ThayerDavid18780524_011

insubordination & as we all thought
greatly exagerated his offence.
Mr Bristol sat in a front seat
& rose & with greate self control &
in a most respectful manner
asked to be permitted to speak
in his own defence.
Mr. Johnson lost his temper
& with great passion-anger from
so small a man, ordered him
to sit down. The order was obeyed.
This cowardly act of the Principal
grieved many & exasperated the
Abolitionists & made us more
determined in the way we were
going. You ask particularly
about Mr Johnson & in reply I am
happy to say he was a good man,
a good scholar in Latin & Greek but
a man so ignorant of human nature
that this little difficulty quite
unhorsed him so that he could not
exercise authority without displaying the tyranny
of a little & cowardly nature.