BakerOliver18320228_002

James Stewart is here in town. He [?] it up and down the streets [?] like
our old Spooner cow. His father is little less eccentric than he but a very
learned man. A man ought to spend one year at this institution in order to
become well initiated in the study of the Hebrew.

March 12. I laid your letter by thinking to finish it however in a day or two and
it has never been so much in mind since as that I thought I must do it till today
when I received your letter dated Feb 20. I could wish to remark much on the contents of this
last letter as it is really one containing valuable matter, but have time to scratch
only a [?] here and there. It does me good indeed to find you in circumstances that
call for such vigorous efforts of mind. I do congratulate you on the happiness
you are experiencing in that debating society. As to the money you are about to
receive. I would take a walk to Exeter with pleasure on your account if you
desired it and if you will direct your letter to me. I was timid about sending
by the mail at first but have always had it received safe. I should think there
was not much danger. Mr Clement my old teacher is in Chester somewhere
near Exeter and I was going to see him within a few days shall wait till I
receive another letter from you. I conclude you had not at the date of your
letter heard of the decision of the Cherokee question by the court of the United
States. When the news of it arrived here there was such emotions as have
rarely if ever been felt on any national point. I dont know that Jackson
will do he has so many unpleasant duties to perform that it must
perturb his tranquil spirit. I fear civil war. Hope a kind Providence
will avert so shameful a calamity. I debated this evening on the question mentioned
in the first page of this letter and our side gained the point - begin to feel
some animation on the subject of debates. O that I had felt at the setting out
of my academical education. I love my brethren and am in a good community.
Have access to all needful helps for acquiring information on
any point whatever. You speak of your regret that we must pursue different
professions - that our minds must necessarily run in channels so diverse. I too
regret it. We spent our pasttimes together in childhood. Formed our plans of labor together
in youth. Why should we separate in mature years. I look upon my whole intercourse
with you with some pleasure but with much dissatisfaction in myself. I remember
times when (although perhaps at that time I did not think of it) I hurt your feelings
and wronged you much, if you remember any such instances I beg you to forgive
me. Confession is all the reparation I can make. My life has been a singular series
of mistakes and willful errors. I cannot look upon any part of it but there comes up
the ghost of some of those untimely disasters. I feel the necessity of following this injunction
of the Apostle Paul "to leave those things that are behind and press forward towards
the mark for the prize" of that which is of more worth than the ordinary objects
of pursuit. My profession is one in which I cannot but take the highest interest
if I can once prepare for it and can keep my heart from idolitry. The
study of sacred literature opens afield so wide that the greatest mind can find
ample food for plenary indulgence. The literature of the bible is different to be
sure from the literature of Greece but more interesting. This you will never
believe till you study the hebrew. This language is very easy compoared with
the greek or the latin and it being more current and more simple more
concise and more definite in its etymology such a mind as yours
would love it vastly.