necessary for the length of this epistle,—& for its concern—myself & my
situation almost exclusively of all other subjects, but I feel as though
a particular statement of situation &c. would be more acceptable from a
friend of mine than a great deal of the fine matter of which fashionable
correspondence is usually made up. Instead of apologizing therefore I
will inform my friends that they can write nothing materially concerning
themselves, which will not be highly interesting to me. Every
transaction occurring in good old Litchfield that my friends will be
good enough to write me an account of will be read with pleasure.
Yours, &c.
TIMOTHY PIERCE.
Union Camp, New Jersey.
Nov. 10th, 1799.
MRS. ANN BARD PIERCE—
Widow of Col. John Pierce.
No. 10
UNION CANTONMENT, Jan. 6th, 1800
MY DEAR FRIENDS:—
But stop,—permit me first to make my bow to the young _Squire_ in
particular. Has not passing a good examination made him swell two or
three inches in circumference with exultation? Since he has received the
appellation of _Squire_ does he not strut at least, “one hair’s breadth
nearer to the sky?” Has he learned so accurately to distinguish between
_meum_ & _tuum_ as to convert them both into _suum_? Is not our house
already thronged by his clients? Has he not obtained in its almost
perfection the art of setting poor farmers by the ears & of rifling of
their pockets during the affray? Does he not bid fair to rival the great
Demosthenes & become the Cicero of America?
Mr. Smith sets out tomorrow morning for Litchfield, and the lateness of
this evening allows me time only to throw together 15 or 20 lines, of
any thing which comes handiest. Nothing important offers for
communication, & I am certain I should write nothing this evening were
it not for my wishing to throw the balance of letter accounts in my
favour.
I beg leave to congratulate Lucy & Mabel upon their fair prospect of
approaching relationship. I know they have long been intimately
connected by the sweet bands of affection, & am highly gratified to hear
that the Seymours are about to tie them together as sisters.
Horatio I conclude still continues _pretty middling busy_ about Lucy. So
long as he has been, & so skillful a workman as he is, much business
must have been turned off by this time, & it pleases me to hear that
Moses has accomplished so much in the _line of his employment_.
Does Polly Pierce attract the attention of any buck in particular yet?
Or is she still obliged to rely on other folk’s sweethearts for the
amusement of her evenings? Has she still nothing to do but look on from
6 o’clock till 10 to see other folks court? I should be fond of a few
particulars that can be relied upon, with regard to this matter. As for
James, I suppose that if a fair damsel should melt his heart down at
once he would never pay her particular attention, for the fear that it
might excite the observations of others. I can now repeat with the
emphasis of feeling a line from Nancy’s letter from Kosciusko. Oh,
James, “you is one happy man, you is always with the ladies & we have
not one.”
School consisting of 15 only—now there are so few I hope that the native
ladies of Litchfield may stand some chance for a part at least of the
attention of Mr. Reeve’s students.
Lucy, Mabel, Maria Budd, Miss [illegible] & who else at our house? At
this time I suppose Idea’s black eyes are sparkling upon the beaus of
Vermont. I feel for you on account of the loss of Jane, Nancy, Hannah,
and Mary. Let me know how affairs _progress_ between Mary Wyllis &
Miller.——Twining and Almira then? ’Tis well——Does Sarina Bull still
attract the butterflies to bask awhile in the sunshine of her charms—&
then flutter off? Does Maria Budd still act the “_heyday of the
fantastic_?”
James can now no longer be excused from writing to me every opportunity
on the score of preparing for examination. I shall therefore expect
letters every week. Polly is also now at leisure. Dr. Orton has arrived
& I also can afford more time to my L’d friends. I suspect from the
tenure of your letters that I have written several that have never
reached you. You mention nothing of Mamma in your last. I conclude
therefore that she has completely recovered.
Yours, TIMOTHY PIERCE.
To JAMES PIERCE, Litchfield, Conn.
No. 11
UNION CANTONMENT, Jan’y 18, 1800
MY DEAR SISTER POLLY:—
N. Woodruff sets out for Litchfield tomorrow morning early—It is now
late in the night & I am resolved not to encroach upon my usual hours
for sleeping to write to those who so seldom favor me with letters as my
sister & brother, 15 minutes only I will bestow upon you both, for you &
for James. Your pleasant letter written some time ago gratified me
extremely—Every line, every phrase, presented my rattling sister very
vividly to my fancy. Let all your letters be cast in the same mould.
