Library Collections: Document: Full Text
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Thomas Gallaudet To Mason Cogswell, August 9, 1816
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| 1 | New York, Thursday afternoon | |
| 2 | My dear Sir:- | |
| 3 | Mr. Wilder will deliver this letter, my fellow passenger in the Mary Augusta, and one to whom we are all very much indebted for the interest which he took in our undertaking while I was in Paris, where he has resided for several years. He very much contributed to my acquaintance with Clerc, to my arrangements with him, and in fine to all that related to the object of my mission. He has been connected in trade with your friend Upson from whom I received a letter of introduction to him. I recommend him to your warmest friendship as a man of very generous feelings and I trust a sincere Christian. | |
| 4 | I received your favor of Sunday last. Clerc has read the letter with no little enthusiasm. We both long to be with you, but a few days must yet separate us. We have not even yet got all our things from the ship and we are both a little indisposed by the sudden transition from cool weather to hot, so that we are quite overcome with lassitude and the effects of a summer epidemic which is just now quite prevalent here. We have yet many letters to write to our European friends. This and our other necessary arrangements, to say nothing of the wish I have to enjoy for a few days the society of my father's family, rendered more dear to me by the loss which they have felt during my absence, will probably detain us here till Wednesday of next week, so that you must not expect to see us till Friday or Saturday. | |
| 5 | We have been visited by and we have seen a great many persons. All take a great interest in Clerc. He is so modest and easy in his manners and converses with such charm and propriety with all that it is a matter of general admiration. We have much to do to get our establishment on an eligible footing. Many here speak of the necessity of a similar establishment in New York. A great deal is said about Mr. Gard of Bordeaux. Setting aside all personal feeling, I do think it will be not a little discreditabe to our country if some local and State feelings cannot be laid aside in the commencement of a project like ours. But we will talk through all this when I see you. | |
| 6 | Clerc joins me in his best love to Mrs. C. and the family. My kind remembrance to all friends. Don't wonder at my scrawl for I write you in a state of great debility and have hardly resolution enough to put my pen to the paper. | |
| 7 | Yours most affectionately, T. H. Gallaudet | |
