Manuscripts
James Trott to "Dear Sisters,"
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- Description
- HM 80827: Autograph letter by James Trott from Galena, Illinois to Miss C.S. Trott, on January 22, 1844. Trott begins the letter with a brief report on the number of lawyers, doctors, ministers, and teachers present in Galena. He continues with his thoughts on public opinion concerning New England. He mentions that Yankees should "...be grounded in the principles of morality than that they sh'd have only good habits." He also writes about religion. "True Christians sh'd feel sorrow for their own and others sins but they sh'd not waste time in such sorrow... nor sh'd they make their burden any heavier than it is..." In one incident, he unintentionally accuses a preacher of hypocrisy. He further elaborates on the making of a good sermon, which should be based on principles. Family details are also discussed. He stresses the importance of health and advises "U.A.", aunt, and Caro to "fat up." However, Margt' S. is on the heavier side, and he states that she should eat more vegetables and limit her consumption of meat. He briefly touches on the fashion in Galena, "The short pants do beautifully out here-people dress as they choose here." In the second half of the letter, Trott and his friend, Wynkoop, decides to walk approximately 16 miles to Dubuque, Iowa. Along the way, they meet a couple with twin boys, a French Canadian miner, and a wicked dog. They also meet two African Americans, one was named General William Wallace and the other was a member of Frank Johnson's band. They stop halfway while crossing the Mississippi river to see a famous cave, the Washington house kept by "Gen.'s Harrison and W", and slept on some miserable feather beds. He concludes the letter with a promise of a description of the caves in the next letter. Note: A description of the caves is not in HM 80828.
