Newly transcribed and labelled; double collated
Juliet Smith to August Wilhelm von Schlegel
[1] Piercefield Oct: 11.th 1790
Sir
I am extremely concernʼd, that anything should have disturbed the cordiality, which I flatterʼd myself subsisted between you & my Son; I felt myself happy in the idea of his being placed with a Gentleman whose character I esteemʼd, as much as I respected.– Shall I confess to you, Sir, that your letter surprised me more than the young Manʼs? in his, I discoverʼd the impatience of Youth to throw off the restrain[t] of a Governor, in yours, I observed a degree of Anger, which I think on reflection, you will deem unworthy of you, when you consider, that all Boys are eager to become Men, over-rate their own abilities, & think themselves capable of regulating their Conduct & Affairs,– long before they are. As, in his letter, he asserts nothing, but what you confirm, I entreat you to see it in the same light that I do;– pardon the hastiness of Youth, & do not discard from your Friendship a heart that is naturally good,– thoʼ perhaps in this, as well as many other respects, faulty – Forgive my adding, that the reading a letter not [2] intended for your perusal, is not quite consistent with that delicate sense of Honour, I should have expected from you – The liberty you have allowʼd my Son, meets both with Mr. Smithʼs & my approbation, so long as Geo: does not abuse it – let him enjoy it – it will qualify him the better to become his own Master hereafter. Mr. S. joins me in Comps. –
I am with great Respect, Sir
Your Obedient hble Servt.
J. Smith.
I beg my Love to Geo:
Sir
I am extremely concernʼd, that anything should have disturbed the cordiality, which I flatterʼd myself subsisted between you & my Son; I felt myself happy in the idea of his being placed with a Gentleman whose character I esteemʼd, as much as I respected.– Shall I confess to you, Sir, that your letter surprised me more than the young Manʼs? in his, I discoverʼd the impatience of Youth to throw off the restrain[t] of a Governor, in yours, I observed a degree of Anger, which I think on reflection, you will deem unworthy of you, when you consider, that all Boys are eager to become Men, over-rate their own abilities, & think themselves capable of regulating their Conduct & Affairs,– long before they are. As, in his letter, he asserts nothing, but what you confirm, I entreat you to see it in the same light that I do;– pardon the hastiness of Youth, & do not discard from your Friendship a heart that is naturally good,– thoʼ perhaps in this, as well as many other respects, faulty – Forgive my adding, that the reading a letter not [2] intended for your perusal, is not quite consistent with that delicate sense of Honour, I should have expected from you – The liberty you have allowʼd my Son, meets both with Mr. Smithʼs & my approbation, so long as Geo: does not abuse it – let him enjoy it – it will qualify him the better to become his own Master hereafter. Mr. S. joins me in Comps. –
I am with great Respect, Sir
Your Obedient hble Servt.
J. Smith.
I beg my Love to Geo: