Item 19d: A Letter from Andrew T[odd] McClintock to Henry L. Southard, 1842 Oct[ober] 18
Item — Box: 1, Folder: 19d
Dates
- Created: 1842 Oct[ober] 18
Creator
- McClintock, Andrew Todd, 1810-1892 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letters/Photocopies
Condition Note:
Fair. The general condition of the photocopy makes it difficult to reader in places.
Measurements:
8 ½ in. x 11 in.
Description:
The following item depicts a letter written by Andrew Todd McClintock to Henry L. Southard, dated October 18, 1842. In the letter, McClintock is writing his regrets at the delay in his response. He mentions that he has been occupied with the Autumn Court, business, and travels through New Jersey and western New York, where he visited Niagara. He tries to explain the beauty of the falls, mentioning that there are no words and Southard must see it for himself. McClintock touches on some of the political happenings in the area, such as the personal travels and campaign of Richard M. Johnson, who McClintock feels is requesting more than is required of the people for their vote. He writes that he would sooner choose Lewis Cass, but quickly moves on from these points. He invites Southard to visit them in the valley, noting that Southard has expressed feelings of despondency. McClintock assures him that he too has felt those feelings but that he sees a promising future for Southard following his studies in the law. On the final page, McClintcok attempts to share the little gossip he has on the valley, mentioning what marriages are upcoming and who has moved to what offices.
The letter speaks of Richard M. Johnson by a moniker he achieved in battle when he allegedly killed Tecumseh.
Richard M. Johnson was a prominent American lawyer and military figure who would go on to serve as the ninth vice president during the Martin Van Buren administration. Johnson utilized his alleged victory over Tecumseh as a political point for an advantage in his campaign for the presidency.
Tecumseh was a chief of the Shawnee people who openly advocated against the expansion of the United States on indigenous lands. He was a very persuasive orator, coming to form a Native American confederacy built on the proposal of intertribal unity. He and Johnson met on the battlefield during the Battle of the Thames on October 5, 1813, where he was allegedly killed by Richard M. Johnson. The confederacy shortly dissolved without Tecumseh’s influence.
Henry L. Southard was a nineteenth century figure in the region, known widely for his work with mining and railroad companies.
Location:
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Transcription:
Wilkes Barre, 18 Oct[ober] 1842
Mr dear friend:
Your letter reached me in the
middle of our August Court, and I had then
no opportunity of complying with the strong
inclination I felt to answer it immediately —
soon after Court I left home and was absent
upwards of three weeks — Since my return
I have been very busy in bringing up my
business which I found required attention —
Our usually quiet town in all agog
this morning to see the great slayer of
Tecumseh— He arrived last evening, and they
have gone in procession this morning to the
battle ground. Instead of joining in the
procession, I have preferred Writing to one
when I w’d [would] have rather take by the hand—
The old Col[onel] is travelling thro’ [through] our state to
show himself, in the hope that it will
help him to the Presidency or at least
to a nomination for that high office—
I confess I cannot see any ground for
his claims to the office— I think the account
current between him & the people has been
pretty well balanced by the latter, & I do
not find my gratitude quite warm enough
to satisfy me that “we, the people,” owe
him anything more— my preference is
for Lewis Cass— But I did not set down
to write to you you a political letter —-
Page 2:
I have tho’t [thought] a great deal about you both before & since I rec’d [received] your last letter— What are you doing? I hear that you are pursuing your studies, and I trust you find the Law neither dry, not uninteresting— I have high hopes of your success in the profession, and think you will like the practice — I have no doubt that when you look abroad upon the world, you sometimes find your heart sinking within you [illegible] I have passed thro’ [through] many such moments of despondency, and have often felt as tho’ [though] there was a place in the great drama of life for every one but myself— We should not, however, yield to such a false estimate of ourselves and others — Take courage. The resolution to succeed— seconded by the effort, will most surely bring success – Providence has established his laws, and he who sows, may hope to reap— I wish you could have been with us in our trip to the Falls— We made the journey in our own conveyance, and enjoyed it very much. The western part of New York is full of pleasant villages, and from our mode of travelling we were enabled to spend a few hours, & frequently the greater part of a day, at various points of interest — The great sight of all, however, was Niagara – We staid (sic) [stayed] at the Falls two days, and spent a day in the neighborhood I c’d [could] have staid (sic) there a month no description – nothing from the pen or the pencil can give you any idea of the grandeur of Niagara— To realize it [illegible][illegible] [illegible] magnificence it must be seen—
Page 3:
