Letter to Mr. Jas. B. E. Daugherty, No. 140/2 High St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from his brother, M. Jos. Daugherty, Lancaster, Ohio, October 24, 1842
this is the second time he has generously stepped forward and taken a fair dame off my hands, where other views and other objects were beginning to render them bothersome …. M. Jos. Daugherty, Lancaster, Ohio, October 24, 1842
Lancaster Ohio Monday October 24. 1842
My Dear Brother
Mr Willock arrived on Friday and handed me your epistles dated 30th Septr and 7th Octr which I’ll now answer according to their dates.
I have to return you many thanks for the articles you have forwarded with Ainsworth & Willock’s goods, but I fear you have done yourself injustice in sending the other articles you mention (such as M—- shirts, Flannel collars etc) and both you and D. A. have perhaps desired yourselves some comforts to enable those to be sent me. Mr Willocks goods purchased in your city have not arrived yet but are expected this week so I consequently am denied the pleasure of offering up a prayer for your welfare until I behold those shirts about which it seems you have devilled Mother and aunt considerably, but as soon as I put one on I’ll not forget the snakers nor the senders and with this assurance I turn to another matter of vital importance to all the limbs of the law and to none more so than the winter.
This matter that I now allude to is a roll manufactured from an aromatic weed styled tobacco, which article it seems a meeting of my former Fellow Citizens have denied me “on account (as they say) of the many evils which have arisen from the frequent use of sigars” now this is all very well to talk about when we wish to appear philosophical but ‘tis a different thing when we wish to put it in practice, and I now wish you to present my “distinguished and high considerations to each of these funny Diddlers” and say that like a true Lawyer I will through opposition smoke twice as much to spite them, for you and they must know I’ve got a glorious Meershaum (a present from Baron De Roden a Rich German who has lately arrived here and purchased property) with which I’ll smoke confusion to the whole tribe of ye. “so mote it be.”
Infidel and heretic as ye are ye have charged upon me the immaculate the illustrious the high and awful crime of giving the best part of my inward man away to a compound of selfishness, deceit, coquetry, scandal, flummery flannels and walking bundles of clothes ye deft woman and you go on about a rigmarole of well rounded limbs, nut brown hair, bust, eyes and mahomet only knows what else as nearly made unconscious we believe at first that you were in sober earnest why the fairies must have carried you to the land of bright eyes and brighter smiles, sylph like forms and all the other paraphernalia of charms with which the Houris of mahomet’s paradise are blessed withal, such a nymph as the one you describe has never refreshed my vision since I came to this land of Politics temperance lectures and shirt tail aristocracy.
Pray give me a full and accurate description of this dream of yours when next you write me, I spent a glorious evening on Saturday last. You may have perceived by the papers sent that the Literary Institute of this town met for the second time on that night, when a committee consisting of M. A. D.[,] E. B. Cone and another Literary Youth were to report a constitution which they were appointed to draw up at a previous meeting. a question was also up for discussion. the ladies were to be in attendance and everything appeared smiling as the fair countenances of the Damsels who honored us with their pleasure, it was understood that the constitution should be accepted and adapted in a few minutes to enable the question to be debated – But other equally literary characters thought otherwise, and these were H. C. Whitman, Arno Voss, W. W. Sifford (a student from Frederick Md) and M. J. D. on Friday night these four conspirators in “midnight caucus assembled” and drew up a constitution No. 2
– Saturday night comes, went to the Institute, after the meeting was called to order, the secretary commenced reading the constitution No. 1, as soon as it was read I got up and moved that it be laid under the table and No. 2 adopted in its stead – then commenced the tug of war – you should have seen the gazes of astonishment cast at us by the friends of No 1 – however our motion was overruled, constitution No 2 ordered to be read – and then No 1 ordered to be taken up and discuss each section – as soon as one section of No 1 would be read one of the conspirators (or disorganizers as they called us) would move that a corresponding section of No. 2 would be adopted in its stead – and thus we fought them for nearly three hours, beat them by getting all our constitution adopted save a few unimportant sections much to their rage and disappointment – those wishing to become members joined except the four conspirators, in not joining that night we over reached ourselves, after last Saturday night all wishing to become members will have to be elected by a vote of the Institute. they say now they will prevent us from joining by having the majority to vote against us – now we had no intention of joining to we heard to day that they will prevent us should we wish to join.
Opposition forever – the disorganisers have determined to be members, and our four names will be handed in next evening – rare sport is anticipated – speeches will be made against us, and our horrible revolutionary attempts will be paraded before the eyes of the ladies and Gents present with all the power of declamation it wont do, in we’ll go – I’ll inform you of the result – Strange you did not receive one of the letters I sent – You also say that you do not receive papers regularly – they are papers mailed every Friday for Father Danl & you, either by Mike or I. We only have two papers published in this town now, the “Sash” and “Wagon Boy” have been discontinued since the election. only three numbers of each were issued.
I’ll try and send you the three numbers of the “Sash” – so Danl A. cannot get time to write on account of Julia – good – tell him from me to go ahead – that he is a valuable Brother to me – this is the second time he has generously stepped forward and taken a fair dame off my hands, where other views and other objects were beginning to render them bothersome – but tell him also that I’ll not put him to the same trouble again, for fear that he might kick against my wishes – tell him also that I sometimes drink to the health of a buckeye lass with a long purse – solid charms to me – but the next time instead of drinking thus my usual taste of late I shall drink to the speedy union of D. A. and the fair Julia!!! What has become of Mary Ellens […] Dau?
– – I expect to receive letters from both Father and Danl very soon, I hope I’m not to be disappointed, Mike wrote you on yesterday week and he intended to have written to D. A. next day but business has prevented him. He will address him the first spare moment, I received a paper from D. A. yesterday which I was happy to learn “Richards himself again” I’ve begin to think ‘twas only a love brash – when he has stood as many as I have done they’ll not effect him much!!! Send papers as often as you find time – Give my Love to Father Mother Aunts D. A. and D D D not forgetting Thos D. – Write soon!
M. A. desires to be remembered The old Lady and Doctor and family are well – I believe I’ve got through one Letter without mentioning politics and as it [interlined “would”] not be showing much reverence to the subject by introducing it at this late period [interlined “I’ll leave it out”].
Once more accept my thanks for your many kindness in selecting clothing for me and believe me
ever Yr Affectionate Brother M Jos Daugherty One of the Conspirators
Notes: Letter to Mr. Jas. B. E. Daugherty, No. 140/2 High St., Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania], from his brother, M. Jos. Daugherty, Lancaster, Ohio, October 24, 1842; from the Phillip F. Schlee Collection.