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 8
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* * the lime continued thro' Canaan - staid at Lawrence's half an hour. The lime was still found in the sandy plains at the commence- ment of Sheffield but not in as great quantities Before I reached Sheffield I encountered a fellow traveller and we joined company - a mechanic a young man much given to talking. He told of a number of curus curiosities and especially of a drum major who had "knitted" at a quilting party the night before until amazement seized the whole at the astonishing power of his elbow. As I drew near to
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Sheffield I grew most terribly fatigued - I could hardly drag one foot after another and would rather have died than talked but he inundated me with politics * *
* As I entered Sheffield I was so fatigued that even the idea of seeing Huldah had no influence on me and I had much rather have seen an easy chair Reached Sheffield at half past four completely tired out after supper I saw Huldah Maria but we were both so dull that we had but little to say to each other - She had been up all night at a ball and I up all day on a journey so that we sat and gaped at each other and that was all. She knows everything about Litchfield I could tell her no news her correspondence must have been punctual and particular and I rather think my name has been mentioned once or twice.
Nov 4 Friday
Spent the day at Sheffield in the forenoon talked with Wm P. Lee about college affairs in the afternoon with Huldah Maria about my own affairs. * * * I had an inclination once or twice to have "popped the question" but could not summon sufficient courage. I cannot find out what she may think of me * Took a walk before dinner to see the country not a stone in sight a long sandy plain. in the evening saw Orville Dewey who is teaching school here had a long amicable dispute with him upon the principle of exciting ambition in the minds " of scholars held forth in great style in the bar room upon the subject. Ann would tell me it was on purpose to show myself and would call it vanity, but it was pure accident! in the evening in came Judge Cook of Catskill formerly a member of Congress while all at Ensign's were obsequious bowing around him I freely greeted him and finally entered into a long political confab with him quite to the astonishment of E's people - I would ask questions and make comments in my usual rapid way while he in the true style of consequence and "brief authority" would ponder for a time take his cigar from his mouth very deliberately (by the way he smoked a prodigious pile) and begin with "taking all things into consideration I give it as my opinion"
Saturday Nov 5
Early in the morning I started in the stage for Albany found Mary Clark's father in it who had been down to L- He gave me a letter from Aunt Mary * * Very stormy wet and rainy and the roads were muddy ill seeming thick bereft of beauty a few miles beyond Sheffield a quarry of handsome white marble a gentle rising ground composed entirely of it, is discovered in the midst of a sandy plain the quarry is very large * Lime stone rocks continued several miles further but I was in the stage and whirled rapidly by them * Land very poor to Albany covered with stunted pine and oak. break- fasted at Hatch's * On the road we took in a passenger of a
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singular turn of mind he had a great deal of dry wit about him and with a great deal of profanity made many shrewd remarks *
* * * arrived at the ferry at about four and put up at Mrs. C's too late to see much of Albany streets look whimsical in the evening, lighted up and have a very fine appearance
Sunday 6
Took a walk before meeting - visited the state house a spacious handsome building constructed of free stone obtained they say in New Jersey - some very handsome buildings of brick and others faced with white marble the most curious buildings were the old Dutch houses with the end toward the street constructed of brick imported from Holland - Attended church in the forenoon was extremely gratified by the organ the music was grand but some parts failed in solemnity - In the afternoon heard the celebrated Mr. Bradford I admire his preaching very much tho' I think him inferior to Mr. Beecher
Monday 7
In the morning called at several places to do business succeeded very well-the rain still continued and the weather very bad- About eleven started in the stage for Troy and Lansingburg - the weather very rainy - too much so to make any observations even upon the beauty of the places. After dinner called at Mrs. Leonard's was very much entertained Ann & Mary at home and very agreeable Mrs. Leonard likewise very hospitable - I represented Cornelia as so in- dustrious that they contermanded the order for her return - I am very glad of it in the afternoon I visited the Diamond rock as it is called-rain poured down in torrents a very fine prospect but the clouds and fog obscured it. The junction of the Mohawk and Hudson the towns of Lansingburg Troy Waterford and I presume Albany in a clear day - the wildness of the neighboring woods - the wide bridge across the Mohawk and near the Cohoes (falls) and their distant thunder are the items of the description but I was too intent upon the rock to observe much The hill itself is composed of a black slate - The people think there is coal to be found in the hills - it was so rainy that I gave up my idea of going to Williamstown and so must return by the way of Albany. Spent the evening and night at Mrs. Leonard's. Was very highly entertained by the conversation and music a very pretty girl there by the name of VanBenscoten Started in the morning for Albany in company with Mr. Charles Marsh who studied law last winter in Litchfield who boards at Mrs. Leonard's (he married one of the Leonards. July 1850) Left him at Troy took in a supply of women and children and much cattle with J. P. Cushman Esq. who married Miss Maria Talmadge We recognized each other and entered into a true and nosed conversation about the talents of
