RKFP-001

Fairfield Aug. 2. 1830 -

Mon Cher Ami.

Vous etry un veritable Francois - while I have used my lingua Francaise so little, that it has grown rusty and I shall not be able to render you in that a "quid pro quo" - however I still[strikethrough] Can still translate yours with facility & pleasure - I have just returned from the 'grand flourish of Commencement Day, - a day that has ended my College Course and dispatched me from the lap of my Alma Mater laden with Sweet meats & trinkets & a sheep skin big enough for a ball cover - or in more manly phrase with a Parchment, covered with latin characters beautifully engraved, (which being interpreted signifyeth that Henrius Hurlbut a youth of exemplary morals & [illegible][strikethrough] distinguished acquirements, is worthy of the high honor of a Baccalaureate) and what is better than all the rest, bearing the hand and seal of Eliphalet[?] Sott[?] S. S D &c &c a man who sees deeper into a mill stone than any man of the present age - with moreover a flat key of a yellowish hen[?] brewing[?] divers mistical emblems, indication of arcana which it were sacrilege to reveal a parallellogram 1 inch by three fourths (Measuring as it was shrewdly remarked, the magnitude of the student's mind who was wholly engrossed with this object) - and last, a majical breast pin, to be worn as a safe guard against all the temptation & vicious enticements, & various evil influences which beset the path of the wanderer on this mundane sphere. And further to present to you[strikethrough] the possessor whenever this pin is seen by a fellow member, a friend fast and true - bound by the irrevocable bond of early association, and convivial fellowship - - In short, my friend, and to give full way to my present humour, I have attaind every thing at College which my most sanguine hopes had aspired to - viz - every honor which was attainable by any one - I entered you know in advan[ce] (the junior year) when the field was already occupied by competitors who had got the start in the race[?] - I exerted myself in that in which I perceived my class was most deficient (speaking[strikethrough] declamation, and on my first effort was pronounced the best speaker thus[?] in[?] my class. - There wer[e] then 70 in the class - I was chosen Junior Orator (an honor in which only six can share) in apposion to many who cd claim preceince on the ground of long standing - My oration was pronounced by the Professor before rehearsa[l] the best of the six - and on the day of display I had the satisfaction to percive myself listened to attentively by a sea of fans (many of them fair ones too) and finally of being clapped into [illegible][strikethrough] momentary Elisium - I was before this admitted into a band of brothers y'cliped[?] the [sigma] [theta?] who being chainly[?] seluted[?] & bro't together under interesting circumstances became invincibly attached to each other - Last February I was admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa within a fortnight of the period that which W m[underlined] D. Waterman was admitted after being kept out a whole term by a very steadfast honest enemy who had got the start by entering first - And at last circumstances so changed thus the highest honor of commencement which is regulated by scholarship as well as speaking talent & which I had tho't was defurred[?] me by reason of entering late, fell into my hands in course - so that I had only

