Noah Webster letter to Emily Ellsworth, 1837 November 27

New Haven Novr 27. 1837

Dear Emily

I am happy to know, from your letter to dear mother, that you & the family are in health. If a cloud now hangs over you, it is a general calamity, & your husband & his children must yield to the tempest, till it has blown over. If we can bring our minds to contentment with reduced expenses, we may still enjoy the portion of happiness which is best for us. There is not a greater evil in society than the disposition, generated by uncommon prosperity, to place happiness in splendor & gayety. That you will be able to live in a respectable condition, I make no doubt, & if your children shall be taught to rest less on thier father & more on themselves, the change may result in lasting benefits.

If the books I have sent you serve to revive the remembrance of early days, spent under a paternal roof, & to recall the image of your father & of his toils, one of my objects will be attained. The recollection of such things serves to sustain that kindly feeling of family nearness, which is among the best affections of the human heart. You seem to regret my gift of so many books to [...] this I think your err. The books given [...] library are collections of pamphlets & documents. Many of the pamphlets are very rare, & can hardly be found any where else; and if an index shall be made to them & published, it will be found that the books will be frequently resorted to for information, & rare history. If I had given them to any college library, they would probably have been

neglected, even more than in a Company's library; as []young men, rarely looks into old books.

The number of these books given to the Hartford library has probably led you into another error, that I have given most of my books to libraries. This is not the case. I have given to certain colleges books, which my children do not want & mostly such as they would never use, & to none have I given as many, as to the library in Hartford. Besides, I have reserved many of my best books for my own use, to be distributed like the others, but after my eyes are closed upon all the things of this world.

Whether the proposed family meeting can be accomplished is doubtful; at least, a meeting of all the children & grand children. It is well however to keep it in mind.

My last letter from William informed that the election of bank officers had proved favorable, so that he expected to be retained. Rosalie has always manifested a great affection for our family, & I believe her to be sincere. I trust the affection is reciprocated by us all.

With love to you all, as usual, I am

Dear Emily, your affectionate father

The second volume of [] is doubtless among the books sent.

74109

PAID

Mrs William W Ellsworth

Hartford

[POSTMARK] NEW HAVEN

NOV 27

Single

of b to be affect trust

1972.96.65 74109