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different members of Congress. In Albany dined with Mrs. Wm Marvin at her boarding house "style as the learned Linhuem Fidelius says is style" was at the table an hour an a half a number of gentle- men from different parts among the rest Pierpont Edwards with whom I entered into conversation and Major Huyck father of Angelica a large fine looking officer, well given to Bacchus and one who was pleasant but positive, to appearance firm but irascible. He had good features but his countenance was too red - Edwards is a noble look- ing old man. he possesses one of those piercing black eyes that appear "to penetrate the deepest recesses of matter and existence" he had penetration and intelligence in his countenance but no dignity A very stylish dinner "the genteel thing is the genteel thing at all times, if to be a man he is in a concatination accordingly" In the afternoon found some grand specimens of crystalized Gypsum at Marvin and Benedict's store took some - bought some specimens of polished marble Italian French Irish and Philadelphian Drank tea at Mrs. C's. Thus ends my visit to Albany in which I have been treated with a great deal of hospitality * To-morrow I start for the land of steady habits. "where hospitality as Judge Edwards said to-day is never found in their dictionary" whose inhabitants to use the expres- sion of another never weep only when eating their onions or blushing only when plaining their till" but still it is the land that contains the ashes of my forefathers and will always be dear to me & I am rejoiced to return for I have seen enough of great houses, great people and grand beds made so high and elastic that there is infinite danger of rolling out oh! tho't I the first night I slept at Mrs. C's how Ann would laugh if I should roll out of the bed and make such a thundering noise as to rouse the whole people "away with grandeur I have enough of it" "pomp for a while may dazzle thoughtless man etc" At nine Mr. Clark and myself went and took supper at a merchant's by the name of Spencer he has a very pretty wife was highly entertained stayed until eleven.
Wednesday Nov 9
Started at four for Litchfield was stowed in with a whole load of passengers found when daylight showed the colour of our countenances that our stage, as they say of a box of thread "contained an assort- ment" military and civil characters - a lieutenant wounded his arm very lame "he told of imminent perils in the deadly breach" so could a woman who was with us, I presume provided she had been asked. A man with a white hat ignorant and mean * *
* Another was a discharged sergeant from the U. S. Service. Such were my com- panions not one of whom knew a syllable of those studies and employ- ments that interest me-but I found some entertainment in the
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officer's conversation about his service - I expect he is a pretty good officer He must have some keen fighting as he belongs to the 25th regiment I had considerable opportunity of viewing the country * * Saw Huldah Maria one moment nothing particular had but just time to speak to her so the experiment could not be tried Shook hands with young Wheeler and gave him a specimen of my rock crystal. Came on to Lawrence's and took supper this written in his tavern while White Hat and Sergeant Cole are disputing upon the difference there would be between murder in the street or in the wars "both their brains buttered would not make a spoonful" Good heavens shall I steer clear of Scylla and Charybdis the prejudices of either - Why gentlemen it depends upon the justice of the war it is our duty to defend ourselves that pleased them - To morrow I am at home by nine or ten - Let them say what they will of travellers joys still home is the most pleasant and its joys the most satisfactory - There I can be at ease I hope to reach Litchfield before Cornelia goes home then I shall have sport -
Thursday 10
Started us by five The only passengers that came on this way were the man authority and the woman, his wife. Breakfasted at Buel's arrived at home by ten - Cornelia had not gone girls all glad to see me. [A list of minerals Mr. Brace brought home from the trip covers three pages.] In the evening of Thursday played with the girls re- ceived a letter from Judd * * *
* Monday 14th Began vacation school which only occupies the forenoon - Town Meeting attended but saw nothing worth recording Spent the evening at Miss Edward's They had considerable to say about my journey to Sheffield I rather think they suspect that I went to court according to the old phrase
Tuesday 15
In the afternoon took a walk with father to quite the east part of the town had a very romantic walk - we went down on the side of a brook of very fine appearance sometimes murmuring over its pebbles, sometimes dashing over the rocks its water converted into white foam and dropping over the surrounding shrubs - leaving the champaigne it began to lose itself in high roads that bent their branches into the stream then burying itself into the ground it soon was concealed be- neath huge precipices of rocks erecting a barrier on either side of 50 or 60 feet high the rocks were of the same kind as found here on the hills tho' sometime the chlorite would be so plentiful as to colour the clay green. * returned home by another way * Monday 21 Aunt Sally arrived from New Haven and by her account of her journey determined me upon going there immediately - Made preparations to go there to morrow in the stage.
