Noah Webster letter to Emily Ellsworth, 1838 April 25

New Haven April 25th 1838

Dear Emily.

This is the day for celebrating the settlement of New Haven by the Puritans. I suppose there will be a great collection of people; but I do not join in the procession. It is too cold, & I am too old to bear the fatigue. But I have another objection. It is very difficult for me to write, in the celebration of the enterprise & piety of the Puritans, with thousands of citizens who hate the character & are asiduous in corrupting the principles & undermining the institutions which they established. The enemies of puritan principles now form a large portion of our citizens. I have long been a witness of the meanness & wickedness of their political enemies, & of the bigotry of their religious adversaries.

I am not of the New Haven stock of Puritans & my claims to some consideration on account of my connection with the Connecticut or Hartford stocks, have been disregarded. I am therefore content to keep the place which public opinion has assigned to me; being satisfied with my best efforts, during life, to maintain the principles & the institutions of my ancestors. Our political condition is woefully bad, & were it not that I see the influences of divine grace in reforming my fellow citizens, I should abandon all hope of the future welfare of the country. We have great evils among ourselves; but we are connected with the South & West, where exist still more appalling evils. May heaven do that for us which most of our citizens seem not disposed to do for themselves.

I am glad that you have taken possession of your new house; & are well pleased with it. Long may you enjoy it, as the seat of happiness, contentment & piety.

If no unexpected obstacles shall occur, I shall ride the summer coming, & probably pay you a visit. My health is pretty good; being interrupted only by slight occasional affections of a rheumatic character. Your mother's health is also as good as usual.

We have no very recent letters from William, nor from Mr Fowler. Rosalie is now on her way toward La Fayette.

I am sorry to hear of your Harriets ill health. I hope warm weather will restore her usual good state.

Give my love to all your children; & may they honor the religion which they have embraced, by a life of consistent & uniform piety. This will be no abatement of any temporal happiness which a world of trouble permits its inhabitants to enjoy; & it will insure to them a happier condition in the life to come. The good character & piety of my children & grand children constitute a principal source of my happiness, as I approach the verge of life.

The Governor elect has appointed his son to be his Secretary - & we shall do what we can to make them comfortable, during the session.

Accept the best wishes of your affectionate

N Webster

74109

Mrs Emily W Ellsworth

Hartford

1972.96.69 74109