Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
Transcribed by Danya Bichsel with assistance from app.trankribus.org:
Mattapoisett Massa. Dec. 16th 1835.
Mr. Samuel J. Wolcott.
Dear Sir, Having been very busy of late, with my
writing & other labours, I have neglected wri
ting, in acknowledgement of the books you sent on for me, longer
than I intended. I can fully appreciate your numerous cares + the
perpetual occupation of your mind. And had nearly concluded
that you would not be able to attend to the books till the eastern
vessels had left the river. I am fearful from something that Dr.
Bull wrote to me that he applied to you with some severity
of complaint. If so, it was what & had not authorized.
The collection you made was much more full than I expected.
Some five or six small unimportant volumes are wanting, but
there are two volumes of Edward's Sermons, which I had given
up for lost, either of which I estimate more highly than all of them.
Some others, which I had little expectation of seeing, appear
among the rest. The box arrived at New Bedford, in good order,
a day or two before the commencement of the cold weather. I
presume the collection must have caused you and Ursula much
labour, & am very thankful for your attention to the subject.
I am glad you have received of Dr. Bull the pay of your
Mother's Note against me. I wish you would write Paid on
the Note. It is a great favor that the good woman continues
in as comfortable a state as when you last wrote me. I hope
she may yet live many days, in the enjoyment of comfortable
health, & the supporting presence of her Lord & Savior.
Your military duties, & town & other offices, must necessa-
rily take up much of your time & impose upon you
much labour. But you are well aware that we live to toil
& do good. And I presume you are as useful in that may as you
would be in devoting equal time & labour to different pursuits.
And I think it now very apparent, what I have long expected
that the Militia of the country will ere long rise in estimation,
& the employment of bearing arms for the peace and safety of the
community will be what it has ever been in all well regu-
lated society, highly honourable. I hope you will not think of
withdrawing from the service. You perceive the President
in his message, which is written with much ability, though
it contains some childish things, speaks decided by on that subject.
I presume before long there will be a reorganization of the
militia, & that they will be encouraged by certain privi-
leges, or be paid for their expences at least, if not for their time.
In your next letter I hope you will give me some account of
your parade at saybrook.
I hope Ursula is recovered from her illness you mentioned
in your last letter. Such complaints are unpleasant and sometimes
quite distressing, but they do not seem to wear upon the system
like acute disease. I trust, by the favour of a good Providence she
has regained her usual health.
I am often reminded of late how your father used to say that
in a few years grain would not be worth raising. But it
seems that with all the facilities of transportation from the
west, & all the reduction of distilleries, the price of grain
steadily advances. There is much complaint on the subject in
this quarter. New corn sells for over a dollar per bushel from
the [illegible]. The fact appears to be that the relative portion of our
population through the country, engaged in agriculture, is dimin-
ishing; while the portion devoted to manufactures, com-
-merce, fisheries, & other pursuits, is relative by increasing. Our
cities, populous towers, & villages gain upon the other parts in
population. Of the immense number of foreigners which which
we are thronged but a small part engage in agriculture. I think
that employment more likely to increase in reputation & profit
than diminish.
It is a remarkable fact that two of the Connecticut members of
Congress should have died at Washington so near together. Mr Smith
was a highly respectable man. Mr. Wildman belonged to Dan
bury & was a poor fellow.
My health is pretty good; better I think, through divine favour, thou
it has been since my long sickness. I have lately preached a Discourse
of three sermons, here & at New Bedford, on the doctrine of the Trinity.
It cost me much labour. That doctrine is the great object of unbelief at the present day.
The weather here has been cold since the 23rd of Nov. though we have
had but little snow. To-day has been very severe. I have pist bee
down to evening-prayers, & my Thermometer is 9 below 0. It has not
been above 3, through the day, with clear sun. I expect to see our har-
bour frozen in the morning, though there is a good deal of wind.
My kind regards to your Maria, your parents and Ursula,
Mr. Haskell and Frances, Mr Bissell & Eveline & their children.
Yours as ever, Thomas Robbins.