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Tuesday 22 About eleven started for New Haven - nothing very much out of the way or ridiculous in the passengers - driver almost turned us over two or three times-dined at Beecher's arrived at about dusk - The road was pleasant tho' the weather was cold Called upon U. Holmes in college and gave some letters - put up at Butler's ate a grand supper (I have not written anything of my journey down except my moonlight walk to the wharf)
New Haven Nov. 22 Tuesday night 9 1/2
I cannot methodize as I did when at Albany so I must put down things as they strike me and arrange afterward. I have just returned from a walk to the end of the long wharf and so to take a view of the sound and of New Haven bay by moonlight but it was by the "dim light of nature" for scudding mists veiled the beauties of the moon. But the scene was beautiful I could have poetized there when the fit was on me but have lost all my ideas of the "sublime and beautiful" in my walk up. I wish someone would invent a machine to catch the idea "living as it rises" and "give it a local habitation and a name" now and then when I see such a scene where the plastic hand of nature with a pencil dipped in the colours of the rainbow or formed it when the grandeur ruled the hour and inspired the idea I feel a moment of inspiration strike across my mind - it's strings are gently touched by no human fingers but the harmony is but for an instant and the chords soon cease to vibrate - Such a time was to night I felt etheri- alized, carried beyond myself and if I could have transcribed the ideas as they arose in the mind I should have been satisfied The gentleman sitting by me with a gold star worked in his collar would laugh at the folly I am writing but every one must have some ruling passion. What if I am looked over in such a public place as this because I do not carry around with me "a fine new stamp of nobility" still there is a circle to which I am centre and there I may be valued. *
Such was all that I wrote the rest I must supply by memory. After having written this I went to bed but not to rest. The genius of gambling had established herself in the next room "Let spades be trumps she cried and trumps they were" I was kept awake until twelve by them they were at it again at daylight To employ my time as I found I could not sleep I whistled out loud all the time
Wednesday 23
In the forenoon walked around to different parts of the town in order to do business, I am very much pleased with New Haven - the streets are generally wide and well laid out. The houses are built of wood principally and in the old Connecticut style with large handsome yards before them. Some streets however are built in the modern
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style of cities of brick three stories and compact. There are more handsome streets in the neighborhood than in any city that I ever was in and I should suppose in summer it must be a very handsome place as most of the streets have large elms in them. Called to see Dr. Shipman who first put the idea of mineralogy into my head. He has a very handsome collection and gave me some very fine specimens * *
* * In the afternoon walked over to Milford seven
miles to see the marble quarry Had a letter to Mr. Solo- mon Baldwin the owner & original discover of the quarry was attended by him to it *
* The quarry is very extensive the works very very good and tho' I am no judge of mechanism seemed to be pecu- liarly adapted to manufacture the marble with facility * * Mr. B. discovered the vein of marble while he was a collegian during the numerous walks which he took in search of minerals. Returned about dusk well laden - drank tea at Mr. Twining's In the evening at Dr. S's store. Thursday 24 walked with Mr. Twining * About eleven was introduced to Professor Silliman and to his cabinet
I could be almost tempted to fling my cabinet away it shrank to such insignificance when I saw the brilliant specimens congregated from all parts of the world.
