James L. Dusenbery Journal: Electronic Edition.
Author: Dusenbery, James Lawrence
Editor: Erika Lindemann
Funder: Funding from the Department of English and Comparative Literature at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and from the Office of Digital
Humanities at the National Endowment for the Humanities supported the electronic
publication of this title.
Text transcribed by: Erika Lindemann
Images scanned by: Fred Stipe
Text encoded by: Stephanie S. Morgan Sarah H. Ficke
First Edition, 2011
Publisher: The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 2011
© This work is the property of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text
Source
Collection: James Lawrence Dusenberry Diary and Clipping,
1841–1842, 1940 (#2561), Southern Historical Collection, University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Title: James L. Dusenbery Journal
Author: James L. Dusenbery
Extent: 141 pages, 150 images
Published: 1841 to 1848
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James L Dusenberry
Lexington
N. Carolina
James Lawrence Dusenberry Esqr: of Lexington N. Carolina
James L Dusenberry
The Knight of the golden crest [3]
Notes
3. "The knight of the golden crest" was a popular song writting by John Barnett (1802–1890). See Thomas A. Edison Collection of American Sheet Music (Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Microfilm, 2000), http://microformguides.gale.com/Data/Download/3049000R.pdf (30 May 2007).
The first two leaves of the gathering are blank, and the third leaf, which immediately precedes "The Knight of the golden crest," was cut from the journal along the gutter.
Sally Roy. [4]
continued on next page
continued. Sally Roy.
Notes
4. "Sally Roy," also known as "Death of Sally Roy," was a broadside ballad published by George Walker, Jr., Durham, England, between 1797 and 1847. See Madden Ballads, Reel 8, frame 5713 (Woodbridge, CT: Research Publications, 1987), http://microformguides.gale.com/Data/Download/3033000A.rtf (30 May 2007).
5. Two 3 ¾" horizontal lines appear below the last line of the poem, separating "Sally Roy" from "Tell her I'll love her."
Tell her I'll love her. [6]
Notes
6. "Tell her I'll love her" was a popular ballad written by William Shield (1748–1829) in 1807. Reprinted in The Pocket Encyclopedia of Scottish, English, and Irish Songs, Vol. 2 (Glasgow: Andrew and James Duncan, 1816), http://books.google.com/books (30 May 2007).
7. Two 4" horizontal lines appear below the last line of the poem.
Now let the warrior. [8]
Fanny was in the grove. [10]
Continued
Continued. Fanny was in the grove.
Moore [11]
Will you come to the bower. [12]
Continued
Continued. Will you come to the bower.
Moore [13]
Notes
12. "Will you come to the bower" was a popular song written by James F. Hance (fl. 1818–1833) and notable for having been sung at the Battle of the Alamo (March 1836). Published in Thomas Moore and J. W. Lake, The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore Including His Melodies, Ballads, Etc. (1829).
13. Two 3" horizontal lines appear after the attribution to Moore, separating "Will you come to the bower" from "On beds of snow the moonbeam slept."
On beds of snow the monbeams slept. [14]
Moore
Nora Creina. [16]
Continued
Continued. Nora Creina.
Moore [18]
Notes
16. Nora Creina, also known as "Lesbia Hath a Beaming Eye," was a popular song. Reprinted in Thomas Moore, A Selection of Irish Melodies, Vol. 4 (1811).
17. Dusenbery wrote gentle on top of unrecovered characters, then repeated gentle in the left margin, underscoring it with four spaced periods.
18. Two 3 ¾" horizontal lines appear below the attribution to Moore.
She is far from the land. [19]
The Indian warrior. [21]
Notes
21. The authorship of "The Indian warrior" is unclear. The poem has been attributed to Anne Home (Mrs. John Hunter) (fl. 1790), who titled it "The Death Song of Alknomook." However, the work may have been written by Royall Tyler (1758–1826), who included "The Death Song of the Cherokee Indian" in his play, The Contrast, first performed in 1787. Tyler evidently avowed authorship of the poem, which became a popular song in the 1790s and was published by "Mrs. John Hunter" in Poems (1802).
22. Two 5 1/16" horizontal lines appear below the last line of the poem.
Silent Love. [23]
Notes
23. George Colman, "Silent Love," Broad Grins, My Nightgown and Slippers and Other Humerous Works of George Colman the Younger (1898).
24. Spartan youths were held to a standard of toughness difficult to imagine. They were taught to fend for themselves and were expected to steal most of their food from local farmers. The tale is told of a young Spartan boy who stole a fox and hid the live animal under his cloak. When the boy was apprehended, he denied the theft, never flinching as the desperate fox chewed through the youth's innards to escape.
25. The leaf immediately following "Silent Love," has been cut out of the gathering along the gutter.
The Minstrel Boy [26]
The burial of Sir John Moore. [28]
. . . .Continued
Continued. The Burial of Sir John Moore.
Woolf [30]
Notes
28. "The burial of Sir John Moore," also known as "The Burial of Sir John Moore after Corunna," was written by Charles Wolfe (1791–1823) and published anonymously in the Newry (Ireland) Telegraph in 1817. Lord Byron discovered the poem in 1823 and much admired it; Wolfe's authorship was not determined conclusively until after his death.
The Sacking of the Prague. 31
Continued on next page
Continued. The Sacking of Prague.
Campbell
Glenara. [33]
Continued
Continued Glenara.
Campbell.
Notes
33. Thomas Campbell, "Glenara," Gertrude of Wyoming, a Pennsylvanian Tale, and Other Poems (1809).
Casabianca. [35]
Continued
continued. Casabianca.
Notes
35. "Casabianca," also known as "The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck," was written by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793–1835) and was published in the Monthly Magazine or British Register, August 1826, p. 164. It was reprinted in her Poetical Album (1830).
Lochinvar [36]
Continued
Lochinvar.
Continued on next page
Continued. Lochinvar
Scott
Notes
36. Sir Walter Scott, "Lochinvar," Marmion, Canto V (1808).
37. Two 4 ½" horizontal lines of spaced dashes appear between the stanza's last line and the words "Continued on next page."
38. Two 4 ¼" horizontal lines of spaced dashes appear between the poem's last line and the attribution to Scott, which is underscored with two lines of dashes.
Troubadour Song. [39]
Hemans [40]
The death of Clanronald. [41]
It was in the battle of Sheriffmoor that young Clanronald fell, leading on the Highlanders of the right wing. His death dispirited the assailants, who began to waver. But Glengary a rival chief, started from the ranks, and waving his bonnet round his head cried out, "To day for revenge, and to-morrow for grief!" The Highlanders received a new impulse from his words, and charging with redoubled fury, bore down all before them.
Continued on next page
Mrs. Hemans [42]
Notes
41. Felicia Dorothea Hemans, "The Death of Clanronald," The Works of Mrs. Hemans (1839).
42. Two 4 ¼" squiggly horizontal lines appear under the attribution to Mrs. Hemans, followed by an untitled stanza of seven lines. These lines are a translation of Luis Vaz de Camões, "Mi nueve y dulce querella," published in [Felicia Dorothea Hemans], Translations from Camoens, and Other Poets, with Original Poetry by the Author of "Modern Greece," and the "Restoration of the Works of Arts to Italy" (1818).
The fall of D'Assas. [43]
The Chevalier D'Assas, called the French Decius, fell nobly whilst reconnoitring a wood by night. He had left his regiment, that of Auvergne, at a short distance, and was suddenly surrounded by an ambuscade of the enemy, who threatened him with instant death if he made the least sign of their vicinity. With their bayonets at his breast, he raised his voice, and calling aloud "Arm, Arm, Auvergne, the foe!" fell, pierced with. [44] mortal wounds.
Continued . . . . . . . . .
Mrs Hemans
Notes
43. "The Fall of D'Assas," also known as " The Chevalier D'Assas," was written by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793–1835) and was published in the Monthly Magazine or British Register, October 1826. It was reprinted in Hemans' National Lyrics and Songs for Music (1834).
46. Dusenbery crossed out an upstroke at the end of sigh.
47. Two squiggly horizontal lines, 4 ¼" and 4 3/4" long, appear below the last line of this stanza and before the attribution to Mrs. Hemans, which is underscored with a curved line.
The Pirate's serenade. [48]
Notes
48. Alexander Ball, "The Pirate's serenade" (1841), was a popular song.
The Fall of Tecumseh. [49]
Continued on next page
Continued. .
Notes
49. Though the poet remains unidentified, an excerpt of the poem, attributed to "an American poet," appears in William Henry Withrow, Neville Trueman the Pioneer Preacher (1880) with the following note:
An American poet has thus commemorated Tecumseh's last conflict with Colonel [Richard Mentor] Johnson;
Marshal Schwerin's Grave. [50]
The tomb of this brave man is a plain quiet cenotaph erected in the middle of a wide cornfield, on the very spot where he closed a long, faithful, and glorious career in arms. He fell here at 80 years of age, at the head of his own regiment, the standard of it waving in his hand.
Continued
Mrs Hemans
Notes
50. "Marshall Schwerin's Grave" was written by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793–1835) and published in the Monthly Magazine or British Register, May 1826. It was reprinted in Hemans' National Lyrics and Songs for Music (1834).
A Monarch's Death-bed. [51]
The Emperor Albert, of Hapsburg who was assassinated, by his nephew, afterwards called John the Parricide, was left to die by the way-side, and was supported in his last moments by a female peasant, who happened to be passing.
Continued . . . .
Mrs Hemans.
Notes
51. Felicia Dorothea Hemans, "A Monarch's Death-bed," Records of Woman (1828).
The Suliote Mother. [52]
It is related, that several of the Suliote women, on the advance of the Turkish troops into their mountain fastnesses, assembled on a lofty summit, and after chanting a wild song, precipitated themselves, with their children, into the chasm below, to avoid becoming the slaves of the enemy.
Continued
Continued
Mrs Hemans.
Notes
52. "The Suliote Mother" was written by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793–1835) and published in the New Monthly Magazine, March 1823. It was reprinted in Hemans' Lays of Many Lands (1825).
Bernardo Del Carpio. [55]
This celebrated Spanish champion, having made many ineffectual efforts to procure the release of his father, who had been imprisoned by Alphonso, king of Asturias, almost from the time of Bernardo's birth, at last took up arms in despair. The war which he maintained, proved so destructive, that the men of the land gathered round the King & united in demanding the liberty of the father. Alfonso accordingly offered Bernardo immediate possession of his father's person, in exchange for his castle of Carpio. Bernardo without hesita––tion gave up his strong-hold with all his captives, and, being assured that his father was then on his way from prison, rode forth with the king to meet him. The remainder of the story will be found related in the ballad.
Continued
Mrs Hemans. [58]
Notes
55. "Bernardo Del Carpio" was written by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793–1835) and was published in the New Monthly Magazine, November 1823. It was reprinted in Hemans' Songs of the Affections (1830).
The preceding two leaves were cut out of the gathering along the gutter.
56. "falchion": a slightly curved, broad-bladed sword.
58. A 5 ¼" squiggly horizontal line precedes the attribution to Mrs. Hemans.
Extracts from Byron.
Description of Conrad the Corsair. [59]
Extracts from Scott's Lady of the Lake.
Description of the Characters.
Ellen Douglas. [61]
Notes
61. Sir Walter Scott, Lady of the Lake (1810), Canto 1, stanza 18.
Fitz-james. [62]
Malcolm Graham. The lover of Ellen Douglas. [64]
Continued
Roderick Dhu & the boast of Ellen, to the old minstrel. [66]
Notes
66. Sir Walter Scott, Lady of the Lake, Canto 2, stanzas 11-13.
67. Dusenbery, or the text he was copying, omitted the following lines, which appear in other editions of the poem:
68. Dusenbery, or the text he was copying, omitted the following lines, which appear in other editions of the poem:
69. A 6" squiggly horizontal line appears below the last line of this excerpt.
Roderick, on being refused the hand of Ellen, & his rencontre with Graeme. [70]
continued
Notes
70. Sir Walter Scott, Lady of the Lake (1810), Canto 2, stanzas 33-34.
72. Dusenbery, or the text he was copying, omitted the following two lines, which appear in other editions of the poem:
73. A 6½ " squiggly horizontal line appears immediately below this line, separating it from "The death of Blanche, the Lowland maid, who had been taken captive by Roderick Dhu."
The death of Blanche, the Lowland maid, who had been taken captive by— -Roderick Dhu. Fitz-James slays his guide Murdoch , who had been ordered by Roderick, to betray him. [74]
Blanche's Death.
She sat beneath the birchen tree, Her elbow resting on her—knee; She had withdrawn the fatal shaft, And gazed on it, and feebly laughed; [76] The knight, to stanch the life-stream tried,— "Stranger, it is in vain"! she cried. [77] A helpless, injured wretch I die, And something tells me in thine eye That thou wert mine avenger born. [78] O! by thy knighthood's honoured sign, And for thy life preserved by mine, When thou shalt see a darksome man, Who boasts him chief of Alpine's clan, With tartans broad and shadowy plume, And hand of blood, and brow of gloom, Be thy heart bold, thy weapon strong, And wreak poor Blanche of Devan's wrong!— [79]Notes
74. Sir Walter Scott, Lady of the Lake (1810), Canto 4, stanzas 26-28.
75. Dusenbery, or the text he was copying, omitted the following line, which appears in other editions of the poem: "Thine ambushed kin thou ne'er shalt see,"
76. Dusenbery, or the text he was copying, omitted the following two lines, which appear in other editions of the poem:
77. Dusenbery, or the text he was copying, omitted the following lines, which appear in other editions of the poem:
78. Dusenbery, or the text he was copying, omitted the following lines, which appear in other editions of the poem: Seest thou this tress?—O, still I've worn This little tress of yellow hair, Through danger, frenzy, and despair! It once was bright and clear as thine, But blood and tears have dimmed its shine. I will not tell thee when 't was shred, Nor from what guiltless victim's head,— My brain would turn!—but it shall wave Like plumage on thy helmet brave, Till sun and wind shall bleach the stain, And thou wilt bring it me again. I waver still. —O God! more bright Let reason beam her parting light!—
Records Of my Senior Year at the University of NCa.
The advantages of keeping a journal, are many & important. Exclusive of the improvement, which one would nescessari––ly make, both in his style of composition & in the art of pen-manship; and setting aside likewise all the benefits, which would probably result from such an use of his leisure time—the gratification a––lone, that he would feel in after life, [80] in perusing this work of his youth & reflecting on the profitable manner in which he spent the time— "When life itself was new, And the heart promised, what the fancy drew" [81] —would amply compensate him for all the labour of its composition. And even should that most happy period of his life have been spent in idleness & dissipation; still will not this memento of his follies & crimes, have been written in vain. For when his eye shall rest upon the page, that speaks to him of his disgrace, tears of sorrow & repentance will course each other down his cheeks & he will resolve with all his might, to free himself from those vices & habits, which degraded his youth.
For these & many other reasons, we have determined to keep a weekly record of all the leading events of my [82] life during our Senior year in College, together with our thoughts & reflections at the time.
J. L. D. . . . . . . . .
[July 17, 1841]
On Tuesday the 13th July 1841 I bade a reluctant farewell to my friends & relatives, among whom I had been spending a long and most pleasant vacation of six weeks & set out on my return to the university, in company with two other incipient Sophs, A. & F. . . . & my cousin P. R. . . . . . . . . . . [83] Mr F. . . . . [84] & my father brought us as far on our way as Greensboro. [85] in private conveyances. Taking the stage from that place about one of the clock, on the night ensuing, we reached the Hill at four the following evening. Although we met with no very serious accident on our journey, yet did we not escape, altogether scathless. At Greensboroughthrough sheer forgetfulness I left that particular bag of most delicious cake, which my good mother had busied herself so much in preparing for me. The thoughts of it e'en now makes the mouth water & the bowells yearn. Oh! Lethe! thy sluggish stream exists not only in the realms below, but its branches irrigate all this fair world of ours & the drowsy, dreamy influence of their waters, pervades the senses of mortal men as well as the spirits in Pluto's dark domain.
It is an old proverb, that misfortunes seldom come alone & I
found it true in my case. I left home with a pot of promising young
plants, consisting of a buckhorn & two hyderangeas. [86]
They bore a priceless value in my eyes from the circumstance, that
the buchorn was a present from a young lady & bore her name. One of
the hydrangeas [87] also bore the
name of Miss E. H. . ., and I had
bound myself by all the laws of chivalry to cherish the plants as
emblems of the growing affection that was exist-
-ing between us respectively. By the most unremitting care and
watchfulness, I reached Hillsboro with them in perfect safety, & was
congratulating myself that the goal of our journey was near at hand
& that all anxiety with respect to them would then be over. But
alas! [88] how little do we know
of futurity. I set the little ark, freighted with the emblems of our
young affections, as I thought, in a secure place, & had left them
but a few moments, when I returned & the spectacle that met my
gaze, wrung my heart with grief & vexation. Some careless hand had
over––turned it & the contents now lay at my
feet crushed & broken
After the first bursts of passion were over, I procured another pot, in which I placed the mangled remains of my plants & brought them to the hill. Of the two which bore the names of Sarah & Elvira, [90] the one is withered & shrunk & of the other nothing now remains but the stem, shorn of its leaves & destitute of all outward signs of life. The one without a name, alone escaped uninjured, amid that wreck of matter. It stands in all the pride of conscious beauty & seems to look down in scorn upon its less fortunate companions. The omen to be deduced from the fate of these plants, is most probably true. Neither Sarah or Elvira is likely ever to be mine for weal or woe. I have never yet seen a woman who resembles my ideal model of female perfection, or one, who could cause the chords near my heart to vibrate at her approach. Until I find one who can enchain my roving desires & fix them on herself alone, my surviving hydrange[a] shall remain without a name. But until that time I will cherish & guard it as the representative of my fair incognita. One other accident occurred, though it is hardly worth recording. In the hurry & confusion consequent on reaching the Hill, I neglected to take my umbrella off the stage so that it went on towards Raleigh & did not return for a couple of days. My room––mate reached here the day after my own arrival & we took possession of our old room.
Done at our dormitory, No. 23, on the 3d passage of the West Building, of the University of the sovreign state of North Carolina, on the eve––ning of Saturday the 17nth day of july, & in theYear of our Lord, eighteen hundred and forty one.
