Noah Webster letter to Emily Ellsworth, 1837 October 23

New Haven Oct. 23. 1837

Dear Emily

I received your letter by Mr Goodwin, & am glad to hear that your family is in health, & that Harriets complaint is abating. Your friends here are also in health, but the Goodrich family is deeply afflicted by the death of Edward Ellsworth. William attended him in his last hours, & has given an account of his sickness which was a bilious fever, that assumed a typhus form. This is a great loss to William, as well as to the family friends. I feel anxious for William, as all the new settlements, especially along the rivers, are much affected with autumnal diseases.

My children all regret the dispersion of my library. But why it should remain unbroken, I do not see. Most of my books have not been opened in twenty or thirty years, & I should never open them, if they should stand on my shelves. I reserve however my most valuable books or such as I may want - so that the distribution will not be complete till I have done with earthly things.

In dividing my books, I could not tell which would be most wanted by particular families. But if any of my children have two sets, they may dispose of one either by gift or sale; or by exchanges with each other.

I intended to give Mr Holland a copy of my Bible, but I have understood that he has left Hartford.

Mr Goodwin's poor success was not unexpected by me - Money is very scarce & becoming scarcer. When we shall have a revival of business, we cannot foresee. We must yield to the storm, as well as we are able, till better days.

Mr

Mr Goodrich says, there must be a meeting of all my children & grandchildren, next spring. I have now entered my eightieth year, & such a meeting would be a delightful event, if practicable. It is supposed that Rosalie will be here, if she & her children are in health & we can send for William. I hardly dare to entertain an expectation of such an event as life & health are uncertain, & many untoward circumstances, besides sickness, may interpose to defeat it. My health at present is remarkably good; & I am a wonder to my friends here, as well as in New York, where I was a few days ago.

I have little now to occupy my time, except to take pains to give circulation to my books, especially to the Bible. In this, I have to encounter much ignorance, much prejudice, some bigotry, & many honest fears. But it is a satisfaction to know, that the Bible itself & my reasons prefixed to the edition, are gradually removing those obstacles. The opposition to it is not greater than the opposition was to the version in King James reign. It was many years before that work could be brought to supersede the old Geneva Bible. There is nothing new in this opposition; but I am somewhat surprised to find it so strong in some clergymen, or it appears to be. Their fears that other persons may make alterations are wholly groundless; for the reception one amended copy would prevent every other attempt. Moderate & judicious reforms are the best preventions of violent innovations.

Accept our love for you & the family from your

affection father

N Webster

74109

W O

PAID

Mrs William W Ellsworth

Hartford

[POSTMARK] NEW HAVEN Ct. OCT 24

Single.

1972.96.64 74109