When you have so much time upon your hands, when you write with so
little difficulty, when opportunities of sending so frequently offer &
when reading my sister’s communications is so highly gratifying, it is
impossible for me to account for your not having written oftener upon
any other consideration than this—that you have ceased to think of
me—But I hope future punctuality will atone for past negligence. Oh
Polly, I wish you had been with me the other day when I ascended a rock
upon a neighboring mountain from which may be seen the river Raritan—New
Brunswick—The bay of Amboy—Newark—Elizabethtown—The bay of Newark—New
York city—Long Island—& the Atlantic ocean beyond—a vast extent of
country to the southward of our station. This is perhaps the richest &
most extensive prospect that is to be found in any part of the United
States. When the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War lay in this
part of the country, the great Washington used often to ascend the rock
to descry the position of the British forces, that consideration at this
particular time adds greatly to the emotion which this sublime view
excites in the mind. I trod with reverence the rock upon which that
great man stood, & my heart wept to think that the father of his country
was no more.
MY BROTHER JAMES:—
Then the Democrats in Congress have been endeavoring to disband us—&
send us back again to Connecticut. What can the stupid creatures mean—I
thought in the present situation of our affairs as to France & Great
Britain that both Fed’s & Dem’s would agree to the necessity of being
prepared for effective defence—But that band of wretches who formerly
endeavored “to stop the wheels of Government have now failed in their
attempt to break the sword of their country.
You may depend upon it that the Connecticut regiment forms quite a
respectable part of this _sword of our country_. It has the reputation
of being as well, or better disciplined than any regiment besides in the
United States. The officers are thorough in the performance of their
whole duty—not a single instance of intemperance, or gambling have I
heard of in any one holding a commission.—Among the soldiers, there are
only 5 or 6 foreign old country men—the rest are well disposed
Americans—& with the exception of a few invalids—very promising young
men—Living as they do 15 or more in a room—30 in each small one story
hut with no floor but the ground, some diseases must of necessity
present themselves—but their being still all alive, while [illegible] in
the regiment lying next to them have been furloughed to their endless
home, reflects honour upon them for their cleanliness, their temperance,
& their healthful management of their diet. It seems that you never yet
have had an opportunity of sending on those shirts which were partly
made at my departure from L’d—Capt. Ranny will be with you soon & then
if not before they may be safely sent. Capt. Ranny has been extremely
polite & obliging to me & I wish our people to treat him in return with
the utmost attention. He has promised to call upon you & seems very
solicitous to be acquainted with our family. He is a man well worthy of
your friendship.
Good night,
TIM’Y PIERCE,
This morning a duel was fought in the 12th Reg’t by two Lieutenants, one
was wounded in the leg.
Addressed to JAMES PIERCE,
Litchfield.
No. 12
CAMP, Sept. 30th 1800.
DEAR BROTHER:—
I wish you to ascertain if possible the date of my letter of acceptance,
& send me notice of it by the first opportunity. It has entirely slipped
my memory, & our pay-rolls cannot be drawn without it. We shall receive
no pay for some time, therefore it is probable more money must be sent
me from home. You mistake when you think our board a trifling expense.
Each officer maintains a servant, & the servant’s board costs as much as
his own. Therefore all things considered I might board with as little
expense in Litchfield. My foods cost as much as that of any officer in
the regiment.
TO SISTER POLLY:—
Your good letter deserves a longer & a better answer than I am at
present in condition to afford you. For about four & twenty hours past I
have been afflicted with a sad sick headache, & have not felt myself in
a proper state for writing or anything else. Instead of cutting the
figure which you say you shall be afraid to speak to, my appearance has
“improved only for the worse” as paddy would express it. Being the only
physician in the regiment during the severe prevalence of the dysentry
among us for near a week, I experienced a constant hurry of practice
through the day & was often called up at midnight. In consequence of
this and the anxiety I underwent for two or three of my patients, I have
got out of the habit of talking, bend over more than usual, & look ten
times more serious & Don Quixotical than while at home. My sister need
entertain no apprehensions with regard to the sword & hat which you
mention with fear—for those articles will not be purchased before we
retire to winter quarters—: before that time I shall make you a
visit—and after that visit you will see neither me nor my sword until
next spring. You say you wish me to write upon speculative subjects—if
anything new had lately occurred to my observation, I would communicate
it for your criticism with pleasure—But all my late speculations, relate
only to Ipicac, Salts, Dysentery, Rhubarb—fever &c. Subjects that will
not be interesting to you.