James L Dusenbery [91] James L Dusenbery [91]Notes
83. Chapel Hill, NC, lies approximately 80 miles east of Lexington, NC.
84. Probably Robert Foster.
85. Greensboro, NC, lies 32 miles northeast of Lexington, NC.
89. Thomas Moore, "The Fire Worshippers," Lalla Rookh: An Oriental Romance (1817).
90. "Sarah" may be named for Sarah Mabry.
91. The word Signed appears in a squiggly circle at the left margin.
[July 24, 1841]
On Monday the 18nth ult. [92] the regular exercises of College commenced. The senior class recited for its first lessons to Gov. Swain, —The bill of rights of the freemen [93] of NCarolina & the constitution of the U.States We also beg[an] this week, the study of Chemistry, including Botany, Zoology, & Mineralogy, under Prof. Mitchell. The class recites once a week to Philips on Astronomy & twice a week to Fetter on the Medea of Euripides. Monsieur Robards, the Prof. of French, has not yet returned from "the enjoyment of his vacation." [94] During the past week I have been trying to overcome the habit of sleeping between prayers & breakfast, but without success. It is prejudicial to health, a waste of the most pleasant part of the day for study & therefore that habit must not be indulged. The fact is, the weather has been so excessively warm & sultry, that I have done very little else but sleep during the whole week.
I brought from home seventy five dollars, with which I paid my debts to the amount of fifteen dollars; paid also ten dollars in advance for board, five to Society, five for Kents Commentaries, [95] & deposited thirty five with the Bursar, for which I took a receipt. Of the remaining five, I paid fifty cents to a boy for bringing my baggage from the tavern to my room, deposited one dollar in the P. Office & bought a box of cigars with the remainder.
I retired from church last Sabbath after answering to my name. I had no absences either from prayers or recitation during the week.
Done at No 23. W.[est] B.[uilding] on the evening of Saturday, the 24th day of the month july & in the year of christ eighteen hun––dred & forty one.
JLD. [96]Notes
93. The North Carolina "Declaration of Rights" and constitution were adopted in December 1776 by the state's Fifth Provincial Congress, meeting in Halifax, NC. Though the documents were not submitted to the people for approval, the "Declaration of Rights" enumerated 25 rights, including the rights of free men to trial by jury, protection from unlawful imprisonment, and freedom from governmental interference. It also affirmed the rights of citizens to regulate their own government as well as bear arms, worship, and assemble. In establishing the right to own property, the final clause confirmed the northern and southern boundaries of North Carolina.
94. Battle claims that "Rev. John James Roberts, a graduate of 1838, who had studied in France for two years, took charge as Professor [of French] in 1841" but resigned the next year. He became the principal of high schools for females in New York and Massachusetts (Battle 1:440, 474). Battle is mistaken about Roberts' middle name; it was Jones, not James.
95. James Kent, Commentaries on American Law (1826–1830).
[July 31, 1841]
In the grey twilight of last saturday evening, three students left the West Building by the back door & after winding their way through dark alleys & the most unfrequented places, at length emerged into the Hillsborough road, in the outskirts of the village. One of the party carried under his arm a most suspicious-looking instrument which he appeared to conceal with the utmost care. That instru––ment was a violin & the individuals were Nelms, Caldwell & myself. We soon found ourselves at the depot, where Mears, Walker, Green, Smith [97], Jno. & Bob Cowan, Hawkins, Chub, & L. Henderson & several others soon joined us. Taking Em with us, we struck into the woods & half hour's hard walking brought us to the fishery—the place of our destination. The object of the excursion was to have a real, downright bull-dance [98] with the Herring gals & as many others as we could get together at that place. We were about 25 in number & though the night was warm almost to suffocation, all crowded into the little cabin, that was barely of sufficient size to permit us to turn round. Every man stripped to his shirt & trowsers, Nelms & big Smith [99] played the fiddle & the dance began. The sweat rolled down [to use an hyperbole] until our boot-legs were full to overflowing & still the dance went on. It lasted until near midnight, when the air in the room became so highly charged with funk & gaseous matter that it was impossible to stand it any longer. A general rush was made for the open air & many a hoarse throat was caused by the sudden cooling. From this time the crowd began to decrease rapidly as squad after squad took up their drowsy line of march towards college. At length all were gone save Hawkins Caldwell & myself. I shall not attempt to detail the mysterious proceedings of my two companions du––ring the dark hours of that ever memorable night. Let a veil forever cover them. As for myself I was so overcome with sleep & lassitude that I was compelled to go to bed. They put me on a feather bed & though the night was warm eneough to melt lead itself & though I sunk down over head & ears yet notwithstanding all this I slept. But Oh! the horrors of that fatal nap. Never shall I forget the shocking dreams that haunted my pillow. Among others not less horrid, methought I lay upon a pool of molten lead & that thousands of diminutive devils were around me, pinching biting & mocking at me. Making a desperate effort to free myself from their persecutions, I awoke & found my––self in a predicament in truth, scarcely more enviable than my imaginary one. My body was nearly float––ing in its own perspiration & myriads of chinces [100] were performing their nightly orgies upon it. I arose with difficulty from that bed, which had nearly proved my last of earthly rest & shaking from [101] me the loathsome varmints, that clung to my clothes with tenacious grasp, I determined to bid a final adieu to a place where chinces grew to the size of teropins & lived beneath the house instead of in the chinks of the bed. The morning star was high in the heavens when we reached our rooms. Dancing & singing schools are all the go here at present. Nearly all college are learning to caper & sing. We have two dancing masters—Signore Rochietti & Monsieur De Granval. I took my first lesson under the latter gentleman last Wednesday. Last thursday I received a letter from my loving, languid, black-eyed Mary. It contained a lock of her hair & informed me that she expected to go with her father to Illinois in the fall & never see me again. She charged me to write to her however & wound up by declaring, that though she might be far away, still her heart was & should be mine until death. The author of this letter is a very pretty little country girl, whom I met with in my rambles last va––cation & though I do not really love her, yet there's none I would rather be kissing than Mary. I was at her father's last vacation & as I sat by her side in the door, long after the rest of the family were asleep & pressed her willing lips to mine;
"In linked sweetness, long drawn out" [102]But I believed Mary to be as virtuous & chaste as most girls are & therefore quelled the tumultuous passions that were raging in my breast.
She loves me, I know full well, but never will I in my cool moments
abuse that love. I shall not answer her letter, that she may think
herself neglected & banish all thoughts of me from her memory. She
is a sweet girl—
On a certain night last week, Mc,Bee & Erwin, S. Green & myself were seated round a table in No 22 [106] engaged at a social game of whist. At the most interesting part of the game, when honours were easy & each party were battling for the odd trick, the door opened & Buncombe himself stood upon the threshold. The old gentleman was so perfectly astounded, that he stood, fixed to the spot, without the power either to retreat or advance. At length he approached the table & gathering up the pictures, that had dropped from the nerveless grasps of most of us, quietly ordered them to be burned. He did not bring the matter before the faculty but demanded our pledge of honour, that we would not play our––selves or permit cards to be played in our rooms, during our connection with the University. Friday night after society, Turner & Bllenfant invited the 3d passage down to drink lemonade with them They had ice, lemons & sugar in abundance & we had a real freeze-out. I had no absences at all, last week, though I retired from church.
[Done a]t No 23 July the 31st 1841. It being Saturday eve.
Notes
97. Possibly John Baptist Smith.
98. "bull-dance": nautical slang for a dance with men.
99. Possibly John Baptist Smith.
98. "chinces": foul-smelling bugs that damage wheat, corn, and other grains; bedbugs.
102. John Milton, L 'Allegro (1645).
103. Thomas Moore, "Fanny of Timmol: A Mail-Coach Adventure," The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore (1812).
104. Thomas Moore, "Fanny of Timmol: A Mail-Coach Adventure," The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore (1812).
105. Thomas Moore, "Fanny of Timmol: A Mail-Coach Adventure," The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore (1812).
106. No. 22 in the West Building, now know as Old West, was the room occupied by James Augustus Caldwell and William James Hayes.
[August 7, 1841]
I heard a sermon last Sabbath morning for the first time since leaving home. It was delivered by Prof. Green & set forth in glaring colours, the utter folly & great wickedness of profane swearing. It is a habit that I have resolved never to indulge, not only for the sufficient reason that it is sinful, but because it is useless, immoral & ungentlemanly. In the evening my class recited to the Gov. for a bible lesson, the first three chapters of Genesis. We found him well versed in scripture lore—indeed there are very few studies, into which he has not examined. A man of more extensive & varied acquirements than Gov. Swain, is seldom met with. He remarked, that even exclusive of its divine character, the bible is one of the most important books which we can study, both because it is the most perfect mod––el of a pure, unadulterated style & for the reason that we derive from it all our knowledge of the early ages of the world. I read as far as the Psalms last session & intend finishing the old Testament, the present one.
On Tuesday I was taken up on Astronomy & made a pretty good recitation. Wednesday morning during study hours a large wagon-load [107] of melons was driven into the Campus. The new Freshmen generously stepped forward, bought the whole load & called on every man to help himself. [108] The fellows forthwith mounted into the wagon & began to carry them to their rooms. Our passage brought away about a dozen of them. While we were yet eating & the passage was literally covered with rinds & fra[gm]ents,
Judge Owen paid us a visit. He pronounced himself thunder––struck at the aspect of things, assured us that it was inde––cent, unhealthy & decidedly rash to keep so filthy a passage & remarked that it was a duty we owed [109] to the younger classes, to the Faculty & to ourselves, to be more circumspect in our conduct. He went on to say that on us the Faculty depended in a great measure for the maintenance of order & decorum in the west building—that to us they looked to set an example of so––briety & morality to our younger brethren of the University. Let me indulge the hope, continued the Judge, that you will, henceforward mark out for yourselves a line of conduct at once dignified, gentlemanly & worthy of the exalted & highly responsible station which you occupy as seniors of this University.
"Good morning gentlemen."
On Wednesday S. G. . . . G. H. . . . . . . . & myself, the committee appoint––ed by society to write to Mr King, [110] addressed a letter to that gentleman, requesting of him in the name of society, a present of some of the minerals, obtained from his lead & silver mines in Davidson.
My class began "Political Economy" last week under the Gov.
I have not been absent from prayers or recitation during the week.
Done on saturday evening the 7nth day of the month August & in the year eighteen hundred & forty one, "ab natu Domini." [111]
Notes
110. According to Dialectic Society minutes for July 30, 1841, "Mr Dusenberry moved that a committee be appointed to write to write to Mr King and request of him a specimen of his minerals—carried the members who compose this committee are [James Lawrence] Dusenberry [Stephen Sneed] Green & G[eorge W.] Henderson (Vol. 9, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
111. "ab natu Domini": after the birth of the Lord.
[August 14, 1841]
It is now Saturday & nearly ten o'clock at night. I have passed the day in idleness & to carry out the old proverb. "That Satan always finds some evil still, For idle hands to do" [112] == have just crowned the day, by quaffing once more a draught from the poisoned chalice of Bacchus & now sit down to record the events of the week. It has passed away, like the morning clowd & the early dew, & there is reason to fear that much of the time was misimproved by me. What have I done worthy to be recorded in this book? Alas! Nothing. On Thursday Fetter rushed me [113] shamefully. I was not expecting to be taken up & had been talking & laughing nearly the whole hour. He called on me to recite purely for revenge & so unexpected was the summons, that I became con––fused & made a failure, although I had prepared the lesson with as much care as usual. During the week I finished the "Divina Commedia" of Dante. It is a theologi––cal poem & entirely too deep for my comprehension. He was a native of Florence & the friend of Petrarch & Boccacio. I wrote to Laura on Tuesday, it being the first time that I have written home this session.
The committee of which I was one appointed by society, to write to Mr Haywood, received a reply from that gentleman on Friday, declining to have his address published. [114]
My attendance at prayers, church & recitation has been regular throughout the week.
Notes
112. Isaac Watts, Divine Songs for Children (1715): "In Works of Labour or of Skill I would be busy too: For Satan finds some mischief still for idle Hands to do."
113. "rushed me": to be caught unprepared for class.
114. During the 1841 Commencement, William Henry Haywood (1801–1852), a former member of the Dialectic Society and graduate of the class of 1819, delivered an address titled "Want of State Pride" at a joint meeting of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Societies.
[August 14, 1841]
First Chronicles
Chap. 1st
Now it came to pass in the eigth month, even the month August & in the thirteenth day of the month, that Gooly surnamed the drummer arose & went forth into the wilderness of Sin. And there were with him in the wilderness, certain mighty men of valour of the tribe of Freshmen, worshippers of Baal who had not the fear of God before their eyes. Now there were harlots in those parts, who enticed the men of the land & were stumbling-blocks before Gooly & the men who were with him. For they were moved in their hearts to go in unto them; so they arose & went forth by night, bearing in their hands, gifts of raiment & precious metal. But the intents of their hearts were evil before the Lord continually & it was forbidden that this great wickedness should come to pass. For behold as they went the very trees cried out at their approach & put forth their arms to forbid their passage. But Gooly & the men of might who were with him, were hardened in their hearts & pressed forward to give battle to the giants of the forest. And lo! one of the giants pressed sore upon Gooly & smote him between the eyes & he fell upon his face to the earth. Then Gooly arose & fled to his own house & the men, when they saw what was done, turned & fled after him. Thus was Gooly & the worshippers of of Baal discomfited before the giants of the wilderness of Sin.
Done on Saturday the 14 th of August 1841.
[August 22, 1841]
Alfred Foster & myself left Mrs. Lewis's last Tuesday & obtained boarding at Nunns. [115] Mrs Lewis had been feeding us for nearly a month, almost wholly upon fried apples & meat & such fare as that contains very little spice, to give to life a flavour. P. Henderson H. Graham & Long soon followed our example. The board at Nunns has been very good thus far & I hope that it may not turn out in the end========"That such a pretty boy as i, Have gone to the nunnery, to pine away & die." [116]
The past week has not been very fertile in events. I passed through the usual routine of my studies in the old way—respec––tably, without the occurrence of any thing extra-ordinary. My reading was also very limited, [117] being confined almost wholly to Byron's Tragedy of Cain. [118] Laura's reply to my letter arrived on Thursday—it contained only a little foolishness respecting the girls & the composition I wrote for L. . . . & E. . . . . . [119] I shall burn it.
Yesterday (saturday) morning, having obtained permission from the Gov. I set out with Gooly & Yance for a camp-meeting, then holding at Antioch [120], 10 miles from the Hill. G. and myself were mounted upon Charles's mettlesome steeds & Yance bestrode a fiery young gelding of Tinney's. [121] We went it with a perfect rush. We had ridden about five miles, when, on stopping to water our horses, I urged mine so far up the branch, that he mired nearly up to the root of his tail. In struggling to extricate himself the girt broke & I had well nigh been precipitated into the slough. After re––pairing damages I remounted & again we dashed off at full gallop. My horse soon lost a shoe but that did not detain us a minute. A little farther on we were brought to a sudden stand by the appearance of a large black-snake coiled in the road. Dismounting, we bruised the head of the serpent & again vaulting into our saddles, passed on, upon the wings of the wind. On reaching the ground we found ourselves to be the only decently dressed fellows there & consequently the centre of attraction. The people stared at us as we passed along & remarked to each other "Them must be scholars." We got to devilling a little negro & cuffy after staring at us for some time turned up his eyes with a most meaning & sig––nificant look [122] & says he "You'se scholars." And by the time we had been there 15 minutes young men & maidens, old men & negroes had come to the pretty unanimous conclusion that we were scholars. At the sound of the horn brother Purify [123] mounted the stand & remarked that he would take the liberty of stating in the outset, that there was to be no looking about during the exercises. In the course of the service that brother prayed that the Lord would be with them in their protracted-out meet––ing & says he, "kind bruthring & friends, let us all sing that song about Jordan's stormy banks [124] & will some kind bruthrin or friend give us the pitch. After the sermon we sat for some time on the bench of anxiety, expecting that some kind bruthren or friend would ask us to dine with him. Many old patriarchs who had pitched their tents around, stopped for a moment, looked on us and passed over to the other side. At length the good Samaritan appeared & ministered to our wants. His name was Beaver & a beaver of a peculiar kind he was. He was red. After dining we strolled about until it was nearly dark & having obtained our suppers, still felt no inclination to return to College. After the night sermon a prayer meeting was held & the ground soon became literally covered with prostrate forms. The pit behind the stand was full with negroes, to overflowing & the funk they raised was tremendous. Every old darkee became suddenly inspired with some divine commission, felt himself a preacher & a host in himself & strove to make himself heard. The commingled shouts, groans, shrieks & wild halloas that ascended to the blue vault above="Threw o'er that spot of earth— —the air of Hell." [125] We looked on in silent wonderment until near midnight & then leading our chargers from the bushes, where they had been feeding upon stake-oats for 16 hours, we charged home-wards at the rate of eight miles per hour. I have not been absent either from prayers, recitation or church during the past week. To day I retired from church after answering to my name.
Recorded on the night of Sunday the 22d of Aug. This record would have been made on the evening previous had I not been absent as above-stated.
Notes
115. Elizabeth "Betsy" Copeland (d. 1851) and William (1744–1806) Nunn opened a popular tavern and boardinghouse in 1795 near the present site of the University Baptist Church on S. Columbia Street in Chapel Hill, NC. Although her husband died shortly after the boardinghouse opened, Betsy Nunn continued to operate it until her death at the age of 91 in 1851. (Vickers 13, 22).
116. "I Won't Be a Nun" was a popular song set to an Irish tune and published in 1823 or 1824: "Oh, isn't it a pity/that such a pretty girl as I/Should be sent into the nunnery/to pine away and die?" See Thomas A Edison Collection of American Sheet Music (Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Microfilm, 2000) . http://microformguides.gale.com/Data/Download/3049000R.pdf (5 September 2007).
118. George Noel Gordon, Lord Byron, Cain (1821).
119. Possibly Elvira Jane Holt.
120. Antioch Baptist Church was found in 1806 as the Haw River Church and moved to its present location in the White Cross community in 1830 (Lefler and Wager 301).
