WCP1272

Robinson¹

Sept[ember] 1^st [1845]²

Dear Brothers³

The Gentlemen now wish the matter decided about this school, they have seen Professor Lloy[d]⁴ who will take it, but before he decides they wish me to say whether I will take it[.] If I consent they will give me the lot with the House upon it which was bought for a school and incorporated (it cost upwards of £450)[.] This is handsome of them considering I have been so short a time among them — but after thinking seriously of the matter and finding neither of you are likely to come over to join me in my plans — I have given it up, thanking the Gentlemen for their Kind intentions towards me, offering my assistance in the Establishment when it shall be completed — M^r Lloyds proposal is now accepted, he is immediately (or at least after my term is ended) going to build & improve it, and make a pretty place of it. There is now no garden, but ground to make one and convenient premises — it is to be called "Robinson House"[.] I have my schoolroom there still, the House consists of nine rooms and a large entrance Hall which in this Country is fitted up like a parlor for the summer, also two Piazzass [sic] & Kitchen out of the house — The schoolrooms will be built out at the sides or detached from the house — one of my pupils is studying Physiology & we are both much interested in it, we are now on entomology & I am constantly thinking of you dear Alfred, I want to mention something which perhaps you know[,] that is, that many authors of ancient date have spoken of the showers of blood which were thought an omen & foretold something dreadful going to happen⁵ — it is now discovered to be produced on leaves & blades of grass by the butterfly just after it takes that form it emits a small quantity of red fluid upon whatever it alights upon — and the ancients called these spots blood showers, though they never saw them fall [2] but supposed they came in the night. there are many other singular things in the book we are reading — another is about the sponge, they say it is itself an animal — I always supposed it was the dwelling of fish or insect of some sort. I have been using a piece of sponge since we first arrived in Georgia of a large size, it has always got dry very soon after hanging up — but lately it will not dry with all the hot weather, and seems to get heavy & feels like flesh & I cannot squeeze ^it at all. I have left it to see what will come of it[.] this is more than a week ago — it is still the same, I think if I could see it magnified it would be a mass of insects. The negro Girls who come into my room — Thinks [sic] I expect it to turn into some monster of the deep (as it smells of the sea)[.] I told one the other day If it came to anything I reckoned it would turn into a mermaid. She is almost afraid to go in unless I am there[.] She does not venture[.] They are so easy of belief — It is amusing to hear their ideas about England — They think it must be such a poor Country as they can have no corn & no cotton & no watermelons for they have no black people to raise these things & so they are almost starved — and they think the Sun never shines enough to ripen anything — "Mary said the other day[,] "I thinks I know'd a heap o['] tings about England afore you cum, but now I knows every ting and they hab nice tings den I thought they hab, and now you teach us to read we shall know much more." These indoor Slaves are happy creatures when they meet with kind Mistresses & wish for nothing better — They live in their own huts, and after the hours of serving they do as they like & they are never interferred [sic] with ^here after they have done in the House. they are often up half the nights visiting one another in the nieghbourhood [sic] or having prayer meetings which are now quite the fashion, they have their own Preachers, these men learn read & Preach from the Bible, the Blacks sing well[;] they get our tunes and sing long Psalms which they recollect surprisingly[.] [3] What I have just related is not from hear say but what I am eye witness to. — What I am about to relate is particularly for Alfred Russel as he will be interested I know about Butterflies, the discovery of the phenomena of the blood race[?] [?blood-rain] as Stowe⁶ calls it was made by a Philosopher of the name of Peiresc⁷ of Aix[-]la[-]Chapelle[;] now I will quote what the author of our book says (J L Comstock MD)⁸ "And now who will deny the practical use of entomology, when these simple facts have been the means of delivering the World from the thaldrom [sic] of superstitious fear[?]When Newton⁹ proved that the comets[,] instead of wandering in any direction & without order, were confined to regular orbits, & therefore that we of the earth had nothing to fear from them, Astronomy was hailed as the noblest & most useful of sciences on this very account, & yet Astronomy in that instance did nothing more for the World than Entomology has done in the case before us."¹⁰

When you answer this letter dear Alfred let me know if you Knew of this discovery — I have not yet got any beetles for you as I cannot give my time to it, being engaged all day with my children — and after I have done I am obliged to mix in society and make a little life in the place. I should be dull enough if it were not for my occupation. I have a deal to do — I could not continue so always. I work from 8 to 6 without resting. I give the children several recesses, but in those[?] times I give music lessons. There are some pretty flowers in the woods[;] I am drying some for you. There is a beautiful White Convolvulus as large as a cup. I should like to have had John¹¹ here but I suppose he will marry and be happy in England[;] that is all I wish him[.]

When the New Institute is open[e]d I shall take the Music & drawing department with fancy works, this ^I like[.] [4] I please much in my drawings[.] I rather keep to heads[?] as I think that is my fort[e] and every one knows it is a superior style. I have been doing some small faces in coloured chalks and though I have never done any before[, I] have succeeded pretty well. I try & keep to Hayter's¹² style. Col[onel]. Pickett¹³ was delighted with them and would show them to everybody. If I could but take children's likenesses I could soon make money here, but that I never shall do[.] I get on very well in teaching & give satisfaction & everyone that I know wish[es] me Mistress of the new school. Mr Lloyd consults me in almost everything so I tell him as far as my judgment goes for I have seen several schools and can discern the good & bad system in all. If he carries out his views we shall have what has been long wanted in the South — a good permanant [sic] school[.]

We live quite in a primitive state here & go to their log Church in the woods twice a week and the simplicity of their worship & preaching is truly touching — it makes one think Why is it necessary that a particular form of prayer should be considered used to be considered necessary the only way of coming to God? Now my turn is ended I shall be going to visit about in different parts so shall post this letter at Montgomery in case next week may be too late as the weather is windy now & the Packets may sail[?] be longer going to Boston; after Col[onel] Pickett and I had settled with each other for board to myself & education to his daughter's & our accounts were balanced, ^{he said} — "Now Miss Wallace[,] allow me to say that I feel a deep interest in you now ^& in future[.] I sincerely hope you will meet with that success in life which your accomplishments, your worth in every way, and your amiable deportment so justly merit." [..."]altho[ugh]' you are far away from your relatives (& perhaps those who deplore your absence) I beg you always to bear in mind that in M^rs Pickett¹⁴ & myself you will ever find friends, our house we now cordially & freely [5] tender to you as long as you feel inclined to stay with us and at least until you enter another engagement[.] you will find us glad to see you at any time and we wish you to live with us as long as you please as one of our own family." Mr & Mrs Jackson¹⁵ will not let me go ^immediately[.] I am therefore to be half my holidays at each house so you see my dear Mamma¹⁶ I am well taken care of. I will write again when I am settled at "Robinson House"[.] The people will scarcely believe I am not going to have Professor Lloyd, I never knew anything like it [—] quite absurd to settle a thing for one in this way. I am in no hurry to marry. I have only been in America a year two months and another year will soon pass. I sometimes think I sh[oul]d be sorry to fix myself here, for I should then have to give up the pleasure of coming home & telling all I've seen[.] I think as you say[:] If I can return home (say in Two years) from this time with £300 we could be so comfortable together with your Income, but I have no doubt everything will turn out for the best & so we will leave it, and trust our Guardian Angel will guide us to that which will tend ^most to our eternal welfare, for what after all our toil, is earthly splendour without the prospect of Happyness in a future state.

Yours Ever | F W¹⁷ [signature]