Front: 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 disposi-
tion, 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 re-
membrance 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