Friday 25
Started for home at four in the morning - it was too dark to see the passengers - but the stage was full - ' *
* arrived home at two. Saturday 26 Morse (S. E. Morse the telegraph man) Dr. Cutler & myself took a walk to Chestnut Hill.
Tuesday 29
Spent the evening at Aunt's This is the last day of vacation to morrow my labors commence
Wednesday 30
School began had 22 scholars expect I shall have a pretty pleasant school
Dec 1 1814
Thanksgiving Day - As usual Dr. Beecher gave us an excellent ser- mon a little dashed with politics
Friday 2nd Began to read Locke on the understanding In the evening called at Miss Edward's was quite entertained by Misses San- ford & McNeil specially the former she is a girl of artless character and expresses her opinion in an independent way that is very interest- ing * * * * * * In our small school this winter she will stand quite high perhaps one of the candidates
Tuesday 5 I am attending to Chemistry at present - Catherine
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Beecher Leonard Landon and Hale are studying and I try experiments often as far as my home made apparatus of vials and tea pots will answer.
Wednesday 6 In the evening tried experiments succeeded very well in making hydrogen gas -
Friday 9 Attended a ball in the evening at Phelps E. G. King Chester Ashley and John G. Mason of Virginia managers - I was too lazy to dance so few girls there that almost all were belles Ann and Charlotte as much so as any Mary Deming likewise Miss VanKleeck Miss Sanford I danced volunteers with Mary Clark Miss Sanford Holmes and Goodsell * * Was the most pleased with Sarah Sanford danced with her twice marched with her and waited upon her down to supper -
Tuesday 13 visited Miss Pierce's Bruen and King were there after some desultory conversation by accident we commenced a warm dispute upon the question whether highly immoral poetry could possess practical merit King and myself took the affirmative in which we were joined by the girls - and Bruen and Aunts S. M. the other - I cannot conceive why any person can have any doubt about the question - The morals of poetry can have no more effect upon the figures used to ornament it than the moral character of a person upon the dress she wears and what are figures and harmony but the dress and trappings of poetry - To compare as Moore has done the seduction of a female to "stealing the sweetest flower that ever bloomed in any bower" cannot debase the figure - and the rose will still remain as an emblem of female loveliness altho when broken from its stem and stripped of its beauty it may be compared to the degradation of female excellence We all admire Hume as an historian - his detail of facts we consider as highly entertaining and instructive and we imitate his style as a model - tho' at the same time we despise the principles which he attempts to convey.
Thursday 15 A general concert of prayer on account of the setting of the convention at Hartford - Mr. Beecher had meetings in our school two of the best political addresses I ever heard - he ran over in a masterly manner - the causes of our misfortune - the dangers that presented themselves and the means of preventing them - and delivered his discourse extemporaneously in his usual clear animated eloquent manner - He pleased all his audience even to the Southern Federalists by his candour and reason - and appeared correct in all his political sentiments except one upon which he did not express himself with sufficient clearness - As some understood him - he declared that an offensive war could never be just - this I think wants proof - I am very ready to acknowledge that wars undertaken from motives of interest ambition or revenge cannot be justified - but still
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THE HOME OF LUCRETIA AND WILLIAM DEMING Built by Julius Deming, date 1799
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I can bring cases where the nation can be justified, at least in my opinion, in declaring an offensive war -
Friday 16 - In the evening King read Hamlet out loud at Aunt's -
Monday 19-
In the evening at Dr. Sheldon's cyphering in fractions after we had finished Mrs. Sheldon mentioned a sum to multiply three and six by three and six I did it by cross multiplication - After I came home and having studied an hour upon Locke began to try experiments in magnetism - the experiment of the other night.
Wednesday 21
In the evening Dr. Cutler and myself made some crystals of nitrate of copper
Thursday 22
In the evening at Dr. Sheldon's - Company there Mr. & Mrs. Leavitt she that was Maria Lewis, Ann Cutler, Fanny Sheldon, Betsey Burr and Harriet Stone
Tuesday 27
Called in the evening at Col. Talmadge's with Ann and Charlotte to see Harriet who has just returned from New York - Harriet looked uncommonly lovely She is a speciman, as we minerologists say of elegance and dignity -
I know of no character that appears more interesting lately than Sarah Sanford. Her mind is quite highly cultivated for a girl of fifteen and her inclination for improvement and information is very great.