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to maintain my stand to obtain it - when I was called home - and I relinquished all further aspirations after college honors & even dropt that already in my hands and[?] were to order to do my duty to my[strikethrough] the family - I quit college halls & only returned to receive my diploma and see my class mates go off with a report While a member, I wrote many pieces for the Masonic Record and a few fo the Phil. Album - Some of which I may yet send on to you when - - [illegible] when you have nothing better to employ yr time about than in reading them & when you will be reciprocal - These things together with close application to college duties, employed my time pretty industriously and I did not find time to devote a moment to the fair damsels of Schenectady - for this however I contrived to make myself amends by unbridled indulge amongst the simple hearted & intelligent girls of my native village in vacations - you will say I compliment our females too highly - I own it as a general description - but I have in my eye only two whom I think you do not know and who are worthy of all praise - I wish my friend Kinnicutt could know them - they are too young to be subject to the objection that lay so strongly against yr. N. Orleans inamorata - They have only seen the blossoms of 17 & 18 summers - They are beautiful - but their beauty is not of that tinsel character that shows prettiness & nothing farther - which serves to ornament the possesser like[strikethrough] without indicating the qualities of the mind & heart - both have countenances decidedly intellectual - and there is something so different & yet so similar in their expression that when I [have?] seen them together leaning affectionately on each other I have felt a pleasure never equalled - 't'was like - nay 'twas like nothing on earth or in sky my friend - 'twas like nothing but themselves - Altho' an admirer of Nature, I was unable after such a conjunction to look good naturedly on ever so glorious a sunset cloud for a whole hour I wd describe them if I cd - I will try as it is - They are neither of them tall - nor very sylph like - equally removed from fragile & rotund forms - but think you wd not at first observe - their countenances wd rivet yr attention - One has a complexion bearing the rich hue of health yet transparently delicate & white - with oval features - with a lofty & intellectual brow - and eyes neither black blue hazel gray, nor any other color - but a combination of all - or rather changing into all these hues as the expression varies - but 'tis the general expression of the countenance - the profound[?] dignity of the forehead, so beautifully releaved by the cast of genuine benevolence, & the dreamy deeply contemplative eyes, that seem like living founts of pure though rich [illegible] & holy imaginings - Kinnicutt if you cd see this girl, win her intimacy, & receive the frank open sincerity with which she expresses her beautiful sentiments and the confiding earnestness withe which she lays open her whole heart, you wd never once think of an apology for refusal - you wd rather seek one for what you term, presumption - - The other has a complexion equally delicate, & pale as marble - a n[strikethrough] character it scarcely ever loses - for she possesses the most perfect self command - she is never thrown off her guard even for an instant - when she was first emerging from 15 she possessed the same impenetrable coolness &[strikethrough] self[strikethrough] possession[strikethrough] the same calm disention - She is reason herself - she reasons on every thing - not disputingly nor yet so as to seem very reserved - but yet you cannot be in her presence[?] five minutes without being conscious of[strikethrough] the[strikethrough] power[strikethrough] that she reflects if[strikethrough] under[strikethrough] - She is proud as Lucifer - but her very pride is reasonable[strikethrough] a profution, for it is subject to reason - & only shows itself as a calm dignity - but let an impropriety or departure from decorum meet her glance & the spirit of a noble minded fema[strikethrough] woman rises instantly to repress it - My intimacy with her has done more than all else to make me intuitively delicate & proper in female society - I said she was rarely discomposed - true - but I have once or twice discomposed her, & then so slight & delicate a tinge lit up her pale features, & soon[strikethrough] her slight agitation was so instantly & purforce represeed, that I scarcely had time to note it before it disappeared - her couninance is grave - but when a smile lights it up, it has treble effect from the contrast - her eyes are perfectly black, not sparkling but luminous &[strikethrough] keen[strikethrough] or[strikethrough] are[strikethrough] penetrating - set in a complexion of lily whiteness their effect is peculiar. her brow is not high but strongly marked - and altho the contour of her features is not elegant, in itself, one wd be very cinical if on first sight he noticed the definacy[?]

her hair is silken positively. & of that beautiful brown approaching to black what sets off so finely a delicate complexion - Then friend Kinnicutt you have my portraits & if you can mek any thing out of it[strikethrough] them I shall forgive myself for the daub - You found hr Southern lady incapable of exciting affection - You wd not say so of the originals of these - And then to listen to & mingle in their intelligent Converse - no attempts at display - but all the [illegible] off spring of said feeling & to hear their beautiful sentiments. from which all personality is expunged, - coming forth not in collision or rivalry but as if to set off each other - Sir, it is dangerous - very dangerous to one less platonic than myself - it might perhaps be so even to me if I had taken care to keep my admiration divided between the two - and their excellence is so [illegible] that it preserved me from a declension[?] on either side - or if at any time I percived too strong a [illegible][strikethrough] desperation[strikethrough] partiality towards one, I frequented the more the parlance of the other, until the equilibrium was restored - you must acknowledge that this was very philosophical -

You r[strikethrough] acted in relation to that amiable Blue, very much as I shod have expected - I know you had too lofty a soul to barter affection for Gold - yet as the world goes how few wd have "done the same - Nay the majority wd be ready to stamp[strikethrough] give such motives & conduct the name of folly - the reason is evident - They see the chief pleasures of life in the enjoyments of the splendour & luxuries that riches alone procure And after all altho' I cod not wish to see you throw away yr existence on an unworthy object, yet I shd like right well that you shd be in possession of the goods & chattels lands tenements & hereditaments[?] that wd thus be yours - for however you may disregard them now in the full stength of manhood there will be a time probably when you will find wealth necessary to comfort & happiness - What! Wed an Atheist? - Ah there's the rub to be sure - An Atheist [illegible] female is incapable of being beloved - There is something in the doctrine so different from the amiable devotion, & confiding tenderness of the sex that it makes them at once repulsive - Piety is natural to woman - She is early taught to feel her dependence on man - no wonder that she is easily brot to reverence God - Methinks it were impossible to love even a very [illegible], if she had thrown off her allegiance to her maker - There is another objection to a female of that character, founded principally on prudence - In the warm climate & loose morals of the South, the Passions require a curb. take away religion and you expose females at once to the temptation unprotected - and the unlucky husband while he is dreaming of security in the possession of his wife's affections is perhaps sadly commuted[?] - -

