SOME DARTMOUTH LETTERS OF 100 YEARS AGO

The letters which are printed below were received by the MAGAZINE from Clinton H. Moore '74, of Butte, Montana. In introducing the material Mr. Moore writes:

I wish I could tell you more than I shall about these college worthies. Daniel Fitz, who wrote the first letter of the series, was a native of New Hampshire, graduating from Dartmouth in the class of 1818. He must have been a decent sort of a fellow for the College gave him the degree of D.D. in 1862. It could not have been conferred on account of his wealth. He was a Congregational minister. It may be his congregation wished it on him when about to work another locality. His stirring appeal to Mr. Hill shows that he was a loyal son of Old Dartmouth and let that be said above his wise all-honored head. Daniel Fitz "requiescated in pace" shortly after the graduation exercises of the class of 1869 of his alma mater.

George Stillman Hill, who wrote at least three letters to his father during his college career made his acquaintance with his parents in New Brunswick. I am not able to find out why or how he happened to attend Atkinson Academy in Southern New Hampshire. His letters don't indicate any trouble at home. He might have bought a horse and taken a trip. He was evidently a good student from, the size of his library and the further fact that he was never a college freshman is much to his credit. Readers will note that he did not waste any terms of endearment when he began his financial appeals to his father, but closed his final sentences in terms of filial devotion. Senior year when he had reached the lines of "College dignity, clad in benignity" he begins "Dear Father."

Mr. Hill was a man of marked personal presence; "A man whom you would stop and look at in a crowd" as Professor Sanborn said to me of Daniel Webster. He became a lawyer of repute, was a hard hitter and rarely left on bases. His scoring average was high. He became a member of the Canadian Parliament, taking high rank therein, by talking five hours without saying anything in order to squelch a measure of no merit. He died in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with a few enemies and many loyal friends. It is difficult to describe these letters. Their penmanship is high class and show much pains on the part of their authors. They are written on unruled paper and show their age by its yellow tints. The ink used has not faded. Envelopes had not been invented in the early 1800's but letters were folded in a certain way and held together with red sealing wax. Such is the case with the manuscripts which we hope will interest Dartmouth men.

LETTER NO. 1.

(From Daniel Fiz to George Hill)

Dartmouth College April 29, 1815 (?).

Friend Hill

I came on here the Ist March and continue here as yet. I am much better pleased with a collegiate life than I expected. I anticipate the pleasure of your becoming a member of our class next fall. I will warrant you to enter without the least difficulty and to hold a good standing in the class,—I will give you a catalogue of the studies requisite for Sophomore Standing next fall: De Cratore, Livy, in Majora from the 45th to the 126 th page and from the 3rd to the 30th, —Blair's Rhetoric, Murray's English Grammar and the first volume of Webber's Mathematics to Logarithms. If you have not obtained Mathematics I can, I presume, get you a second hand set for about 3 dols which will answer as well as new—if you want them you will inform me by letter—the price of a new set will be six dols. Yoric S. Gordon was expelled on the fifteenth of this month for partaking too freely of spirit and some other things were brought against him, such as being saucy to the Government of College, etc. Come on next fall by all means and our class would be happy to greet you and call you Brother Remember me to Mr. Todd and family. .. . to my old school mates, etc., etc. Grant me the pleasure of subscribing myself your friend in sincerity

Rt. Hon. G. S. Hill.

P. S. Respects from White Hale and Tenney.

N. B. I should be happy to receive a letter from you when convenient to write. You will excuse the brevity of this, for time prevents writing more.

LETTER NO. 2.

(From George Hill to his father)

Atkinson, N. H., March 10, 1815.

You will have been informed by letter that it is my intention to go to College, having obtained your consent, and consequently assistance which is indispensible. I proceed to make known to you that aid which will be necessary for the present year. I doubt but my expences have exceeded your expectations the past year; but believe me, I have not been extravagant. have, and shall avoid any unnecessary spending. I have spent but little for pleasure and gratification of appetite, I have made my book my object, and hope to make that progress and obtain, if possible, that dignity of character, which, perhaps, will in part reward you for your liberality in rendering me that assistance, which will enable me to qualify myself for more than ordinary station in life. Dartmouth College is the one I shall enter. It is situated on the Connecticut River, in the town of Hanover, in the upper part of N. H. It, at present, contains about 140 students (while Brunswick only 39.) If fortune favors I shall enter a year forward. The tuition for the first year (Thirty dollars,) and five in advance will be required on entering. My books have cost $25 and will cost about $15 more before entering college. Commencement is the last of August, thence four weeks' vacation, then the commencement of the term when I shall enter. I have now forty dollars and board paid for to this date. The expence at College, besides the tuition (for the first term) will be considerably more, than if I should remain here. The College is about 100 miles from this place, and about the same distance from Brunswick College. My passage up in the stage will be six cents a mile. You will consider all these expences, and will be able to draw a conclusion of the sum I shall want. The clothes, in addition to what I have received, I have mentioned in the letter enclosed. If you could send them to Boston or Newburyport it would be an easy matter for me to get them from those places, the former is 37 the latter 16 miles from this place. The mail stage from Boston runs through this town twice a week, also a stage from Newburyport to Haverhill SJ-2 miles from this place. I calculate on returning home next winter, in the time of winter vacation which commences the first of January, and continues eight weeks. It will be necessary to make some arrangements concerning how I shall get home, perhaps the most expedient way would be for me to buy a horse (horses will be much cheaper than in times past.) You will regulate this matter. If you could send Mary up here this summer I presume it might be an advantage to her, as she has an ardent desire of coming. I imagine, however, she would not like it equal to her expectations. With respect and esteem, your dutiful son,

