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Bates, Daniel, 1779-1799. Letters from Daniel Bates to William Jenks, May 1795-September 1798. HUD 795.6, Harvard University Archives.

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Daniel Bates wrote these five letters to his friend and classmate, William Jenks, between May 1795 and September 1798. In a letter written May 12, 1795, Bates informs Jenks, who was then employed as an usher at Mr. Webb's school, of his studies of Euclid, the meeting of several undergraduate societies, and various sightings of birds, gardens and trees. In a letter written in November 1795 from Princeton, where he was apparently on vacation with the family of classmate Leonard Jarvis, he describes playing the game "break the Pope's neck" and tells Jenks what he was reading (Nicholson, Paley?, and Thompson) and what his friend's father was reading (Mirabeau and Neckar).|In a letter written on December 9, 1795, Bates recounts the "bedlam" then taking place at Harvard, including an account of the theft of candlesticks, a cushion and a Bible. In a letter written in March 1797, Bates encouraged Jenks to stay in Waltham, with a Mr. Dix, as long as necessary to fully recover from an illness from which he was apparently suffering. He also updated Jenks on what he was reading: James Ferguson's writing on eclipses and an unnamed work by Jean Jacques Burlamaqui. In the last letter, written September 22, 1798, Bates recounts a visit with a Dr. Eustice concerning a potential trip to Virginia. He mentions that William Ellery Channing was also a candidate for the unexplained journey; presumably Bates is referring to a position in Richmond, Virginia, tutoring the children of David Randolph. Channing, rather than Bates, ultimately accepted this position.

Biographical Notes

Daniel Bates was born in Boston on December 4, 1779. He received an A.B. from Harvard College in 1797 and died two years later, in 1799.|William Jenks was born in Newton, Massachusetts on November 25, 1778. He received an A.B. from Harvard College in 1797, an A.M. in 1800 and an S.T.D. in 1842. He also received two degrees from Bowdoin College: an S.T.D. in 1825 and an L.L.D. in 1862. Jenks served as pastor of churches in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Bath, Maine before joining the faculty of Bowdoin College as professor of Oriental and English literature. He later returned to Boston, where he founded a mission for seamen and took an active part in several of the city's humanitarian reform organizations. He served as a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard College from 1832 to 1845. He was also a founder of the American Antiquarian Society and the American Oriental Society. William Jenks died in Boston on November 13, 1866.

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(seq. 6)
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(seq. 6)

other day, and behold there was no honey there. However I was sufficintly compensated for that disappointment by the fall of the tree. It sounded nobly. Leonard says he is most done. So I must make haste. What shall I write about. Shall I tell you that I have been reading Nicholson, Paley & Thompson? No I will not wont say anything about it. So good bye & remember your chum

Daniel.

William.

Last edit over 3 years ago by Cary Saunders
(seq. 7)
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(seq. 7)

Mr William Jenks.

Cambridge.

Daniel Bates. Princeton Nov{ember} 1795.

Last edit over 3 years ago by Cary Saunders
(seq. 8)
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(seq. 8)

Cambridge, December 9th 1795

William,

How do you do? What are you about? It is a long time since I have seen you. It appears to me that you have veen absent a month. I have expected several letters from you before this time. But since you are determined not to write, I will break the law, in which commands the eldest to begin a correspondence, and write first. I suppose you would wish to know how matters proceed here at Harvard. If I were to enter into a minute detail of all our affairs and pro-ceedings I should transgress far exceed the bounds prescribed to a letter. So you must be content with a few circumstances, which will serve to recal for a moment those ideas of Harvard, which you used to entertain. You must remember that this quarter is the time when College is generally an emblem of bedlum. That sacred place where you know we meet twice a day, has not escaped from the hands of those, who wish to make disturbance. The other morning, the candlesticks were stolen, the cushion

Last edit over 3 years ago by Cary Saunders
(seq. 9)
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(seq. 9)

[Left page:]

I forgot to tell you that our next theme is on "winter".

[Right page:]

was stolen, and the bible was stolen. Happily, however, they are all found. But, unhappily, the thieves are not found. It is strange that human nature can be so depraved as to be guilty of such actions. I feel happy when I think that all my friends are too generous and noble to commit crimes so base and so low. -- Now prehaps you would wish to hear something about themes. In the first place, there were several =. You will be surprised, when you hear their names. So prepare yourself beforehand. The two Abbots had = ; Clap had =; Farrar had =; Kimball and White had =; the two Parkers had =; the two Richardsons had =; Stearns had had =; Wellington had =; and [illegible] now for vanity, your chum had =. I wish I could say that William had ________ _____ = ; but I am sorry to say that your theme has not ______ _______________________ been returnded. You need not fear however nor doubt. For I will warrant the = to you this time. I don't mean that I know you have it, but that I guess so, I am really sorry that Church has not =. He must be very much disappointed. This all I have to say, or rather all that I have time to say at present. Give my respects to all my friends whom you see. Return soon and remember

Your friend, Daniel

William.

Last edit over 3 years ago by Cary Saunders
(seq. 10)
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(seq. 10)

Daniel Bates. {December} 9th 1795. Cambridge.

Mr William Jenks Student of Harvard College now at Boston.

Last edit over 3 years ago by Cary Saunders
Displaying pages 6 - 10 of 16 in total