To COUSIN ELIZAB’ H.
She will find me more “presumptuous” than Mary would permit _her_ to
be—for her cold “_compliments_” I beg leave to return her my _love_.
To MARY BREASCARD:—
I assure you that the “Dr.” feels himself “highly honored” by the
postscript with which you have favored him, is “highly gratified” to
find you have sent him “some” of your love—& takes the liberty to send
you an _abundance_ of his love in return.
To J. WATKINSON:—
Whether “the disposition of Jenny Witless is malicious” or not, I was
fearful she would not have remembered me, even to have “vented her
spleen upon the Dr.”—But whatever may be the state of her feelings
toward me, I thank her most cordially for the two lines and a half of
P. S. at the end of Polly’s letter—& feel very sorry that the headache
prevents a longer reply. In the first part of this letter I have
desired some money from home, but upon further consideration I suspect
it will not be wanted—please tell James not to send it without further
notice. Desire Polly to send me a list of the things which have been
sent from home since the arrival of my trunk. Give my love to all our
young ladies. Tell Lucy Russell to write another letter for me to
carry to her parents, I have taken a _fancy_ to the old Democrat her
father, & want another excuse for paying him a visit. Starks Edward &
Mr. Tod have spent a considerable part of this afternoon with me & I
have promised to call at their houses in the City. Therefore if our
young ladies wish to write to Henrietta, I will convey letters to her
with pleasure.—goodnight.
Oct. 1st. After thinking the third time upon the subject of money, I
believe James may send me some if he can conveniently—it may not be
wanted—but perhaps it may be used advantageously under present
circumstances. Should it be sent, the earlier it comes the better—It
need not be sent unless it can be spared very conveniently.
TIM’Y PIERCE.
I would relate an amusing case of a love sick patient if I had time this
morning, but Mr. Collins will call immediately for this letter therefore
the history of it must be omitted till another opportunity. When Dr.
Trowbridge returns, or when another is appointed to assist me I can
devote more time to my friends.
(Addressed to MR. JAMES PIERCE, Litchfield.)
No. 13
CHARLESTON, Dec. 3rd, 1800
DEAR BROTHER:
Thank God, here I am safe at Charleston at last, after a tedious passage
of 17 stormy days from New York. We sailed on the 15th of last month, &
within the first 24 hours were driven so far from land by a heavy wind,
that it took 12 hours to regain the coast. We entered Egg-harbour, run
upon a shoal of quicksands, & lay there three days until the spring tide
lifted us off. Upon extricating ourselves from this difficulty an heavy
north wind carried us like lightning to the southward, we flew by the
capes of Delaware at about 400 hundred miles from shore, passed the
Ches’pk Bay & a few hours more carried us to Cape Hatteras, but the west
wind which now set in pushed us to such a distance from the cape to the
eastward, that the eddy of the gulf stream carried us back 60 miles in
24 hours, however we kept free from the stream itself for a few hours &
attempted to gain the shore, but in vain, a violent northwestern gale
set in which drove us notwithstanding our efforts in the Gulf stream
itself. As we entered it dismal indeed was our prospect. The rapid
current meeting the north wind rolled its waves to a frightful height.
Its waters are 12 or 14 degrees warmer than that of the ocean through
which they run & smoked in the cold northern squalls, which constantly
assailed us like the water of a boiling pot. 5 or 6 sharks attended into
the stream, two water spouts one on each side of us passed near and soon
after we saw them pour their heavy weight of waters upon the flood. The
surges poured over the deck, so as at times to hide it entirely, & even
beat in at the top of the cabin door. In two or three days we found
ourselves about two degrees below the latitude of Charleston, about 300
hundred miles to the eastward of it. Here we were harassed by contrary
winds 4 or 5 days, till at last a favorable northeast storm 250 miles in
a few hours & landed us safely in Charleston. But I assure you I have
been horribly harassed by seasickness.
We had one perfect calm when, altho’ we had hardly a breath of wind the
waves rocked, rolled & tossed our poor sloop so violently that we were
fearful the mast would be completely rooted away.