121. The horses probably belonged to Charles Phillips (1822–1889), son of Prof. James Phillips, and John Brooks Tenny (1807–1893), who owned a plantation near the University on present-day Tenney Circle in Chapel Hill, NC.
123. Possibly Rev. George Washington Purefoy.
124. "On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand." The words, written by Samuel Stennett, were first published in John Rippon's Selection of Hymns (1787) under the title of "Heaven Anticipated." The tune "Promised Land," composed by M. Durham, made the hymn popular after it appeared in William Walker's Southern Harmony (1835).
125. George Noel Gordon, Lord Byron, The Corsair (1814): "The wild confusion, and the swarthy glow/Of flames on high, and torches from below;/The shriek of terror, and the mingling yell—/For swords began to dash and shouts to swell—/Flung o'er that spot of earth the air of hell!"
[August 29, 1841]
The Di end of the West Bulding has always been charac––terized as the noisiest part of College & well does it deserve the
appellation. If proof be wanting to establish the fact, let any one
appeal to the statistics of the 3d passage of that
building. The high crimes & misdemeanors of the past week alone,
would [126]
stamp indelibly upon her front, the guilty stain. But what care we
of the west for that? We are proud
of the distinction & I for one would not exchange my elevated
place here in west for any,
the most quiet abode amid these classic shades. We are a jovial,
roistering com––pany & our determination is to enjoy
to the utmost the halcyon days of youth. Amity & good feeling
exists among us & the glorious motto we have unfurled, declares
The noise was chiefly in my room on Monday night. Five of us were fighting with pillows. Beds were tumbled, hats crushed, my pillowcase torn to pieces & finally the candle thrown down & extinguished, when darkness put an end to the frolic. The following night, after our return from dancing-school, we illuminated the passage & commenced patting & shuffling. The noise was so great that it roused the judge, who appeared in our midst with [128] the velocity of a thunderbolt. The death-like stillness that then ensued contrasted strongly with the deafening uproar of a few minutes previous. He spoke long & emphatically of the impropriety of such proceedings, entreated us to forbear & having concluded his dissertation & bowed politely we lighted him down stairs. There was more dancing on the next night but JUDEX did not make his appearance.
On Thursday Miss Train passed through in the stage on her way home, under the protection of Mr Gaither. [129] Alfred & I walk––ed out nearly a mile to meet the stage in order to have more conversation with her, but the rascally driver refused to let us ride. We walked back & while the mail was preparing enjoyed a few brief & hurried words with her. She inquired my address & promised to send me a paper occasionally while in my turn I pledged myself to forward catalogues et cetera to her address at Firmingham Mass. She handed me a letter from Laura. By the mail I received another letter. It was from Griffin & informed me that Mary, my own sweet girl was well & anxious to see me, but in great fear that her father would emigrate in October & seperate us forever. Yesterday evening we sent over to the East [Building] for Fresh Smith, put a fiddle in his hands & had a real old scamper down. After the dance Pink sent down town for a bottle of wine & we pledged each other in flowing glasses. At night songs & social converse filled up the intervening hours 'till bed-time.
No absences during the week. Snapped from church to day. Pink answered for me but Ralph would'nt take.
Done on Sunday 29nth 1841 August.
Notes
127. The chorus of a traditional folksong titled "Drive Dull Care Away": "Away, away, away, away/We will drive dull care away;/So while we're here with our friends so dear/We'll drive dull care away."
129. Possibly Samuel Gaither.
[September 5, 1841]
Monsieur, Le Maitre à dancer, has commenced giving us 4 lessons in each week & that too, on so many successive nights. At that rate his school will soon terminate. It has been greatly augmented since Rochietti's was broken-up. Le Monsieur is a perfect master of his profession. I have never seen a man who could impart, so successfully, to others the polite accomplishment of dancing. After the dance on Tuesday night I threw of my clothes & becoming cool too suddenly, a cold was brought on by that imprudence. In addition to this, a tooth that had been very sensitive for a long time, began to ache & continued to do so throughout the night. I could neither sleep or read & to remain in my room & do nothing was intolerable. I could not rec––oncile myself to the loss of the tooth & still hoped that the aching would eventually cease. How vain were all such hopes! The pain at length became so intense that I could no longer withold my assent to the extraction of the tooth. I went to the Doctor's, but no voice replied to my loud & oft-repeated kncking & I was compelled to drag out the remainder of that horrid night in wandering about the streets, & in counting over, & venting fruitless curses upon the long & painful hours that must intervene, ere SOL would show his reluctant visage above the western hills. At length he rose & ne'er did Gheber [130] hail, with more devout pleasure than myself, his rising presence.
His first rays lighted me to the door of that worthy son of Aesculapius, Dr Cave, who quickly extracted the aching tooth== "But left a mighty void behind, That time [131] will never fill".
In the evening of the same day Dr Mitchell took the Senior class out mineralizing. We went directly to Scotts hole & the Dr. led us all over Old Sol. Morgan's plantation for the purpose of showing us the old red sandstone. But most of the boys paid more attention to the discussion of the internal properties & instrinsic value of old Sol's melons than to the chemical analysis of old red sandstone. After leaving that place where— "Morgan's wife makes butter & cheese And Morgan drinks the whey" [132] ==Mike led us over the hills, showing us specimens of quartz, granite, horen-stone, [133] but particularly of old red sandstone, until not we only, but he himself was perfecly exhausted. P. P. Peace, [134] a school-fellow of mine at the Caldwell Institute, [135] spent Friday evening & of Saturday, the greater part of the day on the Hill, thereby affording me a good excuse for snapping [136] from Society, which I did not fail to take advantage of.
Returning from breakfast Saturday morning, my atten––tion was attracted by seeing an unusual number of students in the street before Miss Nancy's tavern & evidently in great commotion. Ere it was possible for me to reach the place
a pistol went off & I soon became aware that a fight was in progress. The parties were Bunch & the younger Rice, both members of the Phi Society. The insult had been given by B. during the session of their society the night previous, & R. met him for the first time thereafter in the street & at the place above-stated. Bunch was almost universally despised & the few friends that he did possess, deserted him, to a man, in his time of need. Jno Jack, his cousin alone stood by him & cheered him, in his hopeless conflict with a man, much his superior in size. But his voice was scarely heard amid the shouts of==Beat him Rice==Kill the d. . . . .ned rascal &. Bunch sustained the unequal fight for some minutes when he received a blow which made him recoil several feet & fall. As he did so, his eye rested on a pistol he had dropped at the first of the fight, which he seized & fired, not at the man he was fighting, but through mistake, at his brother. [137] The ball merely grazed his hip & passed on without farther injury. In the short pause that followed this deed, I reached the spot. Bunch's friends wished to take him away, but the other party would not permit them. They even denied him a stick, while Rice was armed with a tremendous one, & his friends were so few that they dared not give him one. They fought thus unequally for several minutes & Bunch was well nigh beaten to a mummy, when the Gov. & other members of the Faculty came up & dispersed the crowd & seperated the combatants.
Bunch was a rascal & deserved his beating but it was really a shame to compel him to fight at so great a disadvantage. They have both been dismissed. [138] On Tuesday I answered Laura's letter of the previous week. Ere I completed it I received one from Augusta, in answer to mine, written nearly three months previous. No absences from prayers or recitation this week. Last night Burke Cabarrus [139] & myself went to old Bartimeus's, who was not at home & therefore got none of the stuff that Mutz had in his old black juuk. I carried a tickler full of Cordial, for Aunt Jenny & the rest of 'em. But these three men & the acts that they did & how they sung, behold are they not written in the Chronicles of the mighty men of the West.
Done on Sunday the 5th Sept. 1841 after retiring from church.
Notes
130. "Gheber": A worshiper of fire.
132. A parody of a popular children's song: "Old Grimes' wife makes butter and cheese;/ Old Grimes he drinks the whey./There came a North wind from the South,/And blew Old Grimes away." (quoted in Wallace 18).
133. "horen-stone": possibly "horenblende," a complex, dark, silicate mineral with crystal structures.
134. Probably Pleasant Poindexter Peace.
135. The Caldwell Institute was founded by the Orange Presbytery in 1836 and represents the second classical academy and preparatory school by that name in Greensboro, NC. (The first was established by Rev. David Caldwell in 1767 and closed in 1822). Named for Joseph Caldwell, a Presbyterian minister and president of the University of North Carolina, the school was first taught by Rev. Alexander Wilson and Silas C. Lindsay. The school was moved to Hillsborough, NC, in 1845 in the wake of a typhoid epidemic (Smith 137).
136. "snapping": taking an unexcused absence from class or other required duties.
137. Jemison (or Jameson) W. Rice of Eutaw, AL, entered the University in 1841, joined the Philathropic Society from 1840 to 1842; he left the University without earning a degree.
138. Faculty minutes for September 14, 1841, contain the following account of the fight between Bunch and Rice:
J. M. Bunch & W. D. Rice were called before the Faculty, and made their own statement with respect to a fracas in which they were engaged this morning. It seems that a difference having taken place between them in the Hall of their Society last night, Bunch went out and returned armed with a pistol. Immediately after breakfast this morning, Rice went to Bunch's boarding house, armed in like manner. A fight in the street ensued, in the presence of many students, in the course of which Bunch's pistol was discharged, and Rice's cain used freely, his pistol having dropped from his pocket. The pistol of each was charged with three buck shot.
They were immediately dismissed and directed to retire from the village in forty eight hours. (1:17–18, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Subsequently, on February 11, 1842, President Swain read to the assembled faculty a letter from William D. Rice, "praying for an honorable dismission, or at least such a letter from the President as would enable him to get admission into the College at Wake Forest. The subject was referred to the President with discretionary power" (Faculty Minutes 1:40, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). President Swain's response to Rice's letter is undocumented, but Wake Forest University has no evidence that Rice ever enrolled there.
First Chronicles [140]
Chap. 2nd
Now David, surnamed the Swain, was Captain of the host. And there dwelt in the borders of the land, a certain blind man whose name was Edward. The same was mighty in wine & strong drink & very wicked withal. And he had a daughter, who was an harlot; and she was exceeding comely & fair to look upon, insomuch that she filled the whole land with her whore-doms & abominations. And Edward knew this & yet he did not restrain her. And there was in the host of David the Swain, a young man of renown, whose name was Reuben, whom in afore-time she had enticed, but he had now fled from her & had not seen her face, for many days. Now she loved Reuben above all the other young men & behold in the beginning of the ninth month, even the month Elul [141], she sent unto him Levi, her sister's son saying: "Why tarriest thou Reuben? Why comest thou not unto me? My thoughts wait on thee continually. All the day long, am I disquieted concerning thee & in the night time, sleep cometh not to mine eyes, neither slumber to mine eye-lids, because of thee. Return thou then unto me, O Reuben, that art the light of mine eyes & mine only joy. Come quickly & bring with you a full measure of wine, where-withal to cheer the heart of the old man, even Edward my father. And bring with you, also, both Rufus, the Cabarrus-ite [142] & the mighty songster, even Gabriel, who blow––eth the trumpet before the host of David the Swain. For behold! the damsel, whom Gabriel loveth & another that you wot of, will be with me in the house." And the words of the damsel prevailed with Reuben & he said unto Levi—Go again to the damsel who sent you & say to her—I will come. So the lad returned, & told her all the words of Reuben. Now when [143] darkness was upon the face of the earth, Reuben rose up & took with him the two men & the measure of wine as the damsel com––manded & went & came to the house of Edward. And they found there two of the damsels, but lo! the other was not; for said they, she is sick. Now this was she, whom Gabriel sought for. And the young man was exceeding sorrowful because she came not & he went & threw himself on the ground & grieved sore; for his heart yearned after the damsel. Now when the daughter of Edward lifted up her eyes & saw Reuben, she ran & met him & fell upon his neck & kissed him. And she chid him because of his long absence; but Reuben excused himself & embraced her & comforted her all the night long. And when Rufus the Cabarrus-ite saw the other damsel, that she was exceeding fair, his heart was well pleased & leaped for joy within him. And he liked her well & went & talked with her & his words pleased her much; for the lips of Rufus drop––ped as an honey-comb & his mouth was smoother than oil. And he prevailed with her & solaced himself in her arms all the night long. She was unto him as the loving hind & the pleasing roe; her breasts did sat––isfy him at all times & he was ravished always with her love.
Now the young men drank of the wine they had brought & gave also to the damsels & they were all merry. And behold they came to Gabriel, where he lay & said unto him—"Drink you also of the wine & let your heart rejoice & be glad." But he refused & would not be comforted. And they spake unto him yet again —Saying=="Sing us we pray thee one of the sweet songs of the West; but he turned away & hung his harp upon the peach-trees & sat down & wept. And when the night was far spent Reuben [144] & Rufus the Cabarrus-ite arose & took Gabriel & returned unto the host. And Gabriel grieved, after that, yet many days. [145]
[September 12, 1841]
Sunday 12th Sept1841.
Another week of my existence has passed away, fraught with all the vices & extravagancies of youth. Time, in his rapid & ceaseless course, has hurried it with him, to the vast ocean of Eternity & nought can e'er recal it. We are apt to think, that, if we could roll back the tide of time & begin anew, the voyage of life, we would spend it profitably & not as we have done, in sporting with the straws & bubbles, that float by our sides. But how foolish are all such thoughts? How much wiser it would be, to take warning by the past & begin a reformation from [th]e present time, instead of wasting it in fruitless repinings at the immorality of my life? But I cannot do this. My passions have grown too strong for me & will not down at my bidding & they must, to some small degree, be indulged.
On Tuesday evening, Mr McRorie [147] passed through in the stage on his way to the North. He came direct f[r]om Lexington & informed me that all at home were in good health. Today I began an answer to Augusta's letter of the previous week, wherein she gave me an account of Miss Train's examina––tion & stated, that it was the general belief, that L & E [148] did not compose the Dialogue, they read; but that I was the author. I assured her in reply that the girls were foully slandered & enjoined her to assure those fair & injured damosels, that the good & gallant knight, Sir James, would shortly appear & do his devoir in their behalf. And also that the said knight did empower her, as his herald at arms, to make this proclamation=="That if any one shall say any thing in dis––paragement of those high & courtly ladies; he doth pronounce him false & recreant & doth defy him—and that, if the craven shall dare to meet his defiance & do battle in support of his unknightly accusation; he will meet him in the lists, in sight of all the chivalry & fair ladies of the land, hurl the false-hood [149] in his teeth & engage with him in deadly combat; till one or both shall fall. And may God preserve the right." I also began one to Griffin the subject of which, was—Mary. I requested him to tell her that I loved her now, more than ever, but that the fear of discovery prevented me from writing to her—that I would write to him (Griffin) & that he would tell her all about me. No absences this week from prayers or recitation. I retired from church to day.
Chapel—Hill Sept. 12th 1841.
Notes
140. Curved scrolls appear on either side of "First Chronicles."
141. "Elul": the twelfth month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year and a time of preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; it falls in August or September in the Gregorian calendar.
142. "Rufus the Cabarrus-ite" is probably Rufus Clay Barringer (1821–1895) of Cabarrus County, NC.
143. Lower case w has been superimposed over th.
144. Reuben is written over unrecovered characters, possibly Gabriel.
145. Dusenbery drew three squiggly lines vertically down the page below the last line of the entry and above the date.
146. Ovid, Metamorphoses , vii, 20, translated by Nahum Tate and William Stonestreet (1727): "I see the right, and I approve it too,/Condemn the wrong, and yet the wrong pursue."
147. Possibly John Mcrorie.
148. Probably Elvira Jane Holt
[September 19, 1841]
Sept 19nth. Nothing occurred, for the first part of the past week, of a nature, such as to justify a place among these records. Peter, William & Jno [150] Conrad passed through this place on Thursday, on their way to Raleigh. They arrived to dinner & remained about two hours. Alfred & I walked with them to the Hall & else-where & showed them whatever was curious [151] to be seen upon this classick hill. Jno informed me that he had lately visited the Davidson mines & had heard Mr King remark, that he had received a letter from the Dialectic Society, requesting a present of minerals, to place in their cabinet & that it was his intention to comply with the request. I was rejoiced to hear this, as I had begun to despair of ever receiving an answer to our letter. I received from home through the politeness of the above gentlemen, a pair of pumps, & some cakes, but no money. Also a letter from Laura & a private & confidential one, from Cousin Saml [152], all about matrimony & such like. "The present, says he, is the most critical period of my life. I have found at length a damsel, who pleaseth me well & I am think––ing seriously of marrying. If I determine to do so & succeed with her, you shall have the pleasure of waiting on me in your vacation." Pink & myself were waltzing on Friday morning & while we were turning with the velocity, almost of Charybdis, he suddenly attempted to throw me on the bed, but failed & threw me over the head of it, where I struck my shin against Sylla, or which is pretty much the same, the edge of the door-lock & I fear it has bruised the bone dangerously. For the last two or three days my intestines have been in a state, the most pitiable. They foment & growl most lamentably & neither salts or seidlitz [153] have, as yet, been able to extend to them any alleviation. Digestion appears to have almost ceased to perform its functions & yet I am continually called to Con––gress [154] on false alarms. Between this & my lame leg I am acted upon by two very powerful & conflicting forces. The first & most powerful, tends to urge me to rapid motion, while the other opposes strong resistance to a change of state. The consequence is, that when I am called to Congress on bu––siness, which requires despatch, I am compelled to exert myself to the utmost, to reach there in time & even then there is great danger of arriving too late. Thus am I in a most precarious situation. Yesterday morning I was compelled to snap [155] from prayers, on account of the inflamation of my leg. I am confident that this is my first absence this year. I received yesterday a paper from Miss Train, entitled=="The Universal Yankee Nation—The greatest paper in all creation. [156] It is published in Boston. Mutz went to Ned's last night, but K, K. All the three girls were there & wanted to see me. Mutz will return to night & I shall go with him. I received a letter from George Rounsaville this evening. He tells me that Almira Salmon [157] expects to return to Lexington. I hope she will for she is a great white-woman. I retired from church to write this.
Done on Sunday the 19nth Sept 1841.
