Letter to Daniel Clement from Jesse Clement, July 17 1837

Addressed to Daniel Clement (1796-1872), written by Jesse Clement (1815-1883). Emphasis in the original.

Jesse writes to inform Daniel that Daniel's father has died. He also relates details of his life. He seems to be a student who supports himself by teaching writing, and who also writes poetry.

New Hampton, July 17th, 1837

Uncle,

I have long contemplated writing to you but business and other considerations have prevented me from so doing. And now however, unreadable fully pressed with studies &c, resolved to send you a line, as I have some heart rending news from Dracut of which to inform you. Must I say it? Yes, the painful intelligence must be communicated to you-- that your father has gone to his long home in the silent confines of the tomb! He died the 27th of June. The particulars, I cannot give you, as Ihave not yet learned them myself-- having only heard of his death and day of burial. He was taken sick soon after I left home last February and I heard several times that it was probable I should never see him again. So it is: we shall behold him no more from earth. He has "gone to that unreadable from whence no traveler ever returns"-- a country for which all that are now living must soon depart. But why dwell longer upon this tear unreadable subject. I know not that any thing else would be at the present time interest you, but I will add a few words more at least. You doubtless feel anxious to know how your kind and dear mother now is, also our other relatives in and near Dracut. I can only say that I have not heard that any of them were unwell of late. Grandmother had an ill turn the first of spring-- but soon recovered. Her health for the most part of the time during a year past has been very good. So much so that she has done her own work, and sometimes more.

I must here say a word respecting the maternal kindness of grandmother. For the last four or five years she has been to me in action at least, a mother. Whenever I wished for any trifling domestic act performed, she has always been ready to do it. I have striven in some degree to repay her for her kindness, though I fear I am much her debtor. But I leave this subject and say a few words respecting my own affairs. I came to this place for the first time, two years ago last March-- left again the following August-- worked for my father in the fall and taught school in Vermont during the winter. I passed the first year. The following March I came home again-- returned home in August, remained there till winter (though I taught three writing schools in town during the fall)-- Kepy a school in Middlesex Village (Chelmsford) in the winter, immediately after finishing it, I returned to this garden of science again, which was the 4 of last February as I have before informed you. There was a vacation here last April which last two and a half weeks, during which I taught a writing school in Bristol, a town joining N. Hampton on the south west. School commenced again the first of May. My studies this summer have been and now are, Algebra, Intellectual Philosophy, & French. Do not laugh, uncle because I an studying the French language. I have several reasons for so doing which I might mention, but forbare for want of time &c.

The annual exhibition is now rapidly approaching. It will be the 17th of August-- a great day in New Hampton. We are making great preparations for it. Perhaps you would like to know what I intend to do on that day: at any rate I will inform you. The fact is, uncle, I have been chosen by a society here called the Literary Adelphis, to which I belong, to write and speak a poem. So you see that I "go ahead", to use Col. Crocket's homely phrase.The subject I have been requested to write upon is The Imaginative Mind of Deity. My introduction will be after this unreadable

Come contemplation, unreadable of heavenly birth,
Companion of the pensive child of earth,
On Fancy's airy passions let us soar
And the creation's boundless reasons explore
Survey the unreadable and wonders they unfold
And the Creator's wisdom vast behold

It is rather too deep a subject for an ignoramus like myself to write upon, and I do it only to please one of the professors. I shall leave N. Hampton in August immediately after the Exhibition. There will then be a vacation of between two and three weeks. I expect during this time to teach a writing school in Methuen Village, Mass. My brother Asa is there, an overseer in one of the 'factories. He informs me that he can get me good school &c. He is not yet married, though I unreadable expect he will be this fall-- has been in Methuen nearly three years.

You must present my compliments to Mrs. Clement and the rest of the family if you have any now. I hope you will visit Dracut soon. All would be pleased to see you and wife, &c. It would give me great pleasure to visit you in Hebron were it convenient. I expect to be here this fall, and teach writing school during the winter. What kind of a place would Hebron and the adjoining towns be for my business? Let me know when you write, which I wish you to do the 12th of August. Be punctual. Direct to Dracut.

J. Clement

P.S.

Give my respects to Mr. Mattison-- tell him that the school here flourishes nicely-- even better. You must not consider this a specimen of my penmanship as I am in a hurry and cannot take much pains. I have a vast amount of writing to do I assure you. Should you like to examine some of my composition, you may look at one or two numbers of the Rural Repository , printed in Hebron N.Y. Say the 3 & 4 no's of the present volume, and if you see a piece of prose signed J. C. You may guess who wrote it. I wrote a few pieces of poetry for the same paper last year and the year before, signed Rural Bard.

Clement.

Notes:

• The subject of this letter is Moses Clement (1758-1837)
• The author of this letter is probably Jesse Clement (1815-1883), Daniel's nephew, son of Asa Clement (1784-1851).
• The school may be the New Hampton School