Joseph Fawcett

“ My sure opinion is, that it is a science too abstruse to be well understood by young persons, nothing short of a goodeal of experience and a ripe understanding can master it yet there are certain first principles which may be understood easily, for example you can very soon know by a little attention whether a word is a noun, a verb or an adjective that is whether the word means a certain thing, a certain action or a certain quality. ”

“ I have been unfortunate in the direction of my own business and therefore cannot with propriety press my opinions on others. one thing however is clear that if you do no business your funds must soon be exausted.
with respect to my self and family I confess I am a little depressed in spirits. the prospect is quite dull Abner is again harping at me to rent Judge Smiths place. he thinks we could make a goodeal by raising Stock. ”

“ And I feel no disposition to engage in a project so fraught with vexation and insult as I apprehend this would be it is true the most of our neighbors are civil but I frequently experience the cold supercillious contempt of a poor mortal like my self. ”

“ I have therefore to request that you will endevor to be as circumspect as possible lest some unfortunate occuranc may make an unfavorable Impression against you in commencing life, it is the easiest thing in the world to set the public opinion for or against a man. ”

“ I have sometimes thought grammarians have made their subject more difficult to comprehend by too much explanation and dividing it into too many cases. so many rules subject to so many exceptions are not well calculated to enlighten the learner, but as I do not profess to be much of a Grammarian I shall leave this to Mr Taylor’s discretion. ”

“ If I succeed I shall avoid certain ruin, and if I do not succeed it will be only ruin. be therefore prepared to hear the worst, but always hope for the best.
Your mother, Brothers and Sisters are as well as they were when you at home. The whooping cough hangs to the young ones without abatement. ”

“ Thankfulness and gratitude for past favors are the first duties we owe to our mcher (??and) to our fellow men. depend on it every vice has its in (??) orable punishment and every Virtue its proper reward.
your remarks to me on the subject of Gnl. (??M) acombs capacity tho quite respectful and perhaps not amis [sic] when wailing to me would be improper if communicated to others who might expose your opinions. you cannot have had an opportunity of Judging of his abilities. it is only on great occasions that even a great man display great Talents. ”

“ Abner and all the rest of the connection are a goodeal [sic] of the same opinion, but the more I think of it, the less I like it in many respects. in the first place Rader tho a kind friendly man is nevertheless exceedingly capricious and Tyranical [sic] in disposition. it would be difficult to keep Terms with him. in the next place every creature who has a claim would be doging [sic] me incessantly for a part, or buying something on Credit and I fear it would require a hardyhood [sic] that I am incapable of to shake them off. ”

“ Tell Mr Tillett that I have handed his paper to Doct. Harrison who will hold a meeting with some of the principal subscribers to ascertain what can be done, the result I will make known to him so soon as I can – Mr. Fletcher has intimated to me that he would have no objection to join him, it is not impossible but that if they formed such a connection that they would do a good business. Of this however Mr Tillett may reflect and say how he would like it, you can inform him what sort of a man Mr. ”

“ He complains and says that I will expend all or friends have advanced in looking about without doing any thing and really there is only too much Truth in the remarks yet I cannot help thinking he is a little selfish with respect to renting Smiths place he in the first place has no respect as to my feelings when he wants to locate me right among those who have suffered by me and who of course will never permit me to enjoy anything in peace until the utermost farthing is paid. ”

“ Shardlin to have been sent to the packet office at Fredericksburg, where he had applied but did not find them, and was under an impression that were lost until recently he has discovered the mistake, the object therefore of this communication is to prevail on you to get these goods up from Petersburg and to forward them to this place by some safe hand as they are valueable articles belonging to his sisters.
John Rader was here to day and we had an interview on the subject of his property on the creek. he will not agree to rent for more than three years. he appears to expect some courting. ”

“ It would seem as if the want of excitement after the sale had the same effect here as it had after the battles of orleans [sic] . there it is said, during the siege, not a case of disease occurred, but so soon as it was over, the inhabitants were generally attacked by the complaints of the place. we are all well however now, and putting off the time as well as we can.
we buried our old neighbor John Bosche a few days ago. Doct Waterman is sleeping a way the little remains of life which is left. he will perhaps not last more than a few days longer. ”

“ I submit peace to his maner whilst hovering around his solitary ashes on the shore of the Mississippi.
except that Niles & Keys have the Mumps the family is well tho one of our boarders is lying at the point of death. we scarcely expect him to live to Morning. ”

“ It is quite probable that the incumbent will hold in whether the wages is lowered or not and if he does he will be reelected, and if he should decline we may expect Swope and his friends to oppose us. ”

“ Samuel Miller returned yesterday from Washington where he had been trying to sell his (??) works. he brought a letter from Willis in a neat hand write & good diction in which he says he is Very well. do not forget to send the news paper. ”

“ I am very much pleased with this, your first letter to me, the hand writing, as well as composition, considering that it is among the first, if not the first you ever wrote is good, and the spelling excellent. this essay does you great credit, in My Opinion. I would however advise you to set your letters a little further apart, and to Make the Staves Shorter. You must also get Mr. ”