SOME UNPUBLISHED LETTERS OF RUFUS CHOATE
The two following letters of Rufus Choate written in 1817 and 1819, while he was an undergraduate, are of especial interest because of the light they shed upon the feelings of the students of the College at the time of the "Dartmouth College Case" when the followers of the second President, John Wheelock, had been attempting to annul the charter and bring the College under control of the. state legislature with the title of "Dartmouth University."
The reports "that the library is in danger," or "we are all to be fined and imprisoned" take on dramatic interest when we realize that at the time Choate wrote he, as librarian and member of the "Committee of Safety" of the Social Friends, was secretly removing the nearly 2,000 books from their library to a room adjoining his own in the home of Professor Adams later known to us as the Proctor House, now unfortunately demolished. Three days after this letter was written, the University party under the lead of Professors Dean and Carter during the evening of November 11 made a vain attempt to take possession of the Social Friends' library, and in the restrained language of the timid Professor Dean the college students "thronged us." Choate was among those arrested and bound over to appear before the Grand Jury which wisely declined to indict either college students or university professors. The interesting records of the Social Friends (one of the debating and literary societies of that time) show the society not merely approved the report of Choate and his "Committee of Safety" but also ordered their account of the affair printed on handbills, expelled Professors Dean and Carter from the society, and excluded from use of the library President Allen of the University. At the close of the academic year, Choate was elected president of the Social Friends and "unanimously the thanks of the Society was voted to brother Choate, late librarian, for the vigilant correctness which has marked his official conduct the year past." Later he was paid $20 by the treasurer of the Society "for defraying expenses of library room," evidently for rent paid for room adjoining his own where he had guarded the books. There is a quite Arcadian charm about this far off time when college undergraduates were so devoted to books that they rallied to their defence against the Bolshevik professors and threatened that not one of them should bring out a book alive from the library!
In view of the precise time when Choate wrote his conviction, "I shall never be able to submit to the dull and tiresome routine of a 'special pleader's life'," and confessed "the situation which I most envy is that of a professor in a College," the situation has pungent interest. Three days later Choate was one of the "rebels," who were "thronging" and threatening the professors; and nine days later he was arrested on a charge of riot. Perhaps he saw reason to revise his opinion of the quiet charm of the professor's life and the dull routine of the law courts.
The references to his habits of study show that Choate was like Webster in the seriousness with which he underlook reading outside of his class work. Deservedly regarded as the first scholar in his class, Choate was elected by his fellows in the Social Friends Commencement orator,,, by the faculty was appointed valedictorian, and by the trustees selected as tutor for the year following.
The first letter was written two days after the decision of the state court adverse to the College. The second letter records the situation in Hanover after the Supreme Court decision of February 2, 1819, in which Chief Justice Marshall supported Webster's plea for the inviolability of chartered rights.
Both letters are addressed to Rufus Choate's eldest brother David, a teacher of note, to whom the younger brother naturally turned after the death of the father when Rufus was about three years -old.
The "Washington" referred to at the end of the first letter and the beginning of the second was the younger brother, who entered Dartmouth in the fall of 1819 (while Rufus Choate was tutor in College) and died in 1822 before graduating. "Brother 5.," in post-script to second letter, was Dr. Thomas Sewall, a well-known Washington physician, who married Choate's sister Mary. "Crowell", pastor of the Essex church, later married another sister, Hannah.
For these two letters by Dartmouth's most famous scholar and "pleader," throwing light on the second romantic era of the College, that of its refounding, the College is indebted to Miss Helen Choate of Northampton, Associate Professor of Botany in Smith College, a grand-daughter of the David to whom the letters were written, and grand-niece of Rufus Choate.
Mr. David Choate, Ipswich, Mass. Hanover, Nov. Bth, 1817.
Dear brother: I should hardly have obtruded another letter upon you till the one I wrote Hannah had received answer, but I cannot help while my feelings are yet excited sitting down to tell how our expectations are again all blasted by the decision of the New Hampshire judges. You have perhaps before this been made acquainted with the result, so that it will scarcely be news to you to be informed' that they have given unqualified sentance in favour of the act which established Dart. University, and has been the cause of all our diffculty. In consequence of this most unheard of decision the trustees have appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States as a last (and I am almost inclined to say a precarious) resort. We shall of course have another year to pass more disagreeable if possible than the last. The distance between the students of the two institutions at this place is most unpleasantly evidenced and the command in the Bible seems not to be wholly without its effects on the minds of the College scholars, "come out from among them [and be ye separate.]" In the meantime the most unhappy circumstance attending it is that such a state of [alarm?] necessarily discomposes the mind, and unfits it for study and quiet reflection so indispensable for progress in science. You may easily suppose that it is impossible to sit down coolly and composedly to books when you are alarmed every minute by report "that the library is in danger" or "that a mob is about collecting" or perhaps "that we are all to be fined, imprisoned and, it may be, buffeted and scourged for our' adherence to men on whom justice herself frowns;" Even when such reports are entitled to no credit whatever it takes some time to hear them, and also some more to point out their absurdity so that much time on the whole is absolutely wasted. Perhaps now you will be concerned at my situation; and in truth I cannot say I not altogether attached to it; but believe me, it does not prevent my pursueing with success my several studies. I have formed certain regular habits which I am determined to and can retain; I have a system of regulations which nothing short of the burning of the College or the tarring and feathering of some worthy but unlucky gentleman, can induce me to break for a minute. I am pursueing branches which the class now know nothing about and with a relish and perseverance (rather modest to be sure) that I am quite certain not one of them possesses. In deed I cannot help thinking that, if my health is continued and my attention to study is not interrupted, I may convince you all of the expediency of sending me to College. You may ask what has occurred which makes me talk and feel thus selfcomplacently? I can only answer, it arises from comparing my own acquisitions and abilities to acquire with those of others whom I know. I hope then you will give up the idea of interrupting my studies while at home the next vacation by engaging a school. Indeed I must protest against it; I have no doubt but that you will hear my protestation favourably.