Thursday 29
In the evening visited at Mrs. Beecher's in company with several old ladies - enjoyed myself very well went home with Miss Nancy Edwards. Had a long conversation upon the merits of her boarders at different times - she remembers well my old flames
Friday 30 In the evening visited at Miss Esther Beecher's - Betsey Burr Cornelia Ann, Mary Frances L. Charlotte and Catherine there - Hotchkiss and myself drank tea there Torrey and Dr. Cutler came in the evening enjoyed myself very well - rattled more than I have done before for sometime - It was one of those parties where conun- drums and such emanations of genius were acceptable - came home with Ann and Frances.
Saturday 31
Toward night went over and drank tea at Charlotte Stone's with Ann Cornelia Mary Maria S. Sanford and Hale enjoyed myself quite
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well for the time I staid - came home with Maria and talked phi- losophy with her all the way - I have never mentioned Maria Buel particularly and her merits deserve that she should be recorded and remembered - She is a girl of about 16 or 17 years of age but quite small of her age - her person is not beautiful and pretty only through the sweetness of her expression and yet she is not ugly the irregularity of her features and that lassitude of appearance and delicacy of com- plexion that arise from ill health are quite interesting her mind has been cultivated, and living as she has been in the neighborhood of a college she has become a very little infected with college studies and has a very prying mind one that does not rest satisfied with seeing the outside of things - Philosophy has been quite interesting and she and Sarah Sanford have made it interesting to me to teach it -
Thus ends the year - its rising beams were shrouded by gloom and clouds hung upon my path - but they have burst away and it has shone upon me with all that tempered happiness which employment and respect will create -
JOHN P. BRACE - PRIVATE JOURNAL VOL. 2
PRIVATE JOURNAL 1815
Sunday Jan. 1 1815 Litchfield
Another year of my unprofitable life has closed and ** ** ***
In the evening called at Mr. Beecher's with Aunt - He had just re- turned from Simsbury and made me a present of a piece of carbonate of lime strongly impregnated and colored by copper ore - Monday 2 To day the Smiths of this town failed for an immense sum and dragged down with them a great number of poor people - I have avoided as much as possible entering into the contests between our village Yorks and Lancasters, but still I have inclined sometimes on one side and some- times on the other - But it is a fine thing to have nothing and be below all this storm and hear it "idly rage above" - Wednesday 4 Began this evening with Judge Reeve to help correct a work for the press - after we were thro' played chess with Miss Ogden - Thurs- day 5 In the evening at Judge Reeve's after we were through went up to Miss Edward's found Aunt and Mrs. Reeve there. Monday 9 In the evening Dr. Cutler and myself tried chemical experiments - made some fulminating powder a compound of nitre - carbonate of potash and sulphur - it exploded with a terrible detonation much beyond anything I had expected - *****
Thursday 12 After I came from Judge Reeve's I went to Mr. Beecher's who gives a lecture every Thursday night beginning with
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to night, upon Theology to the students and other young men - I mean to arrange my business so as to go every night They are cal- culated to do considerable good for the students especially those from the South are very ignorant upon religious matters -
Frid 13
Meeting in the house in the afternoon we had a clear logical sermon upon the atonement - in the evening preaching at our school house by Messrs Tyler Strong and Beecher - The only ideas I brought away were that I was very tired - for they kept us a very long while Monday 16 Party in the evening at Aunt's consisting of school girls principally - besides Aunt's girls there were Mary A. Galpin, Sally Cook, S. Sanford, McNeil, Carrington, Betsey Beecher, M. Collins - gentlemen, Collins, Averill Atwater Hodges Torrey Fowles Fuller (a brother of Gabble's) Smith Ashley Mayson Dr. Cutter ********* Sat- urday 21 Mr. Beecher in the afternoon, called to see me and examine my feelings it is now a fortnight since I felt that I had experienced a change of heart * my understanding was first convinced and then my heart affected **
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