. The house, which is unusual in its style of architecture for the period, was built by John Allen in 1800, who was called Long John on account of his height. Mary Peck married Edward Mansfield, whose father brought him to Litchfield to study law. Their son Charles Mansfield, paymaster in the U. S. Navy, gave to the Litchfield Historical Society his mother's wedding veil,
which she had made herself, and her Album, which contains the autographs of most of the prominent people then residing in Litchfield
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the little end of the horn - (what an elegant comparison) what an elegant sentence like Ezekiel' vision wheel within a wheel, parenthesis within a parenthesis, but it makes no difference. design'd for my own perusal and to enliven the dullness of a tavern forenoon I must write and I think even if I write pure nonsense - upon the term nonsense - I have often thought what it would be in the abstract - I made Miss Bradley laugh well at the abstract idea of a salt box and abstract idea of nonsense! but my head can't extend as far - where am I running to - well I was upon the point of giving Miss Buel's definition of abstrac- tion - but to return, as Parson Beecher said the other day after having lost sight of his text for half an hour) The stones of Goshen have the same appearance that they do in Litchfield and the land until you reach the meeting house the same only more elevated and cold - The unlucky storm had decapitated the Goshen meeting house and left it and the cupola that remained looked like an inverted tunnel stuck upon eight legs. After I left the meeting house I entered a long low plain covered with large beeches and pines. The soil was thin but rich - so thin that the trees were frequently overthrown and show'd that they had not penetrated more than two feet beyond the surface. the rocks were all of gneiss and appear very white. at the end of the plain some fine rocks appear and large quartzose rocks encrusted with toumulite which I now think is composed of calcareous and silicious earth and sometimes one and sometimes the other. * As I decended the hill that leads into Canaan hollow a furious snow storm commenced but I had "its pitiless pelting" in my back and walked on my way rejoicing - stopp'd at Hunt's to dine stay'd an hour land rough and woody - * Passed by the rocky mountain south of Canaan's new meeting house. It presented a very singular appearance North of the meeting house after a piece of low ground had been passed and I had entered a road at the bottom of another chain of hills. I found the lime stone country had commenced a part of that lime ridge that commenced in the western part of Litchfield county ran through Berkshire into Vermont. The lime was hard containing some silicious mixture and appear to be tolerably good - It was of a beautiful blue & * * * frequently some coarse marble might be ob- tained of a beautiful blue - a great deal of good lime made in Canaan
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