Need I tell you I wish to see you all and that at home? It is natural enough to suppose that my books should occupy in a great degree my thoughts so that I could hardly, at sometimes, suffer them to wander to , yet no single day has yet passed without my thinking of you and sighing for the moment to return. Since I began this letter I have absolutely become "homesick" and if I should write or think much longer I should be truely miserable. I look forward with something of eagerness to the commencement of vacation and to the pleasure I shall experience in revisiting the place to which I am yet most attached
I have been thinking, David, of my future prospects in life and I have indulged in some most pleasing reveries; which like a fine dream make me happy for the time because they put me in possession of everything I wish for: I shall never be fitted for active life, and [ ] neither of the professions has any charms. By professions I mean those of law and physics for [I do] not think it quite right to talk of divinity as a mere trade or craft whereby we [ ] as I have no thought of entering except as such I should choose to omit it in this account. I shall never be able to submit to the dull and tiresome routine of a "special pleader's life" and Medicine has as little in it which interests me. The situation which I most envy is that of a professor in a College; and though I dare not hope to enjoy such an one I am very certain it is almost the only place which would just suit my feelings. I have determined (that is if I have money) to study three or four years after I leave college if I live, even if I should after that think seriously of any profession. And what think you of a plan which has entered my head, of spending some years at a foreign University ? But more of this when I see you; and in the meantime be so good as to recall that I have been here 7 weekS and have not once heard from home. I fear you will wonder at my incurring extra expense by the purchase of books, but I must tell you I have an idea of doeing something more than to study Virgil or Webber's Mathematics. I shall make my college life expensive but it shall not be my fault if it is not very profitable. The money I brought from home defrayed my expenses to this place without encroaching on the 20 dol. bill. With this I settled with Mrs. Cardwell for room-rent, bought 4 cords wood at 17sc per cord, and oil for lamp so that I have little left, and have incurred considerable expense by the purchase of books. Do not, however, find fault with my spending money; it is well expended, and I shall certainly make you know this at some time. My board will be perhaps 35 dollars, (the term is 13 weeks, and I include washing.)
I have come to the determination to write at least once in a fortnight and I hope you will be willing to answer all my letters. I accustom myself to study until 11 o'clock without experiencing any inconvenience and shall I hope look back with complacency on a well spent term.
I have no more to say at present, but send love to all and subscribe myself with affection.
Your brother, Rufus Choate
David Choate. What is Washington doeing ? Give him by all means opportunity (I mean time) to study and when I return I will spend much of the time in assisting him forward.
Mr. David Choate, Ipswich, Mass. Hanover, March 25th, 1819.
Dear brother: I am partly to blame for not writing before, I confess; and perhaps even for this letter you must thank Washington. I received a sheet full from him last evening that reminded me of my promise and I have taken hold in earnest to fulfill it. I arrived here safely and have enjoyed my health tolerably well—very well. The stage overset once and pitched exactly on its broadside and for a moment I verily thought the driver alone would have to tell what befell us. Nobody however was hurt but the carriage was shattered to ruins. People in Hanover you may easily enough conceive were all on fire with the news of the triumph of the College. When it reached here (before I came on) the bells were rung, cannon fired, bonfires lighted up and a thousand other unseemly demonstrations of joy exhibited not especially to the credit of the rabble that did it, or the great men that gave permission; but we are all still at present and Pres. Allen ( as he is fool enough to call himself) is the only University man on the ground. Some four or five of their students have joined the College; one of them (Upham, brother of him I have told you of) is my roommate. We have the buildings, althoughthe difficulties are by no means settled. What prevents this I confess I know not; things will remain one year more as they now are; long before which time I am free. I have the 20 s. every cent and owe no man anything except for tuition. I have a scheme in my head to get some money before Commencement. I must lose some time; but I do it to be more able to go to Cambridge after graduating. The Ist term ends in two months, at the end of which I propose to go to Randolph Academy to assist my friend Bush months and then visit you, get some clothes and come back just before Commencement. You see lam willing to struggle for money; my object, however, is to smooth the way for the year's study at Cambridge. Your arrangements with the taylor will be governed accordingly.
Dr. Mussey is well, his wife is in Massachusetts. I have t&ken several rides with the Dr. My obligations to him are beyond measure many and great. He has done more for me than I can ever for him but he has my best wishes. He delivered a course of chemical lectures at Middlebury in June and his practise is gradually extending itself in the vicinity of this town. I am rejoiced that brother S. settles in about to leave his people. Do write particularly about [it?] and give me all the politics of the place in detail.
In haste. Your's and the whole families'. Affectionately, R. Choate.
I am rejoiced that brother S. settles in Gardiner and that his prospects in that quarter are such. If he is at home I beg him to write some account of his journey. His wife's health. I must hope, is better.
RUFUS CHOATE