None of those people to whom my letters are directed are at present in
town. I therefore shall proceed directly to Columbia.
I should write more particularly, and more intelligibly, but my time
will not permit since I shall set out for Columbia in an hour or two if
the weather will permit. About an hour ago two negroes were condemned to
be _burned alive_! for the murder of a white man. Remember me
affectionately to all my friends.
TIMOTHY PIERCE.
(To JAMES PIERCE,
Litchfield, Connecticut.)
No. 14
To DR. CROSWELL,
Catskill, N. Y.
COLUMBIA, Dec. 1800
DEAR DOCTOR:
You have probably seen my dispatch to my Litchfield friends, giving an
account of my long and tedious passage to Charleston. The road to this
place does not run upon the banks of any of the large rivers, where the
rich rice & cotton plantations are situated, but through a tract of
country covered with barren sands & marshes, affording to its few
wretched inhabitants little else but pitch pines, dysentery, poverty &
fever agues. You shall not be fatigued by a particular account of my
journey from Charleston, dragging you step by step through so many
savanas, cypress swamps & pine barrens, where nothing can live but
screech owls & turkey buzzards would be cruelty to myself, & would make
you swear like a pirate. Let us fancy ourselves at once at Columbia
where we will take a look at the Assembly, now in session, & then talk a
little of my prospects in this country.
The Legislature of this state undoubtedly affords some men of great
abilities. Gen’l Pinkney & a few others remind me of the venerable Sages
of Greece & Rome. Yet here are some also who (if I do not judge too
precipitately) are better fitted for horse jockeying than for
legislation. ’Tis amusing to see with what ardor they maintain the cause
of Jefferson & Burr, those _violent_ advocates for _moderation_, & ’tis
laughable to view the members of this august assembly, loudly declaiming
in favor of _Liberty_, _Equality_, & the _Rights of man_, while they
shake the bloody scourge over 128,000 of their fellow creatures, whom
they hold in the most abject slavery. Laughable, did I say?—No—I recall
the expression. The picture makes my heart bleed.
There are many difficulties in the way of choosing a situation for
practice. Colonel Hampton has gone to Virginia to be married, & will not
return these several weeks. He has never mentioned my coming to this
part of the world to Lyde, notwithstanding their intimacy & connection,
nor has he ever hinted of the existence of such a creature as myself to
his son in law who has the care of his affairs nor to any one else, that
I can find out. There are several objections to fixing near his estate.
Columbia has three or four physicians, who practice, & another who has
left physic for tavern keeping. One poor devil of a doctor was starved
out, & left the place on the day of my arrival. I find very little
dependence can be placed on the opinions of others with regard to the
eligibility of a place for practice, or even relating to the healthiness
of a town. Almost every marsh in the State is thought a healthy spot by
its inhabitants. A rich planter on Wateree was mentioning his grounds
and neighborhood as remarkably healthy “But,” (said I) “are not the
negroes often sick in the summer?” “Oh, yes,” (said he) “the negroes
have aplenty of fevers & camp distemper in the summer, but the white
people have not, _they_ spend the hot months in Columbia, but in the
winter we have no fevers.” No one certainly will fly so directly into
the face & eyes of candor as to deny the force of this reasoning. When
at Camden, some thought _that_ an excellent stand for a physician, “for
(says one man) it is a healthy place, it trades a great deal, has 80 or
90 houses, & is as large as Columbia,” “yes, (said I) but here already
three eminent practitioners in the place,” “Well, (he replied) if it can
maintain _three_ handsomely, that proves that it is an excellent place
for doctors.” Such forcible logic as that silenced me at once. Upon the
whole, I think I shall fix myself upon the high hills of Santee &
engage, either in partnership, or war with a Dr. Reid who has long
practiced in Statesborough, perhaps your friend will experience the fate
of two medical gentlemen, who 2 or 3 years ago settled on the hills, but
left them in despair of success, yet the late great demand for cotton
has made the inhabitants more wealthy, more luxurious, & consequently
more sickly & more able to pay their physician. Be so good as to send
this on to sister Polly, & that will save me the trouble of writing at
this time, a separate letter for my Litchfield friends. Lyde’s warm
heart, is still strongly attached to Litchfield. Hardly a person can be
mentioned that he had ever seen there, concerning whom he did not make
particular enquiries. Neither distance of time nor place have erased
Marana from his feelings, I think she is still the _gourd seed_. He
turns the conversation repeatedly upon events, & recalled vividly to my
mind, scenes so strongly connected with my feelings, that sometimes in
spite of all my exertions—stop. I am not home sick yet—yet if I had the
wishing cap of Fortunatus (which in an instant will annihilate any
distance) it would contribute some to my satisfaction.