LETTER NO. 3.

(From George Hill to his father)

Hanover, N. H., April 17, 1816.

Yesterday I went into the Post Office and found all my letters directed home remaining there. The Postmaster informed me they would not be forwarded till the postage was paid being directed to St. Stephens without the Jurisdiction of the United States. This is what I never anticipated, having met with no difficulty before. I took them out and shall in the future direct my letters to Calais. This will account for no word from me. From Castine I wrote which has likely come to hand. In that letter which was written with much haste, I found upon reflection a palpable error had crept in, viz: infallibility put for fallibility and probably there might have been others which escaped my notice. My journey here was eighteen days, Expences $49.19, Pay for board $2 per wk, the half of a bed and room this term, i.e., till the last of August $7.50, Furniture, wood, candles, washing separately. Stage fare and tavern scores on the eastern line of stages are much higher than the western and interior. You will send on money as soon as convenient. It can be forwarded to Mr. Willet and sent to me enclosed in letters. I should think it prudent to instruct him not to send much at a time. I will subjoin a catalogue of my expences which perhaps will be some satisfaction. Bartlett in his aphorisms says, it should not be so much the inquiry of a father to know how much his son spends, as the manner how. Let me hear from home. With affection and gratitude, your son,

Expenses up $49.19 Advance for board 21.15 ½ cord wood 1.50 a 1b. candy .50 Tuition and incidentals 2.02 Euclids Elements 1.58 Geography 3.00 Fodting Boots 3.50 Printing Catalogue of Students 1.00 1 Qt. Rum and 2 Bottles .82 Repairing watch and Mending Key .30 Pd. Room rent for last fall 2.00 Catalogue of the books of the Social Friends Library cont. about 1600 Vol. 12½ Pd. keeping recitation room last fall .62 Cutting hair .12½ $87.43

Bot with Amos Currier, Chum, the following articles : Wood .92 1 Pail .50 3 Peck Apples .32 ½ Cord Wood 1-50 1 Mug -17 Skillit, Broom, Washball .95 Paper .10½ 1 lb. candles .50 Washing Sheets .12½ Blank Book for geometry (Figures) .66½ Contribution .20 1 h pint Gin, .58 1 1b. Candles 1/6 -30 Mathematical Instruments 4.00 $10.8354

Letter No. 4 dated November 29, 1817, consists largely of a list of the books owned and used by Mr. Hill. The list, which contains about seventy-five titles with the prices, is too long for complete reproduction here but it gives ample evidence of the solid taste of the writer in literature. First comes a list of the classics studied in the College and Academy and other books connected with them which he deemed indispensable. The titles include works on the subjects of Greek, Latin, Chemistry, Philosophy, Grammar, Geography, and French. Another list includes the titles of books not absolutely essential, among them, Malthus, on Population, a book on botany, Swift's works in twenty-four volumes, and miscellaneous works of English literature. He explains the occasion for so many miscellaneous works by stating that he bought them at auction at a fraction of their real value. He remarks further "We have the privilege of taking from the Society Library three volumes every week. The library, belonging to the institution, we have no use of, it being under the University." It is interesting to note the part played by the society libraries in the troubled days of the university controversy. Finally this letter contains miscellaneous items of expense from which the following are taken.

Donation to Society which is made by all active Members 10.00 Cutting hair /9 1 pr. Pumps 12/ 2.12½ 1 Doz. Dutch Quills 19 letter Postage 1/6 .37½ Expence Sophomore Quarter Day .50 For recitation Room .60 Subscription for a deceased Student 1.00 For Independent Day 1.14 Silver Medal 3/ Wine .43 .93 Cleaning the Plain before the College 1/6 1-00 Fixing Bed 6/ Altering Pantaloons 1/6 Apples /9 Tour to Haverhill 27 miles 3.50 3.62½ 1 pr. Overshoes .91 2 pr. Short Stockings .57 2 boxes Wafers .06 Black lead Pencil /9 .12½ Nitrous Oxide Gas 1/6