The[strikethrough] last[strikethrough] contains[strikethrough] The anecdotes of dwelling in yr last have am [page torn] me much, and have given me a better idea how such things are regarde[d] [page torn] at the South than I had before - They furnish fine ground work for [page torn] tales, but whether I shall be able [illegible][strikethrough] to improve them soon I know not - I have for some time relinquished the pen. (except for the service of my correspondents & romantic law papers.) My time will be constantly occupied for some months if I pursue the plan I have marked out - Viz. to settle the concerns of the Estate. Provide for the wants of the family - labour on the farm for [illegible][strikethrough] improving my health - and studying[strikethrough] the study of law - you will say these are objects enough - but I have one more which I intend for moments of leisure (perhaps borrow a little of the Lord's time) The mean to acquire the Spanish Language - I think it will become a common accomplishment in the course of a few years - What think you? - Is it worth the labour? - I shall study it privately not being able to procure a teacher - And pray are there no Spanish Newspapers published at the[strikethrough] South[strikethrough] N.O. - if so, you wd oblige me by sending one - if not, a spanish pamplet of any descripton wd be desirable - There are non to be procured here - - I[strikethrough] will[strikethrough] send[strikethrough] you[strikethrough] some[strikethrough] [illegible][strikethrough] Records[strikethrough] having[strikethrough] [illegible][strikethrough] written[strikethrough] a[strikethrough] year[strikethrough] [illegible][strikethrough] you[strikethrough] have[strikethrough] not[strikethrough] seen[strikethrough] - They[strikethrough] are[strikethrough] all[strikethrough] fugitive[strikethrough] - [illegible][strikethrough] did'nt[strikethrough] cost[strikethrough] much[strikethrough] - In return despatch me some of yours in any form if you wish to oblige me. Yr papers I recieve & read with avidity particularly as it gives me the power of amusing my friends for all are interested in what comes from so strange a place as N.O. - Let me urge you my good fellow, to write often, & long - no fear of being tedious - You apologize for the Egotism of yr epistles - Look at this - verily it is in the first person every

line of it - and indeed I was induced to indulge in it the more from observing that those parts of yours pleased me most which you condemned as egotistical -

I fear my letters grow uninteresting - there is nothing like the details of business & collections & calculations of dollars & cents, to clip the wings of [illegible] & invention however this may be, yr communications will never cease to entertain -

Now of Old acquaintance - I saw Burwell but a moment since - he is now on his way to Buffalo Academy - he was at Commencement, but took no part. & whether he recd his degree or not I do not know - I presume he did - he anticipates a fortune from England - - Dr. Mather is lecturing on Chem. at Rochester this summer he intends so soon as he finished his course there, to invade Canada in search of those who are willing to be benefitted by his science - he you know is one of that sort who cannot alter - Elliot Burwell is studying[strikethrough] Medicine[strikethrough] at[strikethrough] Buffalo[strikethrough] -[strikethrough] teaching in Cont. - he intends to study Medicine at Buffaloe - Mr Chassell & family are well - he continues to teach the Academy and has this summer about[strikethrough] 40 or 50 students - We have a new dominic here in place of Rev. [illegible]. Whipple - his name is Weber - he is young - but 25 - a man of talents - sound & useful - by the way I like the Episcopalians & should I ever join the church * shd seek that order - Pray what do they in the way of religion at N.O. - No weddings have been perpetrated of late - but it is said some have desperate intentions to that effect - Aruna Smith (a young lawyer) is going to form a conjunction with Miss Eliza Bradly - & James Borden (the roaring Caroli-nian) with Emelina Griswold, daughter of the blustering Supervisor. - & your poor correspondent with - but believe me it's all[strikethrough] a lie - what madness [illegible] my situation to think of a copulative conjunction even with an angel -

Giles Sheldon is in very ill health - he is you know constitutionally consumptive - he spits blood often - & has once or twice been reduced very low - I try to persuade him to go to the South, but cannot succeed - I fear it is family considerations that prevent - his father is a drunkard & he wd leave behind a mother & sister - know you of no inducement to offer him? - Belding has just entered Junior Class - he has[strikethrough] left college the least term from ill health - W m[underlined] D. Waterman is studying law in N. York. - Amos Hunt I have heard from - he is enacting Blackstone with all his might - Totten is teaching an Academy - Marvin has enetered the Senior Class - - You remember [illegible][strikethrough] Thompson, a tall student to[strikethrough] whom I introduced to you, & who said he had been accused of writing the Ghost Story in the frind[?] (Peter Banter) - Well, he had the last poem of Commencement - Gave me a copy of it - I have not told you half that I wished, of the details of Com.? - & a singular quarrel that took place at College this term - but I have no more room - I will write again as soon as possible - Meanwhile let me hear from you by all means our family remembers you

Henry[underlined] Hurlbut[underlined]

[page turned] Fairfield N. Y. } Aug.[underlined] 5.[underlined] } 25[underlined]

James A. Kinnicutt New Orleans Louisiana[underlined]