Kennicott Documents

and not change from place to place. and be a "jack of all trades". I know that to succeed I must stick to one thing,, - ,,

Our club is in a prosper =ing condition the initiation fee is now 50 cts dues 25 cts a month. We meet now on Thursday evening. The question for debate next Thursday " is. "Is Napoleon throughout his whole career justifiable or not. I as chief Dispt took the affirmative side which I consider altogether the best as the only thing that can be brought up on the other side is the Divorce of Josephine which will weigh anything.. - ,, - ,, The Club have decided to send $50. to the Washington Monument Assn to which of course you will subscribe being a member. No by doing that will get the club into the papers. That'l be some you know & will give us a lift.

Snowing like blazes it is good sleighing now and it bids fair for a merry time for which I am glad as it has been very dull heretofore. All the boys are well I believe. I must go to work at my books as they are not all pasted up yet

Good bye for the present

Yours &c Wm A Bigelow

Buffalo. Jany 31, 1853

Dear Charlie

Yours of 7th inst came to hand in due time and I have neglected to answer it till now. Pardon my neglect for remaining so long one of your silent correspondints I should have written last week but I did not have time being as I was, in New York. and busy from morn till night. I have already said I was in New York last week and a glorious time I had of it too in the great Gotham. I started from here on Wednesday 19th inst 6 O clock in morning and arrived in New York at 10 O clock P.M. thus making the Passage (420 miles) in 16. hours. this is what I call travelling pretty fast through the World. I found "Traitor Ed" without any difficulty, and a fine time we had together I tell you.

You say in your letter that I manifest a great improvement

in my letter writing both in matter and in Penmanship. As regards the matter I lay all the blame of my improvement to the B.U.D.C..

I am glad to hear you speak of Mrs K. in the manner which[strikethrough] that you do, about being a Buffalo Lady. I tell you Charlie in my travels East I have not seen as many[underlined] good looking and good behaving misses, as I have here. I suppose that ere this reaches you, you will have recd a letter from our Sec'y in relation to the Washington Monument. What do you think of our plan. It is my opinion that if we get up a block of marble this time it will be a grand thing. We have now about $30.00 subscribed. for my part I shall give as much as I can raise I think $3. or $4. Ed. Phillips says $1. - I do not know whether you have heard of our plan of raising a Cabinet for the Club. We propose to have each number collect all the specimens he can and put them together than thus

form a Cabinet which will in time be a great benefit, as well as pleasing to us, with a view to this object. I brought all my specimens of minerals & shells &c. from N. Y. which will help considerable as I have quite a number. Now I must tell you a little more about New York Last Monday night Ed. P, & I, went to see Barnum's Museum (for I thought I would not come away saying "I had not been to see Barnum") We there saw some curiosities as well as humbugs. but one of the Curiosities is "his Happy Family". Consisting of Monkeys, Cats Dogs, Rats, Mice, Squirrels, Badgers, Owls, Doves, Jackalls, Chickens, &c All[underlined] alive[underlined] and in the same cage and sur enough they are happy. And one of his "humbugs" is the great "Kah-a-Nove"[?] Diamond worth $150,000,000.00. when first we saw it we both burst out laughing. but to take a second look at it over the large printed letters, we found the following words written very[underlined] fine[underlined] with a pen "fac similie of" which set up our laughing bumps considerable but

enough of this at present. I am somewhat in a hurry at present and I will with more next time. I hope you will accept my excuse for delaying so long. I will try to answer more promptly hereafter

Yours affectionately [illegible]. H Van Hoesen

To Chas. A. Kennicott Pomologist Northfield

The Grove Northfield April 5th 1853[?] .

Most Amiable Cousin,

I have long been intending to open a correspondence with your Ladyship; or at least to ascertain if it would be agreeable to you to receive letters from me. I have from time to time delayed writing till what would have originally been a pleasant and trifling task, has by my procrastication at last become a most ardurous and difficult undertaking.

The truth is that I bring naturally a modest young fellow; was afraid to measure wits with a Young Lady of your parts and education. But I will trust my self entirely to your most tender mercy; expecting every thing from your amiability and well known generosity.

I often have an opportunity of perusing your very interesting letters; and have from them formed a very favorable opinion of your character and disposition

Mother says that I need not fear, but what you will give my epistle a very favorable reception. I really hope so; and furthermore I hope that you will graciously con-decend to answer the same at your earliest convenience

I will always endeavour to write agreeable letters If they do not prove agreeable to you, I hope that they will at least prove agreeable to your Mother my Dear Aunt I would like to do all in my power to secure her esteem; for I mean some of these days to pay you a visit Never doubting that though self invited I should yet be

be a welcome guest.