I wish brother James would inform Mr. Joseph Adams that particular
enquiries were made concerning him & his family by Mrs. Adams of Camden,
widow to a brother of his, a clergyman who died some time since. She
intends visiting Connecticut in a year or two for the benefit of her
sons’ education. Whom, I think, she will place under the care of Parson
Backus. She is young, handsome, & wealthy. Our beau must take care. Give
my love to all my Litchfield & Catskill friends. Tell them that time &
distance have increased my affection for them so much, that there is not
one of them whom I would not this moment set out & walk ten miles to
see. Walk,—I say, for I have not purchased me an horse yet—By the way
the price of an horse, saddle & bridle, the delay for an answer from
Col. Hampton, in a country like this 50 pr. cent dearer than Conn’t my
stay in New York waiting for a passage, & the extravagant demand of
packets from that port, all these will really make such a vacancy in my
200 dollar purse, that I shall have room to put in more money when I get
it. However, hope points forward to more prosperous times. Though with
regard to the expense of my passage by water, I can’t say I had not
sailing enough for my money—by our Captain’s account we made a voyage of
about _two thousand_ miles & had the _privilege_ of sailing 17 days, all
which cost no more than if we had made a direct passage in three days
and a half.
Write immediately,
T. PIERCE.
No. 15
STATESBURG, Feb. 16, 1801.
DEAR DOCT’R:—
I expected to have heard from you long before this, but a single letter
from my brother James is all that I have rec’d from my friends at the
northward since I left Conn’t. Several have undoubtedly been written but
lost by the way. I do not think my situation at this place promises to
be very profitable, & I suspect I shall not make a permanent stand here,
yet it is an healthy & pleasant neighborhood, it seems a proper stand
for making a first trial of the effect of a South Carolina summer upon
my constitution. The fortunate instances you have heard of in which
physicians have made fortunes in this country took place in the lowlands
& I suspect that the practice is very little if any more profitable in
the high lands than it is in Connec’t. The physicians in Camden &
Columbia are from the schools of London, New York & Philadelphia, they
have lived several years in this country, yet it is said not one of them
can show a thousand pounds gained by his profession. Col. Hampton wrote
me an obliging letter from Virginia in which he renews his offer of
patronage & pecuniary assistance if wanted—but if I mistake not his
plantation is in as unhealthy a situation as any place I have seen in
this part of the state, & offers but little practice in its
neighborhood. I can maintain myself anywhere—but I believe my friends
may resign any expectations they may have entertained of my growing rich
very suddenly.
Please to send this on to my brother James that he may read the result
of my inquiries concerning the advantages & disadvantages of his
settling in the Southern States. I conclude that Mr. Lide’s note
announcing the necessity of studying a year in South Carolina has
induced you to abandon all thoughts of settling in this state. A
Councillor belonging to Savannah informed me that the rules for
admittance at the Bar of Georgia required only a certificate of
admission at the Bar of Conn’t., & a fair moral character given under
the seal of the State,—and a strict examination before a judge in
Georgia—But he assures me that in the south part of the state a young
attorney is a long time unnoticed & will meet with much source of
discouragement before he can procure an advantageous run of practice. A
practitioner from Augusta informed me that altho’ their bar swarmed with
attornies he believed Augusta a good situation for a man of shining
talents. However, in all the Southern States the practice of law is
extremely expensive—family & glittering accomplishments are preferred to
real merit—& it frequently happens that several years will elapse before
a young man who has nothing but _real worth_ to recommend him can obtain
an advantageous run of business. The planters are the richest class of
men in this country—with their superficial education they direct the
taste of the multitude—& _Vive_ la baggatteiles is the complection of
the ton—Come as dancing master & you can live. Monsieur Griffiths who
taught at Litchfield receives more money than the amount of the salary
of an army officer belonging to the State of North Carolina. He teaches
alternately at Camden, Columbus & Statesburg.