Notes
150. The sons of Mary Catherine Weaver (1798–1837) and Joseph (1791–1873) Conrad, Sr., of Lexington, NC: Peter (1815–1842), William B. (1817–1850), and John William (1820–1878). They were born in Pennsylvania but moved to Lexington, NC, in about 1820. Joseph Conrad, Sr., was a cabinetmaker. He was instrumental in the formation of Davidson County, NC, and in building the First Presbyterian Church in Lexington.
152. Probably Samuel Rounsaville Brevard.
153. "A Seidlitz powder was, in fact, two powders—one wrapped in blue paper and one in white paper. The powder in the blue paper, containing sodium potassium tartrate and sodium bicarbonate, was thoroughly dissolved in half a pint (275ml) of water and the contents of the white paper, tartaric acid, added. The resulting solution was drunk while it effervesced" (Homan).
154. "Called to congress": called to the toilet.
155. "to snap": a "snap" was an excused absence from class or other duties granted to students by a faculty member. When students "snapped" or "cut" class, prayers, or church without permission, the absence was not excused.
156. The Universal Yankee Nation (September 27, 1841) measured 54 ½"x 35 ½" and claimed to be "The largest paper in all creation." The illustration on the front page of the paper depicts State Street in Boston, the address of Universal Yankee Nation and several other newspapers published at the time, with the paper hanging from a balcony as several passers-by peruse its contents. It was one of several newspapers published in the oversize format during the first half of the nineteenth century (Microtext Department, Boston Public Library).
157. Possibly Almira Margaret Salmon.
[September 26, 1841]
Sept 26th. He of Cabarrus [158] & myself accomplished the intended excur––sion to Ned's, spoken of upon the opposite page. Night had scarcely spread her sable mantle over our hemisphere, when we mounted, both upon Wood's [159] stallion & after threading our slow & devious way among the numerous by-paths which intersect the woods in the rear of the College buildings, we emerged into the open road. Then we applied the scourge & scoured along the road with headlong speed until we reached our destination. While there we met with all the success, we could have anticipated & about midnight we roused our steed most unceremoni––ously from his slumbers & returned. My companion expressed himself as having been in clover, while I was perfectly disgusted, & fully resolved in my own mind, never to repeat the visit. On Thursday I replied to cousin Sams [160] letter of the previous week. J— C—ll [161] made a speech in the hall on last Friday night, declaring himself a DVV [162] & saying that he had been accused of showing partiality in the hall to the members of his club, while president of the Society. These accusations, he said, had been made behind his back & he had heard of them by accident. I had mad[e] such remarks, but it was with the expectation, & almost with the cer––tainty that he would hear of them. I saw him after the session of society & told him that his conduct justified me in saying what I did—that he certainly did show a partiality, although it might not have been his intention to do so. He said that he surely did not intend it, & we parted without any ill feeling. Yesterday was Slade's birth day—he went to Hillsboro & returned in the evening, pretty tight, bringing with him 3 bottles of elegant Nash brandy. [163] Pink & Slade got most gloriously tight that night. Myself, with a few others were moderately so. We paid Peter & J Graham a visit at their room in the village [164] & finding there a good fire, we levied large contributions upon Mike's patch of roasting-ears the tempting promimity of which, was too powerful to be resisted. We soon found that roasting them by Pete's fire was too slow a process so we all took our corn & repaired to No. 23 of the west—the abode of Dusenberry & McBee, where there was a kettle which those gentlemen keep for just such purposes, as to boil corn "et cetera." We always have plenty of salt on hand for any emergency & the boiled corn was great. We also had chickens & an opossum supper. The old Nash [brandy] again began to circulate pretty freely & every thing went on merrily. McBees main desire, was to show the U. States that he could walk the line made by a joint in the flooring, or any chalk line in the U. States. Matters went on thus until midnight when Slade began to vomit & we put him to bed. McBee was still high in the wind & began to halloe at some other drunken fel––lows in the campus, & one of them cursed him. Mac, himself is pretty good at that & he let himself out. He was most outrageous mad & he cursed a full hour. Bell was the man who cursed him. Pink saw him next day, but he denied all recollection of it, saying that he was tight & that it was not his intention to insult him. This morning Mr. Kenneday, [165] high sheriff of Davidson passed through this place on his way to Raleigh. He gave me 15 dollars. It is so seldom that I read a novel now a days that I must mention my perusal this week of Scotts "Redgauntlet." [166]
Done on Sunday the 26th Sept. 1841.
Notes
158. Probably Rufus Barringer (1821–1895), the only student from Cabarrus County, NC, enrolled in the University in 1841.
159. William K. Woods lived near the University campus. The 1840 census lists him as being between 30 and 40 years old. Furthermore, 25 males between the ages of 15-20 are listed as members of the household, evidence that Woods took in boarders.
160. Probably Samuel Rounsaville Brevard.
161. Although Dialectic Society minutes make no mention of James Williamson Campbell's speech, he was president of the Society from August 20, 1841, through September 11, 1841. On October 1, 1841, he moved "that the vote should be taken, whether secret Clubs were or were not constitutional & it was decided by the society that they were constitutional" (Dialectic Society Minutes, Vol. 9, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Though members of both debating societies formed sub-groups, it is not known what kind of group DVV represented.
163. Nash brandy may be named for Gen. Francis Nash (1742–1777).
164. According to the University catalogue, Peter King Rounsaville and Joseph Montrose Graham lived in Chapel Hill, NC, at the home of "Mr. Snipes," possibly Osborn Snipes, listed in the 1840 Orange County, NC, census as being between 40 and 50 years old and living close to the University campus.
165. William Kenneday was sheriff of Davidson County, NC, for 12 years, from at least 1828 to 1840 ("Before Thomasville, What?—Part Four").
166. Sir Walter Scott, Redgauntlet, A Tale of the Eighteenth Century (1824).
[October 3, 1841]
Sunday Oct 3rd. The reports were made out last Monday. Mine was tolerable on Astronomy, very respectable on Greek & respectable on French, Chemis––try & Political Economy. [167] There has never before, since my connection with the institution, been such general dissatisfaction with the reports. Several speak of leaving, on account of the injustice done them. Bellan––fant has already left, but it is thought he will return. Horace & Johnny are the men upon whom the most bitter invectives have been pour––ed. It is really frightful to hear the dreadful imprecations & anathemas that are daily invoked upon their heads. I answered George's let––ter on Tuesday. Yance, Gooly, Pete & myself went to hunt opossums on Thursday night. The moon shone with intense brightness & scarce a clowd passed over her pale, cold visage—her rays pierced the deep glens & lighted up the dense glades through which we passed. Jack Merritt was our "Grand Maitre de la chæsse" & we met him at the appointed "rendez-vous" a short time after Phoebus had sunk to his resting place behind the western hills. His companion, Bowman was "Un grand chien" & it was but few minutes until the shrill bark, which rung at intervals through the woods, announced that the game was up. The trail extended about half a mile & at length terminated in an almost impenetrable briar thicket, in the centre of which stood a clump of trees so densely covered with vines as entirely to exclude the piercing moonbeam[s.] At the foot of one of them, crouched the dusky form of Bowman—his eyes fixed upon its waving top & the deadly hatred of his race to the opossum tribe, depicted upon every lineament of his speaking countenance. Jack mounted into the tree & soon the joyous sounds "I got him by the tail" broke from his lips. At once 3 cheers for Jack & 3 times 3 for Bowman, arose, so long & loud that "Rocks re-echoed & the hills replied"; and the sounds still lin––gering, were reverberated along the winding vales, until, at length, one by one, they died away in the distance. Jack threw the animal to the ground, but, luckily for himself, he "fell among thorns," [168] or rather briars, & made his escape, before Bowman, whose love for briars "was less than his" could claim acquaintance with him. But our canine friend was not to be foiled thus easily; for with, the tree as a centre & a radius of about twenty yards in length, he began to describe according to the most approved method, the circumference of a circle; but scarce had he measured the arc [169] of a quadrant, when he struck the trail & again struck off in swift pursuit. The cunning opossum was again compelled to take refuge in a tree. But "behold the axe was laid unto the root & all its branching honors were fast tumbling to the dust" [170] when O! horrid mischance! it struck a neighboring tree & our friend with "the hair on" fell heavily to the earth; & while the falling tree prevented his immediate apprehension, he disappeared so mysteriously, that Bowman could not again find his [171] "vestigia" although Jack "couraged" him with all the powers of his magic voice. Foiled, but not discouraged, Bowman [172] again began his evolutions, & in about two hours we caught a couple of the varments—one of them from under the ground. While tracking the first opossum, in jumping a branch, my mother's son, after lighting on the opposite bank, fell over a super- –fluous dog that was in the crowd & was precipitated into a mud-hole, to the great injury & detriment of his "inexpressi––bles." Also while loping along with his eyes fixed upon the stars, he fell over Bowman, who was barking with his head underground, at a 'possum, & had well-nigh killed both him––self & the dog. On Friday night the Seniors were excused from attendance on the Hall in order that they may have time to write their speeches. I have not yet fixed upon a subject, but must do so forthwith as there only remains about 3 weeks in which to write my speech. After society adjourned, Pink Gooly Yance & I walked down to Pete's room [173] & after sitting for half an hour, our old friend Jack, appeared, with one of the 'possums we caught the previous night, handsomely dressed & with a plentiful supply of sop & 'taters. It is needless to say, that a warm discussion took place. It was a great supper & Jack Merritt-ed credit. Saturday was the birth-day of both Bob Dick & Bulow & at night they gave a treat of a turkey, 2 ducks, pickles, preserves, & all other nescessary accompaniments—specially coffee. I did ample justice "meo more" [174] to each & every particular article. There were several fellows present, from the 3d passage of the East a––mong whom was our old friend Tobe. [175] He shone pre-eminent that night, for wit & humour, which was probably owing to certain honey-dreams in which he had been indulging. Ourself also had a taste of them same. No absences this week, except from church & then I was not marked.
Done on Sunday the 3d Oct 1841.
Notes
167. Students' work could be judged very good (vg), good (g), very respectable (vr), respectable (r), tolerable (t), bad (b), and very bad (vb). Grades of "bad" and "very bad" were rarely given.
168. Mark 4:7: "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit."
169. The letter r is superimposed on c.
170. James Harvey, Meditations among the Tombs (1746).
172. Bowman is written on top of unrecovered characters.
173. According to the University catalogue, Peter King Rounsaville and Joseph Montrose Graham lived in Chapel Hill, NC, at the home of "Mr. Snipes," possibly Osborn Snipes, listed in the 1840 Orange County, NC, census as being between 40 and 50 years old and living close to the University campus.
174. "meo more": Latin for "as is my custom."
175. Thomas Lynn Johnston and his roommate, Philo P. Henderson, lived in #23 East Building, now known as Old East.
[October 10, 1841]
Oct. 10nth 1841. I have done nothing as yet towards writing a speech, but have chosen for my theme, the "Present condition of the practice of medicine in N Carolina." To write a speech for the first time & one too that is to be spoken before an intellectual & severely critical assembly, is, to me, a task of "fearful magnitude & startling respon––sibility." But if I would win, for myself, a sheepskin & the honourable title of "Bachelor of Arts" I must e'en brace myself to the task. The week has passed with very little adventure of any kind. Dr Mitchell, a short time since, received a very fine selection of Galvanic & Electro-Magnetic instruments & on Wednesday, he showed the class some striking experiments. Several young ladies of the village were present & the Dr. remarked that we could pay no higher compliment to a young lady than to call her an Electro-Magnet. Reuben & Rufus [176] went to Ned's last night—they wanted me to go with them, but I had "some fish to fry." Slade, Yance, Gooly, Turner, Hack [177], Pink & myself, Nat Hunt & his fiddle went, Fishing last night—Pink & some others went by the "King-dom" & brought Em with them to the Fishery . Some Philo's were there among whom was Pool McClese, big Rice [178] & Pete Holmes with his sore toe, but they very prudently, kept in the back-ground. Yesterday a negro was hung at Hillsboro [179] —a goodly number of students were there & several of them came by, & stopped at the Fishery , to have some some fun, before their return to college. We had a mighty red-dance & upon the whole, it was about the worst that ever I staid all night at anybody's house, to see a pretty girl. We left before 10. oclock & coming to Em's, she gave us cold potatoes & the best pickles I have eaten for some time. Snag Allison & the Phi's fished all night & S—g caught a gudgeon & perhaps something else that he would rather not have caught. My room-mate hung to E— like a leach. This evening I received a letter from Laura, informing me that our own family were well, but that sickness was abroad in the land. It announced the death of Jno L Hargrave of our town & also of Albert McNeely of Mocksville. [180] She says that she has a great variety of jellies, preserves & other good eatables & also plenty of excellent blackberry wine for me when I get home. Lafayette's vacation comes on shortly & I tremble for the consequences if he comes in contact with the above articles—the wine more especially. Laura also says that Mrs Foster intends giving me a party this winter vacation—good. I long for it to come—I'll have some fun or burst right wide open. No absences at all this week except from church. In my report that was sent home Laura informs me that I am marked as absent once from prayers, twice from church & not at all from recitation.
This record was made on Sunday, "meo more," [181] the 10nth day of Oct. & in No 23 of the west, "meo manu." [182]
Yesterday Gov Jno Owen of Bladen, died at Pittsboro, as pure a man, says Gov Swain, as he ever knew.
Transcribed on Tuesday 12th}
Notes
176. Though "Reuben" remains unidentified, "Rufus" is probably Rufus Clay Barringer (1821–1895) of Cabarrus County, NC.
177. "Hack," probably a nickname, remains unidentified.
178. Two students by the name of Rice were members of the Philanthropic Society during this period, though neither received a degree. Jemison (or Jameson) W. and William D., both from Eutaw, AL, entered the University in 1841. William left Chapel Hill in 1842; Jemison, in 1843.
179. "Anderson Mayho, the negro convicted at the last term of our Superior Court of the murder of his wife, was executed in this place on Saturday last, pursuant to his sentence" (Hillsborough Recorder 14 October 1841:3)
180. Albert Cowan McNeely of Mocksville, NC, entered Davidson College in 1839, joined the Philanthropic Society, and would have graduated in 1843. The Davidson College Semi-Centennial Catalogue, published in 1891, lists McNeely's death date as 1840 (78).
181. "meo more": Latin for "as is my custom."
182. "meo manu": Latin for "by my hand."
[October 17, 1841]
On Monday the Senior Class commenced the study of Abercrombie's Mental Philosophy. [183] The 1st chap. takes up & refutes the doctrine of materialism. They contend that the mind is matter & argue from that, that it will be resolved into its constitutent parts by death, like the body. Thus they entirely destroy the doctrine of a future state & make man, the noblest work of nature, like the beasts that perish. The Gov. remarked at recitation, "That the proper study of mankind, is man"; [184] but, says he, the principal study of young men is woman. On that night I went hunting but learning by some means, that Pete expected an opossum supper at his room about 8, O.C, I retraced my steps. Tuesday I wrote to my father. Tom Slade, Phi Henderson & myself went hunting on Wednesday night with my old friends Jack & Bowman. Peter also was with us. We soon became tired of hunting & retur––ned home after catching one 'possum. Jack continued to hunt & I understand, caught 2 more, in a very short time. We also "met a 'possum in the road" that night,—Slade bought it & sitting down by the road-side, amid the glare of torch––es, we ate it with as much zest as if t'were at a royal banquet Friday I wrote to Laura, in reply to two letters of hers. On Monday I had my head examined by a Phrenologist. He is both deaf & dumb. He has been about college several days & nearly all the students are getting their bumps felt. I believe in the science to some entent, but not to the degree that it has been carried. He has hit my character & disposition in some things but in others, I think he has erred. Here is his report.
Phrenological Report [185]
| Amativeness | 4 | Philoprogenitiveness | 4 | Concentrativeness [186] | 3 |
| Constructivness | 3 | Adhesiveness | 4 | Acquisitiveness | 3+ |
| Secretiveness | 3+ | Combativeness | 3 | Destructiveness | 3 |
| Self Esteem | 3 | Love of approbation | 4 | Benevolence | 4 |
| Veneration | 3 | Firmness | 3 ½ | Conscientiousness | 3 |
| Cautiousness | 4 | Hope | 3 | Wit | 3 ½ |
| Wonder | 3+ | Ideality | 3+ | Imitation | 2 |
| Individuality | 3 ½ | Eventuality | 3 | Locality | 3+ |
| Number | 4 | Order | 3 + | Time | 3 |
| Tune | 3 ½ | Language | 3 ½ | Form | 3 |
| Weight | 3 | Size | 3 | Color | 4 |
| Comparison | 3+ | Causality | 4 | Perception | 3 ½ [187] |
Scale from 1 to 5
2 stands for small, 3. medium, 4 large, 5 very large Yours is a very good head, in point of intellect respect––able, moral faculties quite good, passions moderate, You have some taste for light reading, paintings, poetry &c &c, You are cautious, your temperament is nervous and active, You are not a great hoper, You are rather disposed to look on the dark side of things, or in other words not a sanguine calculator, Your mathematical talents are middling, You are fond of music but no musician, firm without being stubborn, You set just about a proper value on money sometimes lack self-confidence—
You are a well disposed, reflecting, peaceable, benevolent orderly young man, with good intellectual powers—
Quaere. What profession should I study?
Ans, No particular one is indicated by your head.
Ques, Will I make a good husband? Yes, but disposed to be jealous—
Woodward.Woodward.PhrenologistPhrenologist
Mrs Nunn has had corn regularly for dinner until the last day or two.
Last night I went over & slept with Alfred. When I went to prayers this morning, the first object that met my astonished gaze, was a great calf, stationed in the desk occupied by Ralph & the Judge, when calling the roll. It was amusing to see the astonishment [188] of the fellows & hear their expressions of surprize, when their eyes fell upon the calf, that had been so unexpect––edly elevated to the office of roll-caller. Pink raised his hands & the interjection [189] "Good God Almighty" broke spontaneously from his lips. T. Turner gazed for a moment & says he "Good morning, Sir" Big Smith [190] raised a great horse-laugh & nearly every fellow as he came in, had some remarks more or less on the subject. Not one of them perceived Ralph, who had cheerfully resigned his seat in favour of the present occupant & was seated in a somewhat humbler situation. Prof. Green made a speech & said that he could not worship God in a house so desecrated. I went to church to day for a rarity. Done on Sunday 17nth Oct.