I suppose that you are aware that I have been spending the past winter in Buffalo; the Queen City of the Lakes, and the place of my nativity.

I left the above city on Monday the first of March and arrived at The Grove on the Saturday following. I brought Uncle Asa out of town with me; who was scarcely less welcome than myself.

I came across Canada to Detroit by Stage; and from there to Chicago by Railroad

I enjoyed the journey very much; though it is very uncomfortable traveling by Stage so early in the season

I saw much to interest and amuse me in Canada and did time permit I would give you some of the particulars of my journey. This part of Canada is a much finer country than it is generally supposed to be; among us Yankees

There are many pretty towns, and villages on the route but they are not to be compared to the lovely villages on the line of the M. C. R. R. between Detroit an New Buffao

At London H. B. M keeps a thousand regulars to remind her faithful Canadian subjects what they might expect should they be so timorous as to declare for Liberty & Equality. But they are not like to rovot[?] from their allegiance, just at present.

They are wanting in all the qualities that tend to make a people prosperous and happy. They are at least a quarter century behind the times. They lack enterprise and a spirit of improvement without which they will allways be behind the marh of improvement..

I spent a very pleasant winter in Buffalo. I was at School most of the time. I attended 3~ Dpt. No 10 or High School, as it may appropriately be called. There is but one 3~ Dpt. in the city; which no person can enter without being thoroughly versed in all the minor branches taught at common schools.

His principal Mr E. F. Cook (better known among his numerous subjects as "Good Ring Ephraim") is a very kind hearted and well informed man - a Gentleman & Scholar I tried merit and long practice in his profession

He is more over "A man of infinite just and humour"

A most excellent institution for Young Ladies was established in Buffalo last fall. It is owned, and is under the direction of ome of the first citizens of Buffalo

They are now erecting or rather completely a noble edifice in one of the pleasantest spots in the pleasant city of Buffalo. I mention it as I believe you have some intention of going North to School.

I made many kind friends during my stay in Buffalo. I was there in all six months.

I entered the School a perfect stranger and came a way feeling that I left many true friends behind

I recieve a letter from home of my old Schoolmates sorr few days I have my hands full to answer them all, but very fortunately I dearly love to write friendly letters But more of my School days anon.

I spent the mid-winter Holidays at Gowanda where I spent a week very much to my satisfaction To say that I enjoyed it would not half express the amt of pleasure received

I will tell you all about it some of these times.

What a handsome Gentlemanly young fellow Willie is How Uncle Porter has grown gray and more agreeable than ever. How Aunt Eva, grows kinds, and kinder How Laura, does not grow a jug. How smart the boy is and a hundred other things to tedious to mention.

Talking of Babies I can't for the life of me see what a young Lady of your good sense can find to praise in a young thing a week old even if it is of the "Blood Royal" I hate all Babies till they are old enough to crow right merrily

I attended the New York State Fair held at Rochester last Sept. To tell you all about it would take at least an hour, so I will for the present spare you the infliction for[strikethrough] the[strikethrough] present[strikethrough]

Uncle Willie came out last Saturday with his family for the first time since Christmas.

A letter from Uncle Asa He is not very well He says that he is very much pressed with work. So you will reaidly understand why he does not write you.

"Winter still linger s[strikethrough] in the lap of Spring" It has been snowing for the last eight and forty hours. The snow is full 13 inches deep

Just think of it snow the 5th of april over a good deep. You being a native Sacker no wonder that you should love the beautiful prairies; for you know what the poet says

"Breathes there a man with soul so small That unto him self he hath no said This is my own my native land" Scott[underlined].

I can hardly dare to ask you to pardon the outward appearance of this letter. Suffice it to say that I am myself most heartily ashamed of it - Your Aff. Cousin With love to all your people Preanion[?] Charlie A. Kennicott

Miss Bella Tinnison

Chicago April 17'' '53

Dear Emma,

Although it is Sun-day to-day I have but a few minutes to spare; but, as you were so kind as to remember your poor, lone-some uncle, I determined not to let the day pass, busy as I am, with-out answering your letter.

You do well to commence a correspondence with me, and you will will undoubtedly be the greatest gainer by it. - tho I shall not be a looser by any means. I consider that if I could have had such an opportunity when I was of your age, it would have been of incal-culable benefit to me now. I advise you to begin the practice now, of writing often to some friend, and never[underlined] give[underlined] it[underlined] up[underlined] -