William Plunkett 1850

Andover Feb 15th 1849

My Dear Mother,

You must not be in the least astonished if my letter is very argumentative because for the last few days I have been considering all the arguments pro & con on "war" in preparation for my great speech at the Philo. It was without doubt the best extempore speech I ever made in the Philo. Indeed for one who is as unacquainted with the sublime art of extempuring as I am I think I did very well. You must not call me egotistical because I say so much about myself & tell so much what others say about me. The reason is because I think you are somewhat interested to know how I get along in acquiring that which will tend to make me somebody hereafter & to preserve my name for a few years after my death.

I have not read a very astonishing amount this term. I have commenced Macauleys History besides considerable misellaneous

reading, Macauleys History is quite interesting written much in the same style as his Essays I fear that I shall not be able to finish it this term as all the volumes have not yet come out.-- Aunt Eliza's letter was very acceptable it being the first she has sent me this term. I read two pages of it before I knew that it was from her thinking all the time that it was from you, She said something about father selling part of the factory to Mr. Clapp & Sarah said something about his selling part to Mr Von Sicler. I wish you would write & let me know something about these affairs for if I am a literary man"boy" residing in a literary town I feel considerable interest in them. Let me know something about fathers going to Europe when he is going, how long he is going to stay, is "any one" going with him, whether I am going to stay at home next summer, & who am I to recite to if I do. Besides these they are many other things interesting to the absent youth.-- You must certainly write me a piece for my next Mirror. You must not let me trust to my own "genius" this time but if you are going to do so please let me know. If you send me a piece please send it early. My thanks for

your other piece I sent with due care in my letter to Sarah. I hope she did not keep any herself with her accustomed greediness. - I shall soon begin to think that I am popular with the ladies from the fact that I have recieved six or seven valentines this morning. They were all as is usually such note are filled with copied pieces of poetry praising black eyes (which everybody knows, I never had) which as one said resemble sparkling orbs. One would think that they were all on the point of death because their love was not recipricated if he believed their [heretical?] statements. Under such circumstances I did just as I did last year send none at all. - I am now engaged in writing composition upon "genius and talent," It will not be the best composition I ever wrote I think owing no doubt in a great degree to the nature of the subject

I shall have to make that old request for money, Would that the gold mines were near Andover so as to save me from making such a request but it is as it is. Mr Downes wants some money soon at least he hinted very delicately that he should like some soon. At the close

of every letter to you I have to make some sort of an excuse for bad penmanship so this time I will offer as an excuse that a ponderous Greek Lexicon ^{in the other side of thetable} is continually on the move. Do not fail to write me soon that is immediately on the receipt of this. Give my love to all. Tell [illegible] that if she can preserve herself from injury until six weeks has passed away she will then have an admirable defender. Yours affectionately "William"

Andover Jan 20th

My dear Father

I had a letter from Sarah yesterday. The first one that I have had from home for three weeks while I believe I have written home every week.

Mr. Peirce was in Boston yesterday and he saw Uncle Charles. Uncle Charles 'he says', is coming up here to see me in a few days. I was very glad to hear it as I should like to see anyone that I know that comes from anywhere near home.

I left the Mansion house the morning you left and was not able to attend recitation that morning on account of my room not being prepared. I was very sorry as I did not intend to lose a single recitation this term.

I am getting along very well in my studies but I have to study very (over).