Notes
183. John Abercrombie, Inquiries Concerning the Intellectual Powers, and the Investigation of Truth, with additions and Explanations to Adapt the Work to the Use of Schools and Academies, by Jacob Abbott (Boston: Otis, Boarders, [1833]).
184. Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man (1733): "Know then thyself, presume not God to scan;/ The proper study of mankind is man."
185. The report is written in the hand of the phrenologist "Woodward," who remains unidentified. Now considered a pseudo-science, phrenology was popular in the first half of the nineteenth century. Developed by the German physician Franz Joseph Gall (1758–1828), it was extended to the United States through the work of Gall's collaborator, Johann Spurzheim (1776–1832), and the American brothers, Lorenzo Niles Fowler (1811–1896) and Orson Squire Fowler (1809–1887). Phrenologists claim to be able to map the bumps on various regions of a person's skull and thereby identify traits within a person's character. Woodward's list of 36 characteristics closely matches the 35 faculties appearing in George Combe, System of Phrenology (1825); however, in contrast to Woodward's five-point scale, Combe uses a nine-point scale to denote the gradations of size in the different cerebral organs that corresponded to different aptitudes and character traits (van Wyhe).
186. Woodward neglected to cross the first t in Concentrativeness.
187. Two squiggly vertical lines separate the three columns.
190. Possibly John Baptist Smith.
[October 24, 1841]
Oct 24th. Procrastination, that bane of thousands has been whispering in my ear all the week that there is time enough yet to write my speech & so eagerly have I listened to her syren voice that, my oration is scarcely begun. How fast the weeks glide away vacation will soon be here & then—well what then?—God grant that nothing may happen which shall sadden the meeting with friends & all I hold most dear—May the meeting be a happy one & may my fond anticipations of pleasure be amply realized. Last night witnessed the disruption of the singing-school—I attended & obtained an introduction to Miss Mildred Pratt & of course saw her safely home. I received another letter from Griffin on Wednesday, informing me that he had seen Mary & told her all that I wrote to him about. She wants to see me very bad & insists on my writing to her, but that I shall never do. Her father does not intend to move away this fall & I shall probably see her next vacation. If so I trem–ble for her virtue, if indeed she has any—of which there are many doubts. My passions are unused to restraint & she is so warm—so passionate & withal so yielding in her disposition that I see no way of escape, without com–mitting the unpardonable sin against love & gallantry. It is not in my nature to thwat the inclinations of melting maids. I retired from church to day. No other absences. I wrote to my father this week.
Done on Sunday 24th Oct 1841.
Song
Notes
192. The poem, "Near the Lake," was written by George Pope Morris (1802–1864), a successful journalist, editor, playwright, and poet. The poem was set to music by Charles Edward Horn (1786–1849) and published as a popular song in 1839.
193. Dusenbery wrote this line as well as "Brighter" in the next line on top of words that he subsequently erased: "Dwelt a maid, beloved & cherished,/By high" on top of unrecovered characters.
[October 31, 1841]
Oct 31st==At the recitation in Mental Philosophy on Monday the Gov. defined wit to be "The discovery of hidden resemblances" & imagina––tion to be "The unreal combination of real things." Tuesday morning was cold & bracing to the nerves—it awakened new life within me & recalled thoughts of hunting & skating & hog-killing & every thing associated with a winter vacation. At breakfast Mrs Nunn met us at the door & in a manner so polite & dignified, motioned us to the sideboard, whereon was placed honey & a full decanter, that it was not in our hearts to slight the kind invitation. The exciting beverage contributed still more to whet our already sharpened ap––petites & when at length we were seated around a table which groaned beneath a load of delicious substantials, the biscuits & butter & beefsteaks & other indispensables, disappeared in a manner most marvellous to behold. By Thursday's mail I received a letter from Lafayette in answer to mine, written a short time ago. He is now at home spending his vacation. The boy has transferred to me, all his claims upon [196] the fair damsel over the way & professes to care no more for the girls than for "the dust that is blown about by the winds of heaven." Jemmy "says he" "let me warn you from running into their snares for on them many a promising youth has been wrecked." Fayette's idea of being wrecked in a snare, is, by the way, quite a novel one. Prof. Gretter [197] of the Caldwell Institute [198], was on the Hill du––ring the first part of the week. I went to see him at Prof. Phillips's & had a long chat with those two mathematical prodigies, in old Bull's study. I had cigars & we all smoked. Yesterday Colvert & Faison of the Phi's & Wimbush of the Di's were sent off for ringing the bell the night previous. [199] I received a letter to day from my father, containing twenty dollars, through the politeness of Mr Alexander. Also one by the mail from George Rounsaville containing all the news. Among other things Mr. Conrad married his third wife, on Thursday night, in the person of Miss Betsy Nicholson, the sister of his late wife. [200] George says that Mrs Caldcleugh intends removing to her house in town as soon as "her wheat is sown." Also that Cousin Saml [201] has just returned crest-fallen from a visit to Shuck's. Poor Sam. My Senior Speech which has lain so long in embryo is now slowly pro– –gressing. I snapped [202] from church to day & Alfred answered for me. No other absences.
Oct 31st 1841.
Notes
197. Rev. John A. Gretter, a Presbyterian minister and graduate of the University of Virginia, was teaching mathematics at the Caldwell Institute in Greensboro, NC, by November 1837 (Coon 174) and received an MA degree from the University in 1840.
198. The Caldwell Institute was founded by the Orange Presbytery in 1836 and represents the second classical academy and preparatory school by that name in Greensboro, NC. (The first was established by Rev. David Caldwell in 1767 and closed in 1822.) Named for Joseph Caldwell, a Presbyterian minister and president of the University of North Carolina, the school was first taught by Rev. Alexander Wilson and Silas C. Lindsay. The school was moved to Hillsborough, NC, in 1845 in the wake of a typhoid epidemic (Smith 137).
199. Faculty minutes for October 30, 1841, make no mention of Henry William Faison but suggest that Samuel James Calvert and James Alexander Wimbush were suspended:
Mr Calvert of the Freshman and Mr Wimbush of the Sophomore were called before the Faculty. It appeared that about 11 O'clock last night some one commenced ringing the bell, which was accompanied with violent and continued shouting, and that this disturbance was continued with intervals until about 3 'Oclock this morning, after pains had been taken at an early period to disseminate intelligence that there were two persons in the village lying dangerously ill. In the course of the night the door of the Servants room was forced open and the lock of the Belfry broken.
About twelve oclock these two individuals were seen in the Campus under suspicious circumstances. They both admitted that they shouted, but denied ringing the Bell, both stated that they were with the dress on, worn by the persons who were seen by a member of the Faculty ringing the Bell, and Mr Wimbish admitted that he had been drinking ardent spirits early in the night but not to excess: They stated that they put on the clothes of the real culprit for the purpose of screning a friend from detection and Mr Wimbish accounted for running from a member of the Faculty on the same principle[.]
Mr Wimbish was detected under the circumstances above related after he had been warned by a member of the Faculty that he was violating a law of the Institution in being out of his room after the ringing of the 8 Oclock bell. (1:22–23, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
In a meeting on November 12, 1841, the faculty considered "applications" for Wimbish's reinstatement from his father and Dr. Craddock of Halifax, VA. "In consideration whereof as well as of concessions, and promises on his part his sentence was reversed, but not to take effect before the Commencement of the next session" (1:24, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Wimbish was readmitted on March 5, 1842 (Faculty Minutes 1:45, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
200. Joseph Conrad, Sr. (1791–1873), married Mary Catherine Weaver (1798–1837) in 1814; they were the parents of Peter (1815–1842), William (1817–1850), John William (1820–1878), Joseph Jr. (1836–1899), Mary Elizabeth (1837–1838), and Wilhelmina (1823–1883). In 1839 Joseph Conrad, Sr., wed Mary Nicholson (1802–1840), who bore him a son, James N. (1840–1904). After Mary's death, Conrad married her sister, Elizabeth Nicholson (1816–1883), in 1841; she bore him three children: Catherine (1842–1917) and twins Mary (1845–1858) and Edward (1845–1920).
201. Probably Samuel Rounsaville Brevard.
202. "snapped": a "snap" was an excused absence from class or other duties granted to students by a faculty member. When students "snapped" or "cut" class, prayers, or church without permission, the absence was not excused.
[November 7, 1841]
Nov. 7nth The last week has passed away almost unconsci––ously. I forgot to take notice of events as they occurred & now I can scarcely recal any thing to note down in this weeks record. On Thursday, however, Peter Alfred & myself, each received a letter from Lexington. A & myself went to P's room [203] at night & we all compared notes. The letters referred to the manner in which we should reach home. P & A– were ordered to travel by stage as far as Greensboro, where Aunt Mary, would send a carriage to meet them. My father intends going to Synod at Fayetteville [204] & will call by for me on his return & take me home. My letter was from Augusta. She says that a piece of news had just reached her—which was, that no less a person than Miss Carolina Sowers [205] intended to give me a great quilting sometime during next vacation. Hurrah for the Dutch girls—Hurrah for the sweet, plump—rosy-cheek––ed one that I waited upon so gallantly last July. On Friday I wrote to my father. There was no preaching to day, from some cause or other. To night Turner, Pink & myself took a walk out to Strayhorn's & staid about half an hour. On getting up to leave, I snatched one burning kiss from Nancy's pouting lips, at the imminent risk of getting my pate mashed with the shovel. No absences during the week.
November the 7nth 1841.
Notes
203. According to the University catalogue, Peter King Rounsaville and Joseph Montrose Graham lived in Chapel Hill, NC, at the home of "Mr. Snipes," possibly Osborn Snipes, listed in the 1840 Orange County, NC, census as being between 40 and 50 years old and living close to the University campus.
204. The Presbyterian Synod of North Carolina was established in Guilford County, NC, in 1814. James' father, Henry Rounsaville Dusenbery (1794–1852), was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lexington, NC, in 1827. He served as an elder in 1832 and was active in church affairs.
205. Possibly Caroline Sowers.
[November 15, 1841]
Nov. 15nth. Some time last week I forwarded to Miss Train, with my most respectful compliments, the address, delivered at this place by Mr. James Bruce, of Va. [206]
Part of the catalogues arrived, during the week. [207] The Seniors received three apiece, for the present. I hooked five more,. I handed my speech to Mr Green for correction, on Saturday morning( & received it from his hands this evening, with a few verbal corrections on the face of it. Pink also handed in his at the same time & it was returned to him also this evening. I went with Old Snag last night to Strayhorn's—there we found [Gum] Steel [208] & Borden, who were doing their prettiest with Nanny. Snag & I determined to outstay them & to that end [209], we quietly threw ourselves upon the bed & composed ourselves to sleep. They left about ten, o,clock & we were left undisputed masters of the field. My part of the drama, was to keep the old woman in chat while my companion paid his suit to the daughter. I succeeded to admiration, but Snag, from some cause or other failed in his attempts upon Nanny. We returned to our rooms about an hour after midnight. I went to church on Sunday. No absences this week.
Done on Monday the 15nth Nov. with the most indifferent carelessness. — —
Notes
206. James Cole Bruce, An address delivered before the alumni and graduating class of the University of North Carolina : at Chapel Hill, on the afternoon of June third, 1841 / by James C. Bruce, esq., of Halifax, Virginia. Raleigh: North Carolina Standard, 1841. Bruce (1806–1865), a member of the Philanthropic Society who had graduated from the University in 1825, spoke about the causes impeding the progress of American literature.
207. Catalogue of the Trustees, Faculty, and Students of the University of North Carolina, September 1841 (Raleigh: Weston R. Gales, 1841).
208. Probably Walter Leak Steele.
209. The final d of end is written on top of unrecovered characters.
[November 21, 1841]
Nov. 21st. On Tuesday Alfred & Peter, each received letters with the information, that my father could not call by for me on his return from Fayetteville & that I must come home in the stage to Greensboro. with A & P., where carriages would meet us. Alf. & I sent off nearly all our catalogues to the girls in Lexington. I have very nearly committed my speech to memory. Its length is 5 pages of foolscap. Our class had a meeting a short time since & it was resolved that we pe––tition the Faculty to permit us to speak at night, instead of in the afternoon, as heretofore. The petition was granted. [210] It was also resolved that each member of the class, should contribute 50 cts for the purpose of providing an oyster supper on the last night of the session, for the exclusive benefit of the Senior Class. A committee of ways & means was [211] appointed & instructed to provide also plenty of wine & such like & to extract from each one of the speakers, for the purpose of lighting the chapel during speaking, either one sperm candle or a box of tallow. On Friday evening the Faculty gave us a snap. [212] Last night there was another frolic at the fishery. Girls were scarce & I put on an old frock & we had a glorious dance. Snag & Slade came very near fighting, about some foolishness, but we prevailed on them to make friends, after some tine. Came home about twelve, after breaking down the old woman's bed & kicking up a pretty muct of a dust. Pete received a letter this evening containing $15..00 for me. No absences this week. Retired from church to day. Sunday 21st Nov.
Notes
210. Faculty minutes for November 5, 1841, explain that "A petition from the Senr Class praying to be allowed to speak at night was received and granted" (1:23, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). However, the faculty rejected a similar petition on April 8, 1842, then evidently granted the request, according to Dusenbery (April 17, 1842).
212. "a snap": an excused absence from class or other duties granted to students by a faculty member. When students "snapped" or "cut" class, prayers, or church without permission, the absence was not excused.
[November 27, 1841]
Saturday Nov. 27nth. The first part of the past week was devoted to the examination exclusively. [213] That of the Senior Class ended on Tuesday evening. Speaking commenced on that night. Lewis, Ruffin, Bryan Sum––merill, Haigh, J. Campbell, Hartwell & Pickens, I believe, were the speakers. Barringer, Ruffin, Harriss, R. Campbell, Martin, & Mullins spoke on the next night. Smith, [214] Dusenbery, Wilson Tomlinson & Morrisey spoke on Thursday afternoon, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather & the inconvenience of walking after night. The Senior oyster supper came off on Thursday night at Miss Nancy's. The class attended with––out a single exception, I believe; as might have been expected. I left the hill that night in the stage, about 2 'O.Clock, together with Slade, Steel, [215] Phi Henderson, Snag, Peter & Alfred. We reached Greensboro. on Friday evening at 7.o.clock & I found George Rounsaville & Mack had already arrived with carriages to convey us home. The next morning Alfred, Peter & myself set off for home. The rest were detained in Greensboro. We reached home on Saturday evening about dark. Peter was unwell. We had great eating at Mrs Nunm's during the examination week. The above are only the bare items of the events of the week. I have not the inclination to enlarge upon them.
Done, in Lexington, in my own paternal mansion [216] on Saturday night, the [217] 27nth of Nov. 1841.
Hayes & Tobe Johnson arrived here also this evening. Jack is now here in this house & intends spending a day with me. Tobe wont.
Notes
213. Examinations began on November 22, 1841, and ended on November 25, 1842. At least three faculty members were present during each examination. Seniors were examined only on November 22 and 23, on chemistry, natural history, technology, astronomy, the Medea in Greek, Charles the Twelfth, and the Henríade [by Voltaire] in French (Faculty Minutes 1:27, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
214. Possibly John Baptist Smith.
215. Probably Walter Leak Steele.
[December 4, 1841]
On Sunday morning all the boys who were detained in Greensboro except Steel passed through this place. Tobe Johnson left Lexington immediately after breakfast that morning in spite of cold & the consumption & my entreaties. Jack went with me to church & knocked about until evening & he too started off with a view of reaching Salisbury [218] that night although it was snowing with a vengeance. Bulow Erwin arrived on Sunday morning in the stage & remained in Lexington until Tuesday morning. [Gum] Steel [219] passed through on that morning. After breakfast I mounted my horse, Stanly & paid a visit to the lead mines in com––pany with a Mr Woodruff, a New. Yorker, who is tak––ing the tour of all our largest Carolina mines with a view of purchasing one & entering largely into the business. Mr King informed me, that he had wrtten the politest letter of which he was capable, to the D. S. [Dialectic Society] in answer to theirs requesting a present of minerals, & assuring them that he would with pleasure comply with their request. We never received that letter. We did not reach home until night. On Friday mor––ning J. Caldwell passed through—I did not see him. I have spent the week in riding about & going back & forth to the weavers for mother. Peter is yet very sick. I have not as yet paid a single visit for the purpose of seeing any of the girls.
Dec. 4th 1841.
Notes
218. Salisbury, NC, lies 17 miles southwest of Lexington, NC.
219. Probably Walter Leak Steele.
[December 11, 1841]
Dec 11nth. On Monday my father had a big corn shucking. At night after the work was completed & while supper was preparing I sent for A, Foster & some others & bringing the negoes up into the yard we set them to dancing. I with, with the other boys also chose our partners from among the bright array of "Afric's sable daughters" & joined the motley crew. All lights were extinguished. On that night accident made Mrs F– [220] indebted to me $2.00. The debt is a bad one & I shall probably never call on her for payment. I spent Tuesday at Old Mrs Paynes. [221] —took dinner at Dr. Paynes [222] on Wednesday & supper at Mabry's. [223] I have spent most of the week idly—principally in hunting partridges—only caught 20 during the week. I drove 5 birds & a hare into the net at the same time. I wrote to Lafayette on Friday. & sent him some books by the stage to present to his Society. I wrote to Pink McBee to day. Peter Rounsaville has been very sick since his return home. His health is now getting better & it is expected that it will be entirely restored in a short time.
Done on Saturday the 11nth Dec 1841. Lexington.
Notes
220. Probably Sarah Gaither Foster.
221. Possibly Elizabeth Fearn Payne.
222. Dr. C[harles] L[ee] Payne (1798?–1865), with whom Dusenbery later studied medicine.
223. Possibly Elizabeth and John P. Mabry.
[December 18, 1841]
Dec 18nth. On Monday I went with my father to Mocksville for the purpose of getting my commencement suit made. Meroney had so much work on hand that he was unable to make my clothes. I did not see Mary. We returned on the evening of the same day & had to travel about 8 miles of the way during a severe & long continued rain, without even an umbrella to shelter us—I having left mine in Mockville. Tuesday was my birth-day [224] —memo––rable for the capture of 30 partridges & for the completion of my twentieth year. On Thursday Watson, Ham Hargrave, Wilsen [225], & myself went hun–ting in the Jerseys. [226] We went straight to Jno Millers, [227] who has the best brandy in the county Jno set out his decanter & after seeing us hit it to our satisfaction, went to show us where the birds were to be found. It was one of these rainy drizzly [228], muddy days & we brought home 74 birds. Mabry also was along with his gun & shot a very large hawk. About sun-down we returned to Miller's & took supper & came home after dark. By the bye Jno Miller is a doused clever fellow. I have been with the girls a very little this week—became acquainted with Frances Hogan. [229] Johnson the new tailor is making my clothes.
Done on Saturday the 18nth Dec 1841.
I shot 7 birdds & a rabbit to day in the snow. Of the birds there were 2 snipes.
Notes
225. Wilsen remains unidentified.
226. "the Jerseys": Jersey Settlement, a former community in west Davidson County, NC, on the east bank of the Yadkin River, near present-day Linwood, NC. Named for its settlers in the 1750s, who came from New Jersey.
227. Possibly John Miller.
229. Possibly Frances Eliza Hogan.
[December 25, 1841]
Christmas—Dec 25th. I have forgotten almost every thing that has transpired during the week. On one day Watson, Dickson [230] Jno & William Conrad, my father & myself went hunting down to Jno Miller's [231] again & caught 58 Birds. On Thursday I went to Greensboro for the purpose of bringing Lafayette home to spend his Christmas. It was a most dreary day. The roads were worse, I believe, than ever I saw them before & the rain fell without intermission. I reached the Borough about dark. Alfred & I packed up a box of cake, to be sent as a Christmas present to McBee & I carried them with me & put them on the stage at Greensboro. I saw McNairy there & prevailed with him to spend his Christmas in Lexington—accordingly, on the morrow we set of & reached this place on that evening. To day is Christmas, & a very unpleasant day it is. We can'nt hunt & are obliged to confine ourselves in a great measure within doors; I forgot to mention that Cornelia Beard [232] was here all last week & just took her leave on Monday. Jno Conrad & I paid her a visit on Sunday night. The girl was very much neglected. My father killed part of his hogs on last Monday [233] —it was a great Jubilee for the little negroes [234] & William.
Brought up to Saturday the 25th Dec 1841. Christmas
Notes
230. Dickson remains unidentified
231. Possibly John Miller.
232. Possibly Cornelia J. Beard.
234. Census records for 1840 indicate that the Dusenberys owned 23 slaves (14 males and 9 females).
[December 31, 1841]
Friday 31st Dec. 1841. It has been very muddy & rainy & disagreeable weather all the week. Mack has had very little enjoyment I fear. I should have men––tioned in last week's record that on Christmas day he & I went round & called on most of the young ladies of our town & thus he became acquainted with them. On Monday night Mrs Foster gave a party. After supper several of us slipped out & took a glass of Penry's Madeira & on our re––turn were prepared to go all lengths. I talk––ed soft to almost every girl in the house. I had less alloy mixed with the enjoyment of that night than ever I had before. I went with Elizabeth Holt to the party—neglected her while there & then escorted her home. McNairy, Julius Foster, Fayette, Jno & Will. Conrad, Pete, George & Henry Rounsaville, Lewis Holt & myself were the male part of the assembly. By the bye I should have recorded last week that L. Holt & his cousin Eliza arrived here on Wednesday the 22nd [235] Dec, to spend a few days at the Dr's. They returned home last Tuesday. Fayette, Yance, Alfred Foster & I, caught 63 birds on Wednesday, down in the Jersey's. [236] Fayette returned to school this morning. McNairy also took his leave.
Done on Friday the 31st Dec & last day of the present year.
[January 8, 1842]
Saturday 8th Jan. 1842. Last Saturday was the first day of the new year. Perhaps I should here, say something of the unprofitable manner in which I spent the year that has just closed; but I have not the inclination,—or dilate upon the rapid flight of time & the vanity of earthly enjoyments. Had I any faith in making good resolutions, I would here resolve & re-resolve to make more rapid improve––ments in knowledge, morality, & every virtue, but I have so often failed to comply with former resolves that I fear to make any more. My intentions are for good & time must determine my actions. On Wednesday the 5th, after spending a most pleasant vacation, I entered the stage & set off on my return to this place. Foster & Rounsaville accompanied me. James Irwin, Phi Henderson & Alison were in the stage. I spent the last few minutes of my stay in Lexington at Dr Holts. Miss Elizabeth played "come to the sunset" [237] for me on the piano—She is a glorious girl & perhaps some day or other— —no matter what. Elvira too played me a tune. I remained there as long as I dared. & then [238] pressing their hands in silence I tore myself, away. Hastily bidding farewell to our own family, I took one long, last, lingering look of the dear objects that clustered about the spot where I was born & walked reluctanctly away. I reached here on the next evening—procured board at Nuttall's [239] & am now prepared for study.
Notes
237. Possibly "Come to the sunset tree, or, The Tyrolese evening hymn," arranged by Francis Weiland and published in 1840.
238. "& then" is written on top of I and several unrecovered characters.
239. Probably James Nuttall, a Chapel Hill, NC, innkeeper who declared bankruptcy in August 1842 (Hillsborough Recorder 18 August 1842: 5).
240. Two leaves immediately following this entry have been torn from the gathering along the gutter. They doubtless contained the entries for January 15 and January 22, 1842.
[January 30, 1842] [241]
Mary ['s] pallet [unrecovered] the sou[nds] of the distant prayer-bell re-echoing among the hills about the the depót. Pink & I after a hard race, reached the chapel in time to answer to the second calling of our names. When we went to prayers this morning, there were two dead hogs in the chapel, & a dog—also dead, which some infernal scamps had shot & placed there last night. [242] The dog was lying in Ralph's Bull-pen & the hogs upon the elevated platform, one on each side of the parson's desk. Some fellow fellow remarked that it was a—dogged-hoggish trick. I snapped [243] from church to day & McNairy answered for me. No other absences during the week. Lewis Holt received a box of cake from his cousin Eliza this evening & probably she has sent me some too. I'll find out to-morrow. I received a letter from Laura on Thursday.
Done here before our fire in No. 23 on Sunday the 30eth Jan 1842.
Notes
241. The top third of the page, encompassing approximately nine lines of text, has been torn out. Given the context, the missing lines describe another visit to the depot.
242. Faculty minutes for May 2, 1842, record that J. P. Barnes was dismissed "for killing and conveying two of Dr Mitchell's hogs into the old chapel" (1:51, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
One of Ralph Graves' duties was to call the roll before morning prayers. "In the original seating arrangement [of Gerrard Hall], there was located in the centre of the hall a nave about 18 feet square which the students irreverently called the 'bull-pen.' This consisted of a semi-circular row of benches with backs so high that only the heads of the persons seated therein could be seen from the rear. Distinguished guests and speakers were seated in the 'bull-pen,' which accommodated about forty persons. A narrow passageway connected the 'bull-pen' with the speakers' stand, located at the west end of the hall. Occasionally the students would fasten a patient bull yearling in the nave; and perhaps from such incident the nave derived its common name" (Henderson 91).
243."snapped": a "snap" was an excused absence from class or other duties granted to students by a faculty member. When students "snapped" or "cut" class, prayers, or church without permission, the absence was not excused.
[February 5 or 6, 1842]
Whereas Miss Eliza Holt, of this county, has, in the overflowing kindness of her beneficent heart, laid us under many & weighty obligations, by sending us over a distance of 30 miles, a present of most delicious cake: And whereas that favour was conferred without any previous merit on our own part—therefore—
Resolved, 1st—That the thanks of our collective body are justly due to that lady for her very welcome present.
Resolved, 2nd—That each one of us, individually, feels the pressure of an eternal weight of gratitude, which he will be proud to bear with him through life & from which death, alone, can or shall relieve him.
Resolved 3d.—That there is nothing so well calculated to cheer us onward in our collegiate course & incite to high literary attainments, as the smiles & favours of the fair: And that we now feel renewed confidence to press upwards toward that glittering height—
"Whence Fame's proud temple shines afar." [245]
Resolved. 4thly. That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the lady.
B. Y. McNairy Pres.B. Y. McNairy Pres. James L. Dusenbery SecJames L. Dusenbery Sec ~A. G. Foster~A. G. Foster ~P. Rounsaville Gallants General. [246]~P. Rounsaville Gallants General. [246]
I have not yet sent Miss Eli[za] [247] but expect to do so, in a fe first of the week. I re[ceived] , I wrote to Jno Co[nrad] of the Episcopal This afternoon bible recitati[on] Red was big tur[key] after night th
Notes
244. The top third of the page has been torn out, including the date of the entry; nevertheless, because Dusenbery customarily updated his journal on the weekends, the entry probably was written on Saturday or Sunday, February 5 or 6, 1842.
245. James Beattie, The Minstrel; or, the Progress of Genius (1811): "Ah! who can tell how hard it is to climb/The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar!"
246. A brace enclosing the names of Foster and Rounsaville appears before "Gallants General." The signers of the resolution are Bartlett Yancy McNairy, James Lawrence Dusenbery, Alfred Gaither Foster, and Peter King Rounsaville.
247. Approximately half of the page has been torn out of the journal. Only a few phrases along the left margin remain.
[February 13, 1842] [248]
Sunday 13nth. I wrote to Lafayette at Greensboro, the first of the week. Pink left the depót in anger, some nights ago, at Em's treatment of him & has not been there since—. I continued to go, but all to no purpose until last night. Walt has been away all the week & some one has been over there every night to set them up & prevent me from going to bed. Nat H[un]t, a fool [, has] made her set up 'till day-break, 3 or 4 ess a few days since. On last not set long before Hunt [w]aited for time to leave, go, determined that [E]m to say whether —then Hunt visit her what her lled to go; th & his through- my [249]
[February 27, 1842]
Sunday 27th . Tuesday was the 22nd —the birthday of Washington. The day was celebrated by the delivery of a speech by Morrisey. [250] The procession formed in front of the S. B. & marched round by Caldwell's monument, to the chapel. Mears was Marshall of the day. The amount of liquor drank by the students was tremendous. More than ⅔ds of college were intoxicated. Pink & I went over to the [Old] East & were gloriously tight before breakfast. We kept the thing hot throughout the day. Nutall had an excellent dinner. Parson Green dined with us for the purpose, of preser––ving order & preventing us from drinking too much wine. A member of the Faculty dined at each of the boarding houses for the same purpose. [251] In the evening Mike was passing through the "Campus" & some drunken fellow cursed him from Mc'Nairy's window. He came up & found the room full of drunken students, while the sugar was scattered about & the floor was drenched with the brandy which had been spilled. He sat down & gave them a long talk & went away, after giving them to understand that he would report none of them. On Thursday, however, Dick, McNairy Williamson, were called before the Faculty, at Mike's instigation, & dismissed for three weeks. The two Polk's were dismissed finally. [252] Moral - Jessie Irvine was sent off the next day, for refusing to go up to Mr [Manuel] Fetter's table, to recite. [253] On Friday Yance & Gooly set out on foot, for Moring's [254] —8 miles from the Hill on the Raleigh road , with the intention of spending their three weeks there. About a dozen of us accompanied them as far on their way as "Piny Prospect". When they reached Moring's, the looks of the place were not agree––able & an opportunity offering itself, they returned to the Hill on the same day. At night Yance rode out to Johnson's 4 miles on the Hillsboro road & procured a very convenient place, for a student to rusticate. [255] They moved out on yester––day. I went out with their baggage & helped them to fix up their room. I was so well pleased with the place that I almost wished that I were also dismissed. Their room is upon the stage road, but they eat at Johnson's, whose house is ¾ths of a mile distant. They have a gun with them & plenty of books,—old Charley has 3 very comely daughters & in hunting, fishing reading & keeping company with the ladies, no doubt their 3 weeks will pass away very pleasantly. Dick has gone home. Our 3d passage looks gloomy & desolate since they are all gone. On the night of the 22nd while I was yet high in the wind, I started out to the Depót to see Miss Redness. On the way I met Clinch, who had been to the Borough. He was so tight that he could hardly sit in his sulkey. He pulled out a small black juuk & I took a few swallows & went on my way rejoicing. I staid at the Depót all night. Last night I went again & staid until after 3. o.c. this morning. A few nights ago I wrote a Temperance pledge for myself—signed it & nail––ed it up against the wall. In it I pledge myself to drink no liquor before Senior reports are read out. Yance & Alfred [256] have also signed it. Laura wrote to me this week.
Feb. 27th 1842.
Notes
250. Probably Thomas Junius Morisey (b. 1818). Some sources follow Dusenbery in spelling Morisey's name with two r s, but Morisey signs his own name to a composition written while he was a junior with only one r.
251. The faculty agreed in a meeting on February 18, 1842, "That Profs Green & Mitchell should see the boarding housekeepers and urge upon them the necessity of caution and moderation in regard to the kind and amount of intoxicating liquors furnished their boarders on the 22 nd Inst." (Faculty Minutes 4:41, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
252. Faculty minutes for February 24, 1842, confirm that Allen Jones Polk and Thomas G. Polk , both from Tennessee , were dismissed (4:43, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Though Allen Polk subsequently was readmitted, he was involved in additional misbehavior—blowing a trumpet during a "spree" and answering for absent individuals at prayers—and was dismissed again on September 20, 1842 (4:78, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Neither student received a degree. Both were members of the Dialectic Society and became planters.
253. On February 25, 1842, " Jesse Irvine of the Sophomore Class was called before the Faculty, for persisting in his refusal to comply with Prof Fetter's requisition that he should come to the table whenever he called upon him to recite, and this too after an interview with Prof Hooper (See proceedings Feb. 18) and one with the President , the object of which was to induce his compliance with the regulation, the said Irvine was therefore unanimously dismissed" (Faculty Minutes 4:44, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
254. "Moring's": A tavern run by Elizabeth M. (1815–1874) and Alfred (1814–1903) Moring. The establishment was located approximately eight miles east of Chapel Hill, NC, and just south of the boundary between Durham and Chatham counties, between O'Kellys Chapel Road (SR 1731) and Highway 751.
255. Charles Johnson operated a mill at New Hope Creek, east of present-day Blackwood Station and west of Patterson's mill.
256. Probably Alfred Gaither Foster.
[March 6, 1842]
Sunday 6th March. I have been to the depót two or three times this week. My journey thither on Friday night was an under––taking worthy of the famous knight of La Mancha. [257] The gloom of Tartarus can not be darker than the night was when I started. The whole face of the heavens, to the very verge of the horizon, were obscured by one dense, dark mass, which momentarily threatened to disgorge its contents upon our earth. Aeolus too was abroad in his might. I heard his howlings as he rode upon the storm. But all this was not proof against the burning love—the fierce desire, which raged within & urged me onward "Amor vincit omnia"—"est vis immedicabilis, est rabies insana." [258] On the way, I tore my cloak with briars, fell into gulleys, stumbled over rocks & logs & was on the point of stepping from [259] a high bank into the branch, when a flash of lightning arrested my steps & showed me the locality of the bridge. About midway the storm burst forth upon me in all its fury, but by dint of wading & feeling, & by the momentary glare of the lightning I at last reached the depót—though wet & almost exausted. I did not get back to prayers, the next morning. Last night Pink [260] & I hired horses to ride out to see Yan[ce] & Gooly; We started, but met them at the Depót, on their way to colleg[e.] We turned our horses & came back to college with them & flew round [261] until pretty late. They returned to their place of so––journ, last night.
March 6th 1842.
Notes
257. Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quijote de la Mancha (1605).
258. "Amor vincit omnia"—"est vis immedicabilis, est rabies insana": Love conquers all—it is an incurable power; it is an insane madness. The words before the dash are a Latin proverb. Those following the dash appear in Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, Third Partition, Section II, Member I (1621): "Est orcus ille, vis est immedicabilis, est rabies insana; 'tis no virtuous habit this, but a vehement perturbation of the mind, a monster of nature, wit, and art . . . ."
260. According to faculty minutes for February 24, 1842, Bartlett Yancy McNairy, John Lea Williamson, and Robert Paine Dick, were suspended for three weeks for permitting students to drink "ardent spirits" in their room:
About 3 'Oclock in the afternoon of the 22nd Inst, as Dr Mitchell was going from his house to the Laboratory in the South Building, he was hailed from the passage of the third story of the South and of the West Building. Coarse epithets were applied to him. He passed on without seeming to notice them. On his return he was accosted rudely and profanely accompanied with threats of violence. He proceeded immediately to trace the disorder, which he did to the room occupied by Mssrs, Dick, McNairy, and Williamson, where about a dozen persons were assembled, for the purpose, as was admitted by all, of drinking ardent spirits, which had been procured and brought into the room[.]
The occupants disclaim, and the Faculty have confidence in the truth of their statement any participation in the disorder beyond the mere permission to others to use their room for an unlawful purpose. Mr McNairy was not present[.] Mr Dick and Mr Williamson were both sober, and are believed not to have tasted ardent spirits.
The Faculty, on viewing the premises in connexion with the late ordinances of the Trustees in regard to Intemperance, believed that the only option left them was between dismission and suspension. In consideration therefore of their previous good conduct, they were only suspended for three weeks from the above date. (1:42, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
261. "Flew round": socialized, often with the purpose of ingratiating oneself with women.
[March 13, 1842]
March 13nth. Last Monday McBee was called a d—nd fool by a freshman named Allison [262] & he knocked him over, with a stick, for his trouble. The affair was settled by A—s. begging Mc's pardon for calling him a fool & then Pink asked forgiveness for striking him—a very cowardly proceeding on the part of Allison, but it was his safest course because the man had but few friends & even they were worthless. Last night Mr Nic. Williams arrived at this place with the body of his brother, the Hon. Lewis Williams—member of Congress, from Surry, who died at Washington about 10 days ago. Mr W– was the oldest member of the house, having been a Congressman for 20 years. He became a member of D. S.[Dialectic Society] in 1805. This morning a procession, composed of the Faculty, students & villagers, formed in front of Miss Nancy's & preceded the carriages to the outskirts of the village, where the ranks opened & suffered them to pass through. Six pall-bearers attended the carriage which contained the corpse. The Di. Members wore crape on the left arm & will continue to do so for 30 days. I slept at the "Kingdom" on Thursday night & did not get back to prayers next morning. Miss Redness was in fine spirits. I was absent from church last Sabbath. Debaters were elected on Friday night. They are C. Barbee, R Hill Dick & J.P. Irwin [263] —not a "D v.v. among them.
Sunday 13nth 1842.
Notes
262. Possibly Nicholas Faulcon Alston.
263. The four Dialectic Society members that Dusenbery mentions were all juniors, elected on March 11, 1842, from among the four "classes" into which the Society was divided, with each class made up of first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Dusenbery was assigned to the second class when he entered the Society and remained in that class until he graduated. The Junior Debate took place on May 31, 1842, the last meeting of the year, on the question "Should Immigration be restricted?" "The question was grandiloquently and eloquently debated and decided in the Negative" (Dialectic Society Minutes, Vol. 9, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
[March 20, 1842]
Sunday 20eth. I have been thrice to the depót this week. On Friday night Em was from home & Red & I passed [264] a a glorious night in her bed. On Tuesday night, Pink, S. Phillips, S. Green, Irwin, Foster, Slade & myself, hired horses & rode out to see Gooly & Yance. [265] The infernal scamps were not at home, & on inquiry we found that they had gone off to Hillsboro, but intended to return that night. We sat down & played—bluff [266] for 2 or 3 hours, but finding their return, still un––certain, we piled all the chairs upon their bed—stuffed their boots with trash—wrote our names with the smoke of a candle, upon the white washed ceiling & in fine did all the mischief in our power. When we came away we left upon the most conspicuous object in the room a long list of resolutions, in which among [267] many other things, we renounced their friend–ship—cut their acquaintance & denounced them in a most frightful manner for Swartwouting [268] from their place of rustication. The time for which they were exiled from these classick scenes, expired on Thursday & on the next day they returned to No. 21 of the West. Dick & Hayes were also restored to the 3d passage on the same evening. Hayes brought me a letter from my father, with $30..00 enclosed.
Sunday, March 20ieth
Notes
265. The three-weeks' suspension of John Lea Williamson and Bartlett Yancy McNairy for permitting students to drink "ardent spirits" in their room ended on March 17, 1842.
266. "bluff": poker.
268. Samuel Swartwout (1783–1856) was a land speculator and fund-raiser for the Texas Revolution. Born in New York, he supported Andrew Jackson for President and in 1829 received an appointment as a customs collector for New York City. In 1838, a year after Swartwout had left office and traveled to England to raise money on a coal property, he was accused of embezzling $1.2 million and fleeing the country. One of Swartwout's assistants was indicted for embezzlement, and a federal court reduced the amount that Swartwout owed. Swartwout forfeited his personal property to meet the debt and returned to the United States on the pledge that he would not be prosecuted. The public indignation at his perceived embezzlement of public funds, however, led to the expression "Swartwouting," stealing, then fleeing to avoid the consequences.
[March 28, 1842]
March 28th. On Monday, just one week ago, I commenced my Senior speech. The subject I have chosen is "The Charter Oak." [269] It will be finished in a day or two. I went to see Red two or three times during the week. On Friday, at 3.O.clock in the evening, I left the Hill with Lewis Holt for the purpose of accompaning him home & having a spree during Easter. Pleasant also went home & Hunt & Long went with him. We were mounted on fiery young chargers & all of us started off together at full speed. Lewis & I parted company with the rest about 7 miles before we reached his grandfather's. [270] It was past eight when we dismounted at our journey's end. We found the old gentleman in good health & spirits as also Miss Eliza & the whole family. On Saturday, we strolled about until dinner & in the evening Miss E— entertained—at least one of us. Some part of the night was spent in dyeing Easter eggs. I forgot to mention that in the evening we visited a Dutch neighbor & his blooming daughter presented me with two beautiful red eggs. On Sunday the family attended church at a German Reformed meeting-house about 4 miles distant. Of course I was the gallant cavalier who rode by Miss—Eliza's palfrey. As we were returning from church, we met Hunt & Long who had attended a singing school with P. Holt & left him to ride over & see how Lewis & myself were enjoying ourselves. They slept that night at Lewis's home & by daylight next morning we were on our way to the Hill—. . . My horse threw me over his head at Haw river. Monday 28th 1842.
Notes
269. The Charter Oak, Connecticut's state tree, stood on the Wyllys estate in Hartford, CT, until 1856, when it was uprooted in a storm. Legend has it that, when Sir Edmund Andros, Governor-General of New England, demanded that the colonists surrender the royal charter in 1687, Captain Joseph Wadsworth hid the document in the tree.
270. Probably the home of Michael Holt (1778–1842), who died a month later, on April 20, 1842. Lewis Bowen Holt's grandfather was Jeremiah Holt (1765–1817) and was already dead in 1842. Michael Holt was Jeremiah's cousin and Eliza Ann Holt's grandfather. The home in present-day Alamance County, NC, now houses the Alamance County Historical Museum.
[April 3, 1842]
April 3d. My speech was finished on Wednesday.—handed to Mr Green on Thursday & returned to me on the following day. Its length is only 3 pages, but short as it is, it cost me more labour than any other composition, I ever at––tempted. Pink went to Raleigh the first of the week & had, those broken front teeth of his, extracted. A great many of the boys went to the Borough [Hillsborough] to see the Circus on yesterday. Yance, Irwin, Long & myself chartered Lewis's family carriage, driver & all, & travelled in superior splendour. We put up at the tavern, drank Madeira & splurged about town until supper. At dark the Show began & we went in but Irwin was so tight [&] kept so much noise that I scarcely saw or heard a thing. I was rather tight also & kept considerable noise. I expected every moment that we would get into a row. The clown said some right bad things, [&] the Circus passed off as such performances usually do. We went back to the tavern & Irwin began to fly round. [271] He would have more wine. He reared & charged & wanted to fight. It was nearly midnight when we started for home. We got Irwin in the car––riage with difficulty, then he wanted to drive & kept such a noise, that the horses had to be held to keep them from running away. I saw little Billy Kennedy [272] in the Borough—he is going to the Raleigh convention.
Sunday April 3d 1842.
Notes
271. "Fly round": socialize, often with the purpose of ingratiating oneself with women.
272. Possibly William Londo Kenneday.
[April 9, 1842]
Sat. 9nth. Mary has left the depot & gone to live at Herrings. Yance & I went out on Monday night. Mary did not act to please me & I came away with a determination never to see her again. On Thursday Robt Hargrave [273] passed through in the stage, but I did not see him. His waggon also passed through on its way to Raleigh to bring home some blooded stock & brought Alfred & myself some clothes & eatables. On Friday night Gov. Morehead staid at Miss Nancy's. Miss Elizabeth Grey & Miss Eliza Mebane [274] were travelling with him on their way to Greensboro. Myself & several others went down. Dr Saml Holt was also there. After sitting some time Yance & I engaged the girls to visit the halls next [275] morning. Accordingly we went down before breakfast & escorted them thither. The Gov. showed us a half-dollar, fresh from the mint, which he had been coined from silver obtained from Kings mine in Davidson & which is the first North Carolina silver that has ever yet been coined. On Monday the speakers were chosen. Those who did not speak last session [276] are compelled to do so this, with the exception of Hayes & Quince. [277] Nine others were wanting to complete the number & the lots fell upon Barringer, J & R Campbell, Harriss, Hartwell, Lewis, Morrisey, Mullins & Ruffin. R. Campbell, Hartwell, Lewis & Morrisey, obtained substitutes. They are respectively, Smith, Summerell, Tomlinson & Dusenbery. I finished "Ten thousand a year" [278] this week, a novel of more than 500 pages.
Sat. April 9nth 1842.
Notes
273. Probably Robert L. Hargrave.
274. Possibly Mary Eliza Mebane. "Elizabeth Grey" may be Elizabeth S. Gray.
277. Upper case Q has been written over lower case q.
278. Samuel Warren, Ten Thousand a Year (1839).
[April 17, 1842]
Notwithstanding all my intentions to the contrary, I went out & became reconciled to Mary. I know not how long it will last, probably not more than a week or two. Robt Hargrave [279] remained on the Hill from 10.o.c. in the morning until 5. in the evening on Monday, it being too warm to travel with his cattle during the heat of the midday. He had a genuine Durham bull & heifer, a Berkshire boar & 2 sheep of a superior breed. He brought me a letter containing $20..00. After repeated petitions the Faculty consented to let us speak at night. On Tuesday night the speakers were, Barringer, Caldwell Holmes, Tomlinson & Ashe. On the next night, Ruffin, Smith, Jack Harriss, Mullins & Coleman. I did not attend the speaking on that night, but went to Herrings. On Thursday night, McBee Bell, Spaight, J. Campbell, Summerell, Green & myself were the speakers. On Friday night the Seniors were excused from attendance on the hall, for the remainder of the session. [280] After society, Dewy & myself went to Herrings & did not return 'till nearly day. Last night I finished "Oliver Twist," [281] after sitting up until nearly midnight. The consequence was that I snapped [282] from prayers this morning. There is no preaching to day on account of the rain. I wrote to my father & Laura on Monday, by Mr. Hargrave. I know not how it is, but my journal has been very much neglected all this session. Nothing but naked facts are recorded, without a word of comment. I must really take more interest in it for the future.
Sunday. 17nth April 1842.
Notes
279. Probably Robert L. Hargrave.
280. "Mr Meares moved, that the Seniors, be let off. from performing duties tonight & tomorrow—carried—Mr Dusenbury moved that the dissision of the house be taken whether the senior class is let off by law carried—" (Dialectic Society Minutes, April 15, 1842, Vol. 9, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North at Chapel Hill)
281. Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist (1839).
282. "snapped": a "snap" was an excused absence from class or other duties granted to students by a faculty member. When students "snapped" or "cut" class, prayers, or church without permission, the absence was not excused.
[April 24, 1842]
Sunday 24th. The week has passed away without a single incident occurring, to break the dull monotony of a College life. I have been pretty busy all the time, but my reading was wholly of a light nature. I read "James" last novel "The Jaquerie" [283] & am now perusing "The Pickwick Papers." [284] Peter Rounsaville has been a little unwell this week, being [285] confined to his room for 2 or 3 days. I was not very well myself for several days. On Friday night Slade moved that diplomas be granted to McBee [286] & myself. It was carried & we succeeded in obtaining very good one's. Yesterday, Grier, Foster & I went fishing. We commenced about a mile above Merritt's mill [287] & fished down—all the time beneath the oppressive heat of a burning sun. We had 14 biscuits & fared plentifully if not sumptuously. We caught nine pertch, a cat-fish & a variegated crowd of little gudgeons, to insignificant to capitulate. We went in a swimming & returned in time for supper. Dr Wilson is on the Hill with his oldest daughter,—Miss Jane & his son Alexander. Yance & Gooly & S. Person are flying round [288] with her & Boston & Cornelia Phillips. [289]
The ball-tickets have arrived—I shall send one to every girl in Lexington or burst. Mr Wilson will preach in the old chapel to night.
Done here in No 23. this the 24th day of April 1842.
Notes
283. G[eorge] P[ayne] R[ainsford] James, The Jacquerie; or, the Lady and the Page: An Historical Romance (1841).
284. Charles Dickens, The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (1836–1837).
286. Dialectic Society minutes for April 22, 1842, report, "There being no resolutions and regular motions coming on Motions were made that Diplomas be granted to Msrs Barringer, & Quincy Morisey, J Campbell, Dusenbury, Mc Bee, Harriss, Hayes, J B Smith, and S S Green . . . ." (Vol. 9, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
287. Rev. William Henry Merritt (1788–1850).
288. "Fly round": socialize, often with the purpose of ingratiating oneself with women.
289. The journal of Joseph John Summerell explains that "Boston" is the nickname of Marion Johnston (January 1, 1842).
[April 30, 1842]
Saturday. April 30eth. All the Dialectic members of the Senior class have signed my "Diploma," but three—I did not ask Ashe to do so, because he himself did not apply for a "Diploma," & Barringer [290] & Caldwell I do not speak to. The last week was devoted to the final examination of our class, on every study, but "Law." The Gov. wishes to examine us on that, before the trustees & chief men of the state on Tuesday of commencement. The final senior report was read out at prayers this morning. [291] Bell, Bryan, Morisey & Quince were entitled to draw for the valedictory. Quince at his own request, was excused from speaking & Barring––er was appointed, though not entitled to any distinction. Morrisey is the valedictorian, though the lot fell upon Bell. Bryan drew the Latin speech. [292]
There is a species of cīcāda (grasshopper) vulgarly called locusts which appears in great numbers about once [293] in every 14 years. During that interval they remain deep in the earth & only come to the surface for the purpose of propagating their race & then of dying. Within the last week or two they have made their appearance here & the woods are now filled with their monotonous chirpings. I have been unwell throughout the week being, at intervals, afflicted with a severe headache & "Bound in the belly" all the time.
April 30th 1842.
Notes
291. According to faculty minutes the last three weeks of April 1842 were devoted to the annual examinations of the senior class in all subjects except national and constitutional law. The annual examinations for the other three classes were held from May 22 to 31, 1842. President Swain completed the examination for the seniors on the morning of May 31, 1842, "in the presence of his Excellency Govr Morehead, and the following Gentlemen, members of the Board viz. Col Daniel, M. Barringer, Genl William A Blount and Chs Manly Esq." (1:57, 62, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). John Motley Morehead was governor of North Carolina from 1841 to 1845 and served on the Board of Trustees from 1828 to 1866. Daniel Moreau Barringer was a member of the Board from 1832 to 1868; William Augustus Blount, from 1826 to 1857; and Charles Manly, from 1826 to 1868.
292. Speeches at the 1842 Commencement were given by students who had earned first and second honors. In addition to the Latin Salutatory by Francis T. Bryan of Wake County, NC, and the Valedictory by Thomas J. Morisey of Clinton, NC, William A. Bell of Alabama gave a speech titled "Eloge de Louis Philippe"; Rufus Barringer spoke on "Principles of the Old Federal Party"; Joseph J. Summerell of Northampton, NC, spoke on "Obligations of Educated Men"; William H. Haigh of Fayetteville, NC, spoke on "Spirit of Reform"; William Figures Lewis of Edgecombe, NC, spoke on "Reciprocal Influence of Science and Religion"; William S. Mullins, of Fayetteville, NC, spoke on "Reverence for the Past"; and William F. Martin of Elizabeth City, NC, spoke on "The Middle Ages." Morisey and Barringer were members of the Dialectic Society; Bryan, Bell, Summerell, Haigh, Lewis, Mullins, and Martin were members of the Philanthropic Society (Battle 1:477).
[May 8, 1842]
May 8th. Last sunday I came to the conclusion, that I could not spend my senior vacation on the Hill & at the same time enjoy my health—I had no inclination to read & was wasting away beneath the pressure of ennui, which lay like an incubus upon my spirits. There were many reasons which induced me to visit home & I determined to do so & also to go on foot, as it would save expence & probably be beneficial to my health. I packed up some clothes in a box to be sent by the stage & on Monday morning was just on the point of starting when C. Phillips sent me word that he was going to Lexington in a few days, in a buggie for the purpose of getting the specimens which Mr King promised to the Dialectic Society & that he would give me a seat. As I always have, rather, preferred riding to walking, when the cost was the same, his offer of course was accepted. S. Green had a desire to see the western part of the state & agreed to bear us company. On Thursday we left the Hill—travelled 30 miles—& passed the night at Long's. [294] None of the boys were at home. We reached home the next day & to my surprise, found that every one was expecting me. When we yet lacked 7 miles of getting to Lex. I mounted Stephen's mule & pushed on for the purpose of surprising the family & I felt cheap when Fayette called out "There he is—on a mule" when I rode up to the gate. I brought my ball-tickets with me, but have not yet given them to the girls. Yesterday, Green, Phillips, Fayette & myself went to the mines—King treated us very politely—gave us a handsome present of specimens for Society & an excellent dinner & I renewed my acquaintance with his wife & above all with his daughter Triphenia. Lexington—Sunday 8th 1842.
Notes
294. Possibly the home of John Long, Jr. in Randolph County, NC.
[May 15, 1842]
Sunday. 15nth. Phillips, Green & I were invited to tea at Mr Rankin's on Monday evening. There I became acquainted with Julia Hogan & Miss Montgomery, [295] a niece of Dr Payne's. On Tuesday eve G. & I took a ride with the girls. They were Eliz. & Elv. Holt, Jane Hillyard, Laura & Miss Montgomery. We rode nearly 5 miles along the Mockville road. Fayett[e] & John Holt rode with us—the former on Green's mule. P. & G. started home on Wednesday morning in spite of all I could say & notwithstanding Mrs Payne had sent them invitations to a party, to be given by her that evening, in compliment to her niece. [296] Mrs Payne's soiréé passed off with a zest unparallelled in the annals of Lexington She had assembled in her parlour the elité of our town. There were professional gentlemen not a few. It was court-week & the bar contributed to swell our numbers. I have never before seen so respectable an assemblage of gentlemen, at a party, in our village. I, have given ball tickets to the Misses, Caldcleugh, Augusta, Frances & Henrietta, [297] Jane Hilyard, Sarah Mabry, Laura & Amelia Foster Eliz. & Elv. Holt, Eliz. Grey [298] & Miss Montgomery. I yet have one for Wilelmina Conrad who is now in Greensboro. I also gave tickets to Saml Gaither & Dr Holt. I caught a young rabbit this week & gave it to Amelia for a pet. Fayette & Watson & I went hunting Sat. & caught 4 young crows. I brought 2 home & intend to try to tame them. I wrote to Alfred by Green.
May 15nth 1842.
Notes
295. Possibly Julia Virginia Hogan (1826–1852) and Eliza L. Montgomery (b. 1817).
296. Possibly Eliza L. Montgomery.
297. Frances and Henrietta remain unidentified.
298. Possibly Elizabeth S. Gray.
[May 22, 1842]
Sunday 22nd. I have fished & hunted this week with indif––ferent success. I shot 6 squirrels on one day that I went down to Jno Miller's. [299] On Wednesday evening I went out to Jacob Craver's [300], 5 miles on the Mocksville road, & collected eight dollars & twenty cents for my father, which is the first money I have ever collected for him. It was the balance on a note of $75..00 which Craver had given to Tom Crump [301] & he paid it every cent in silver. On Friday evening I went with some girls to get straw––berries. We had picked a fine quantity & were returning when we were overtaken in a tremendous storm. We had umbrellas but they afforded very little protection. We huddled together under the big oak at the mouth of the lane this side of Andrew Sink's & stood the brunt of the storm for near 2 hours. Night was coming on apace & we thought it better to start for home & brave the raging elements, than to remain where we were. Every step was through deep mud & water & by the time we reached the suburbs of Lex. we looked like drowned rats indeed. Just there Fayette met us with a vehicle—all crowded into it & were driven into town—truly it was a splendid sight—much better than a menagerie. Every window was thrown up as we passed & the merry laugh at our expense reverberated along the street. On that morning I received a letter from Pink & Alf. I replied to it by the mail of next morning. My crows are both dead "Sic transit gloria mundi." [302]
Lexington May 22nd 1842.
Notes
299. Possibly John Miller.
300. Probably Jacob Craver.
301. Possibly Thomas C. Crump.
302. "Sic transit gloria mundi": Latin for "Thus passes the glory of the world."
[May 27, 1842]
Friday 27th. [303] On Tuesday I went with Dr. Johnson up to H. People's, [304] on the river, to have a fishing spree with him. I rode Mr Adam's horse & on the way, he stumbled & threw me entirely over his head, without at-all injuring me. After dinner we began to fish with a splendid new seine & with the expectation of glo––rious success, but there soon came up a tremendous storm & compelled us to desist. We were wet all over & as a considerable time elapsed before we could change our clothes I caught a very severe cold in consequence. Thursday evening after supper I walked with Laura & Eliza Montgomery [305] to the grave-yeard. It was in the dim twilight & their superstitious fears did not permit them to wander long among the mouldering tombs of the silent dead. I felt strongly disposed to steal away & crouch down in the dark shadow of one of those cedars, to see how they would act, when they found themselves alone & at such an hour, on haunted ground. We returned & went to the Temperance meeting. There I was called upon by Mr Kearnes & Dr Johnson [306] to make a speech & on my declining, on the ground, that I was not a member of the society the fools publicly called on me to sign the pledge. I was indignant—but what could I do? If I refused to join & without assigning a reason every body would say that I loved liquor. I did refuse however, but remarked, that I did so, not because I was opposed to temperance, but because I saw indications that the society would not last & that I would not join an association of so ephem––eral a character. I received a letter from Pink & Alf. this morning. Dr Holt & Elizabeth [started] to commencement this morning. Friday 27th 1842 [307]
Notes
304. Dr. Johnson remains unidentified. Possibly Halbard J. Peoples.
305. Possibly Eliza L. Montgomery.
306. Possibly John Kearns. Dr. Johnson remains unidentified.
[June 7, 1842]
On Saturday the 28th of May [1842] I set out on my return to theHill to attend commencement & receive my diploma. Laura accompanied me, & Fayette also, as far as Greensboro, where he is at school. We passed the night in G. [Greensboro] at Mrs Moring's, & after break––fast the next morning Jacob drove us down to Mr Holt's & we spent the remainder of the Sabbath & the night following with Miss Eliza Holt. There we found the Dr. & Miss Elizabeth, at Edwin Holt's. About 10 on Monday morning we all set out again, the Dr. having prevailed upon his brother Edwin to go with him to the Hill. We travelled in company, about 6 miles, to Dr Mike Holt's, where we found Dr Sam l Holt who had also agreed to go to the Hill. There Laura & I seperated from the rest, & went on direct to the Hill, while the Dr & his company went on by Hillsboro, where he had some business to transact. Laura was invited to Prof. Phillip's, but she remained there for only a short time on account of the severe sickness of Miss Jane Wilson, [308] who was staying there. Dr Mitchell invited her to his house & there she remained during our stay at C. Hill. On Monday evening Prof. Green, who had been solicited by our class to deliver to us a parting sermon, preached to us in the new chapel, from this text,=="Remember this & prove yourselves men".==. On Tuesday morning our class was examined on Law by Gov. Swain in the presence of Charles Manly, D. M. Barringer & several other highly intelligent gentlemen. In the evening Dr Mitchell who wished to have some amusement, called together the Sen––iors & proposed that some of the class should take the "Nitrous Oxide" or exilarating gas. It was administered in the grove just behind the S. B. [South Building] & students & visitors were all, there assembled. Those of my class who took it were Ashe, Morrisey, Mullins, Quince & Summerell. All showed a disposition to fight but Morrisey & Summerell —the former did nothing but walk about & look as if he were searching for a stump upon which to mount to make a speech, & the other jumped up, smacked his feet together & said he felt glorious. Ashe was the most pugnacious man of them all—he first jumped upon J. P. Irwin & tore the skirt of his coat nearly off & he then threw himself upon me so suddenly that I could not get out of his way & was obliged to fight in self-defense. Neither of us were hurt for Dick's gas soon "–frez–z out" & then of course the scuffle ended. That night the Fresh com––petitors declaimed. Also about 4 that evening Miss Wilson died. Dr Holt reached the Hill also on that eve. Wednesday morning was set apart for the delivery of Mr Mason's address but as that gentleman, on account of urgent business, could not be present Dr Mitchell devoted the time to a lecture & the exhibition of some experiments, on Electro Magnetism. The evening of that day was devoted to the interment of the body of Miss Wilson. It was brought to the chapel where a long & very solemn & impressive sermon was preached by Prof. Phillips. Thence it was carried to the college burial place & there interred. A numerous concourse of people attended the body to the grave—the students behaved with becoming solemnity & both they & the strangers who were present appeared to sympathise deeply with the bereaved father & sister by [309] the solemn & respectful manner in which they performed the last sad rites to the body of their beloved relative.
On Wed. night the Soph. compets. declaimed— Fauks was one of them. On Thursday morning the speakers were Bryan, who spoke the Latin, Summerell, Barringer Haigh & Lewis —in the evening Bell spoke first, a French speech " Elogé de Louis Phillipe." After him Mullins & Marten [310] & then the degrees were conferred. A very neat bible was given to each member of the class together with his diploma. [311] R. Campbell, Dusenbery & Green were called up & received their diploma's together. The reports were read out before degrees were conferred— Alfred Foster & Bellanfant received 3d in the Soph. Morrisey then delivered his vale––dictory & Mr Green closed the exercises with prayer after a short speech [312] from Gov. Morehead. At night the ball came off. Very few young ladies attended. I went over & danced the first cotillion with Augusta Rounsaville who also was at Commencement. I paid very little attention to the ladies. Once I walked with Elizabeth Holt & once with Miss Jackson from Pittsboro. On Friday morning I left the Hill bringing with me McBee & Foster. Laura was very kindly treated at Dr Mitchell's & on leaving I gave Miss Ellen all my plants. Mr [Charles] Phillips kept my horses during my stay. A few miles from the Hill I overtook Dr Holt's cavalcade. In the carriage were Miss Elizabeth, Sam & Lewis Holt & Thomas Davis, in the Buggie Dr Holt & his brother Edwin & P. Holt & Mr Harden, [313] a relation were on horseback. 12 miles from the Hill we stopped to rest our horses & take refreshments. Just then Peter Rounsavill & Augusta overtook us & also drew up. Each carriage brought forward its quota of provisions & joined them in one harmonious whole. There was the greater part of a boiled ham, fried ham, chicken & every variety of cake. We obtained fodder for our horses & knives & forks for ourselves from Mr Thomson's. A spring was close by—we wanted for nothing & the whole of us, 13 in number, exclusive of Jacob & Andy [314] who afterwards ate to their soul's content, made a most sumptuous & plentiful repast. We rose from dinner, lighted cigars & went on in high spirits. Dr Holt & his brother Edwin rode in the buggie, McBee, Foster & Lewis Holt in our car––riage & Sam Holt, Davis & myself in the Dr's with Miss E.—. We reached Edwin Holt's by sundown & all passed the night there.
Next morning (Saturday) Miss Eliza gave us an early break-fast, put us up a snack & we went on our way rejoicing. Four miles on the other side of Greensboro, we stopped & partook of Miss E's– snack. It consisted of a most abundant supply of ham, both boiled & fried, cold chicken, dried beef & a variety of cake for desert. Such a meal, in such a place was really romantic. We only stopped in G– for a few minutes to buy cigars "et cetera." I paid Fayette's debts, amounting to 15 dollars. We reached Brummel's [315]a little after dark & all obtained lodging though it was a tight squeeze. I had either to sleep with young Brummel or Pete Rounsaville—I chose the former. Sunday morning early we left B's & reached Lex. to breakfast. The western fellows had passed the night at Mabry's [316] & had just departed. Pink & went to church in the morning—also at night & slept the whole time. On Monday Alf & I went with him to the factory [317] & also over to Dr Holt's. On that evening Slade, McNairy & Bellanfant arrived. Turner did not come. Cuffee & Yance staid with me & Pink all night & Fauks went with Alf. They are all on their way to take a grand tour through the western mountains of N. Carolina. I was not pre––pared & Fauks agreed to wait until to-morrow morning for me—that I might get prepared to go with them. All the rest left together about 7.O.C. this morning—Pink travels in the stage. T. Davis also left this morning in the stage for Salisbury. Dr Holt brought him with him from C, Hill & he has spent a day or two with us. Alf went with Fauks to the Factory to day. John took dinner with me & soon after Alf came down & we went over to the Dr's & set for 2 hours. Alf invited John, Pete & I to take supper with him this evening—we went & there met Miss Frances Rank[in] Miss S. Marbry & Miss Montgomery. [318] The girls played finely on the piano & we passed a very pleasant time. I came home with Miss Montgomery —she is a very interesting girl.
Here ends the record of my senior year. In the morning I start with Bellanfant for Lincoln–ton, where I shall meet Slade, McBee & McNairy & from that place of rendevous our tour will comm––ence.
Concluded here in my father's house, in the north room on the east [319] side of the passage at 11.O.C. precisely, at night, on this, the 7nth of June eighteen hundred & forty two.
Fauks is asleep & breathing heavily—my own eyelids are getting heavy & I too will shortly be on my way to join him in the glorious land of Nod.
June 7nth 1842.
11 at night.
Notes
308. When Jane contracted cholera on a trip she was making with her father from Raleigh to Greensboro, they stopped in Chapel Hill. Rev. Wilson's June 1, 1842, letter to his wife in Greensboro informs her of their daughter's death:
What reason we have at all times to submit to the will of a Father of infinite wisdom. It has pleased him to take to himself our dear Jane. She departed this life yesterday the 31st May at fifteen minutes past 4 O'c P. M. in peace, composure, self-possession, literally fast asleep in the arms of Jesus. For several hours before her death she was perfectly sensible of the approach of the King of terrors, but he had no terrors for her, she was trusting in the Lord Jehovah as her everlasting help & Saviour. [. . .] I thought it best to inter her here in the public burying ground in a pleasant place by the side of a daughter of - Rev D r Chapman & a M r [Charles A.] Brewster a pious man from N. York. Her funeral sermon was preached by Bro. Phillips in the College Chapel to an immense congregation who gave breathless attention. I shall ask Bro. Ph. to write out a copy for you. Alice has been enabled by the blessing of God to sustain the shock beyond expectation—There were a great many of our old friends present at the funeral. The body was carried to the graveyard by Bro. Ps two sons Mr Strazzi, & several of the old students of the Cald. Institute. Every one seemed to sympathise with us & oh Bro. P. has prayd so fervently that you and all the family might be sustained in this trial of our faith. (Heartt and Wilson Papers, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
310. William Sidney Mullins spoke on the "Reverence for the Past"; William Francis Martin (d. 1880), on "The Middle Ages."
311. The commencement of 1842 was the first at which Bibles autographed by Gov. Swain were presented to each graduate (Battle 1:475).
313. Possibly Daniel C. Harden.
314. Probably slaves.
315. Brummell's Inn in Davidson County, NC, five miles west of High Point, NC, beside a branch of Rich Fork Creek, was a popular stop on the old stage road. It was run by Jacob (d. 1841) and Susannah Daniel (b. 1777) Brummell. "Jacob Brummell bought the property from the Paynes around 1814 in what was then Rowan County" (Stephens).
316. Possibly Elizabeth and John P. Mabry.
317. Lexington, NC, was the site of the Lexington Cotton Factory, established in 1837 to produce cotton yarn, sheeting, and skirting. It burned down in 1844 and was not rebuilt.
318. Possibly Frances Mebane Rankin, Sarah Mabry, and Eliza L. Montgomery.
I commenced the study of medicine on, I think, the last day of June 1842 [320] under Dr C. L Payne & took the degree of MD. at the University of Pennsylvania on the 4th of April "/45. [321] I hung out my shingle in my native town of Lexington early in the month of June following. About the middle of Jan. /46 I went to Statesville. [322]
Notes
321. According to records in the University Archives at the University of Pennsylvania, Dusenbery entered the Medical Department in 1843 and received his MD degree, as he states, on April 4, 1845. The subject of his medical school graduating essay was "Empiricism."
322. The 1850 census indicates that Dusenbery was living in Iredell County, in Statesville, NC, in the home of physician David Chambers, age 60, and 29-year-old P. B. Chambers, a farmer. Statesville, NC, is located 43 miles west of Lexington, NC. By 1852 Dusenbery appears to have returned to Lexington, NC. In a September 12, 1852, letter, George Kinney, writing to his father from Lexington, reported, "Jerry [Adderton] has bought the Rounsaville house for a dwelling house. James P. Stimpson, Shff., and James Dusenberry have put a new drug store at Henley's old stand" (Sink and Mathews 83). During the Civil War, Dusenbery served with the 14th Battalion, Lexington Home Guard. Though he survived the conflict, three brothers, two brothers-in-law, and three nieces died during the war years. After the war he resumed his medical practice in Lexington, NC, and served as a UNC trustee from 1874 until 1877. He died on January 28, 1886, and was buried in the Lexington City Cemetery. He never married.
Dusenbery's postscript ends on the last leaf of a gathering. The first two leaves of the next gathering have been cut from the journal, and the third leaf and the recto of the fourth leaf are blank.
Copy of Correspondence with Miss Mary S. . . . . .
Letter No. 1.
Dear James
I have no doubt you looked for a note from me last night, but I know you will not think hard of my not writing when you know the cause, Be assured Dr. if I did not write I am thinking about you continually. Dear James I must see you at the first of week at Mrs Ramsour's —be sure and meet me, I cannot be separated from you so long again if it possibly can be helped, as you are the only person in existence that loves me now. Dr do not think that because I did not write to you that I was about to forget you, that never can be until I think that you have ceased to love me & perhaps not then. Sunday evening as it is I am compelled to write a note to my Dearest as I have no other time that I can be wholly alone
Yours forever— Mary.
No. 2.—
Dear James
I cannot see you this evening. Mrs A—x—r [323] is here with me & Bettie [324] is going to the country to-morrow evening & if you wish to see me you must either go after Bettie yourself or send some one Thursday morning & you can see me that evening. Dr be sure and do that for you do not know how much I wish to see you—let me know this evening what you intend doing
from your devoted Mary
continued
continued
No 4.
Dear James
I received your sister's [325] note yesterday evening & was very much surprised that you did not write & let me know what your Father said—from what Miss Bettie [326] told me, I think that he is opposed to it—if he is we must never meet again and I shall leave this country never more to return. I should like to hear from you soon.
Yours Mary.
Notes
325. Dusenbery had three sisters: Laura Ann (b. 1826), Cornelia Lydia (1831–1887), and Mary Elizabeth (1836–1883).
326. Possibly Elizabeth Ramsour.
No 5.
Dear James
I heard yesterday evening that you were very much offended with . . . is it so or not? I cannot believe it until I hear it from your own lips. I know that I did wrong, but Dear James will you not forgive me! I wish to see you this evening if you can call conveniently.
Your ever true and devoted Mary.
No 6.
Dr Dusenbery
I hope you will excuse me, for not having written to you sooner, but I have been waiting for a letter from my uncle. Dr we never can be married & if you wish the engagement to be broken off now you must send me back my ring & notes back as soon as you get my note. I see no use of being engaged any longer when we [327] —never can be married. I have no doubt it pains me as much as it does you, but it must be done—so fare well perhaps forever
Yours Mary.
Notes
327. The verso of this page is blank, and the letter continues on the recto of the next page.
Tuscaloosa April 25th 1848.
No 7
I have no doubt you will be very much surprised upon receiving a letter from me, but Dr I hope you do not think I have forgotten you—no I love you the same as ever but we can do nothing but love; I am compelled to send your notes back, but will you permit me to keep the ring—you may have mine & keep it while you live. Look at it often and think of Mary. Dr I have one request to ask of you—that is please to have your likeness taken and send it to me—it shall be worn next to my heart forever, grant this one request—it grieved me much to discard you, but I was compelled to do it—write to me very soon and send my notes back—when you write get Bettie [328] or some other friend to send your letter to the post office. Dr much as I love you yet I can never look at you again, for I have treated you too badly, but I sincerely beg your pardon for it—I fully intended to marry you when I engaged myself to you—forgive me for sending you such a badly written letter, once any thing from your Mary would do, how it is now I cannot tell—the same still I hope
from Mary S.
P.S. Please write soon & send your likeness as soon after as possible—
continued [329]
questions have been asked whether I had any letters but they did not say any thing about a likeness & they will not ask me now—it is too late. Dr please leave States––ville before I return as we must never meet there again. I often sit & think of the pleasures passed by and console myself with the thought, that if we meet no more on earth there is a home above where parting is no more.
I pray God we may meet there
Farewell & if forever Fare thee well So mote it be. [330]
Notes
328. Possibly Elizabeth Ramsour.
329. The verso of this page is blank, and the letter continues on the recto of the next page.
330. "So mote it be": "So may it be." The letter ends on the recto of this page. The verso and fifteen subsequent pages are blank. Three leaves between the pages numbered [177] and [178] have been cut out of the gathering along the gutter.