I have been expecting a visit from you before this time— When shall we see you? You will not find much changed in Wilkes Barre — Jones is in my office— Leiffer is still in town, following the occupation of a surveyor — The last I heard of him he was domesticated a(t) Beaumonts He is not yet named — Tis said Elijah Reynolds is to marry Mary Butler this fall — Miss Titus is to be married tomorrow morning– This is about all the gossip of which I am master— Henry Wells told me he saw you in Princeton several times during the last few months, & that you were well – I hesitated some time between a trip to New Jersey & the Falls— I had been at the Falls, and have some very clever cousins in New Jersey, near Princeton, When I tho’t [thought] of visiting, but Grey had never seen Niagara– and decided the question – I hope to meet you at princeton if we both live to see another summer — Before that, however, you must show yourself in the valley – Where let me again assure you– you have very many warm friends — I [illegible] [illegible] the balance of my sheet for my wife to fill up— Let me hear from you soon — and believe me Truly your friend And[re]w T. McClintock Henry L. Southard Esq[uire]
Back:
12 ½ Henry L. Southard, Esq[ui]r[e] Trenton New Jersey
Single—
A. T. McClintock Rec[eive]d 25th Oct[ober] 1842 An[swere]d
Mrs Sturdivant died yesterday afternoon after another long illness
Friend Henry I see my husband has been giving you a little of his experience in the law by way of keeping up your spirits— professional. He often gives some gloomy Histories as he once imagined them but as he is getting to be a pretty comfortable old body, I think this wear & tear of his profession have not been very hard on him. We are all living along after the same fashion
tho’ Hal & myself have had a touch of the fever by was of a little change, I believe our valley was home a bad reputation this fall as to its unhealthiness, at least the credit of the same deprived us of a visit from the Governor & Lady although Col[onel] Johnson in hopes of the Presidency was not to be driven back by such rumors. Eva & Hal are with us still though they expect to go to housekeeping in two or three months. If you should take a fancy to visit the valley this fall or winter we shall be very glad to see you always remembering that you are not to pass out door— — Yours sincerely Augusta McC[lintock]
Back: In pencil: 2
Page 2:
I have tho’t [thought] a great deal about you both before & since I rec’d [received] your last letter— What are you doing? I hear that you are pursuing your studies, and I trust you find the Law neither dry, not uninteresting— I have high hopes of your success in the profession, and think you will like the practice — I have no doubt that when you look abroad upon the world, you sometimes find your heart sinking within you [illegible] I have passed thro’ [through] many such moments of despondency, and have often felt as tho’ [though] there was a place in the great drama of life for every one but myself— We should not, however, yield to such a false estimate of ourselves and others — Take courage. The resolution to succeed— seconded by the effort, will most surely bring success – Providence has established his laws, and he who sows, may hope to reap— I wish you could have been with us in our trip to the Falls— We made the journey in our own conveyance, and enjoyed it very much. The western part of New York is full of pleasant villages, and from our mode of travelling we were enabled to spend a few hours, & frequently the greater part of a day, at various points of interest — The great sight of all, however, was Niagara – We staid (sic) [stayed] at the Falls two days, and spent a day in the neighborhood I c’d [could] have staid (sic) there a month no description – nothing from the pen or the pencil can give you any idea of the grandeur of Niagara— To realize it [illegible][illegible] [illegible] magnificence it must be seen—
Page 3:
I have been expecting a visit from you before this time— When shall we see you? You will not find much changed in Wilkes Barre — Jones is in my office— Leiffer is still in town, following the occupation of a surveyor — The last I heard of him he was domesticated a(t) Beaumonts He is not yet named — Tis said Elijah Reynolds is to marry Mary Butler this fall — Miss Titus is to be married tomorrow morning– This is about all the gossip of which I am master— Henry Wells told me he saw you in Princeton several times during the last few months, & that you were well – I hesitated some time between a trip to New Jersey & the Falls— I had been at the Falls, and have some very clever cousins in New Jersey, near Princeton, When I tho’t [thought] of visiting, but Grey had never seen Niagara– and decided the question – I hope to meet you at princeton if we both live to see another summer — Before that, however, you must show yourself in the valley – Where let me again assure you– you have very many warm friends — I [illegible] [illegible] the balance of my sheet for my wife to fill up— Let me hear from you soon — and believe me Truly your friend And[re]w T. McClintock Henry L. Southard Esq[uire]
Back:
12 ½ Henry L. Southard, Esq[ui]r[e] Trenton New Jersey
Single—
A. T. McClintock Rec[eive]d 25th Oct[ober] 1842 An[swere]d
Mrs Sturdivant died yesterday afternoon after another long illness
Friend Henry I see my husband has been giving you a little of his experience in the law by way of keeping up your spirits— professional. He often gives some gloomy Histories as he once imagined them but as he is getting to be a pretty comfortable old body, I think this wear & tear of his profession have not been very hard on him. We are all living along after the same fashion
tho’ Hal & myself have had a touch of the fever by was of a little change, I believe our valley was home a bad reputation this fall as to its unhealthiness, at least the credit of the same deprived us of a visit from the Governor & Lady although Col[onel] Johnson in hopes of the Presidency was not to be driven back by such rumors. Eva & Hal are with us still though they expect to go to housekeeping in two or three months. If you should take a fancy to visit the valley this fall or winter we shall be very glad to see you always remembering that you are not to pass out door— — Yours sincerely Augusta McC[lintock]
Back: In pencil: 2
Creator
- McClintock, Andrew Todd, 1810-1892 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu