Moses A. Curtis Biographical File

[ Mrs. Mary J. Curtis Hillborough, N.C. ]

Lookout Mt. Tenn: July 4th 1857.

Well, dearest, another word with you, - rather with you now than with Jinny, tho she begged me repeatedly to write to her from Chattanooga. I do not care to write to any one else from here. I can write to _her_ when I get home if the humor takes me.

We have ^had a pretty successful affair to-day. A stand & seat were prepared in the woods, from whence we had a magnificent view of country far as one could see. We were marsha[lled?] to the ground in a procession proceded by a band of music. The exercises [?] opened by a lesson from Scripture read by Bp. Green. [No, the singing of Old Hundred preceded this.] The the [Te?] Deum. prayer by Bp. Cobbs. Gloria in Excelsis. [Singing by an extempore chior, Bp. Elliot's wife presiding at a Melodeon which I had noticed at _my_ hotel, & propsed it shd. [?] sent for.]

"Declaration of Independence," by Judge Duncan of Louisiana, followed by some interesting remarks upon the history of a flag and its staff which [waved?] over the stand, & wh. had been carried in the pro = cession by a soldier of the Revolution, supported by a small lad representing Young America. "the Star Spangled Banner," by the Band. [?] Ora= tion by Bp. Otey (one [how?] long) upon liberty, mo= rality & education _ very good. _ "Hail Columbia," by the band.

I have made some acquaintances to-day of course, _ but was particularly pleased at meeting the famous "Irish Patriot" Mitchell [_?] had several conversations [&?][-?] _ Sam Harden & his wife, "Miss Charlotte.", Bp. Green[,?]

&c. &c. _ _ All the Delegation _ at least the [C?]lerical _ to-day [?] presented [? w/?] free tickets to Nashville. On consulting Bro. Gregg, it was concluded that we wd. go to Nashville, instead of Stone Mt., if we get through here in season. If I go there, I will [w?]rite again on the 6th. Otherwise, I shall probably not [w?]rite again. We shall see _ _ In the programme of services to-morrow, I am down for a Sermon. This is all wrong. I think the Bishops should do the preaching. People will expect it of them.

[note: some shorthand symbols are written]

[side note] [???m?] the Moses Ashley Curtis Papers in the Southern Historical Collection, Library [?] [University?] of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. FOR REFERENCE ONLY: PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST [BE?] [REQUESTED?]. WARNING: MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT. [/side note]

Our first meeting was held the afternoon, [???] body organized & adjourned to Monday morning. [Bis?]. Gregg & myself then walked to the north point of Mt., where we had a most exquisite view of the Country below upon the winding Tennessee. It is far finer, of its kind, than I have seen elsewhere in the Aleganies, & was alone worth the journey of 700 miles to see. I wish I could give a daguerreotype likeness of it. Bp. Green & his clerical delegate met us near the point by another road, & I lay down & leaned far over the precipice to pluck some twigs of Sweet Birch for the [???] [i???] Gregg will not go near a precipice, & at supper tonight he took a fit of the shudders when alluding to my temerity. Just as if I was going to tumble over merely for a Birch twig! It is rather cool up here at night, & the guests have gathered around the parlor fire. I have left there to have a chat with you, & then to an early bed. I have some notion of rousing Gregg at 3 o'clock & taking a moonlight view at the point. However, as I have not yet quite made up my lee-way in sleep, I may post-pone it to another night; especially as I have got to preach at Chattanooga tomorrow. The natives [may?] [???] well treated [to? Episcopacy?] tomorrow, as [??] [may?]

be service & Communion on [?]mountain [?] [ditto?] [Dr?] Episcopal [Ch?] [?] Chattanooga _ service & sermon [or?] Methodist & Presbyterian houses also _ twice in all of them.

God bless you all, my loved ones. M.A.C.

Lookout Mt. , Tenn. July 4th,1857

Well,dearest, another word with you, rather with you now than with Jinny tho she begged me repeatedly to write to her from Chattanooga. I do not care to write to anyone else from here. I can write to _her_ when I get home, if the humor takes me.

We have had a pretty successful affair today. A stand & seats were prepared in the woods, from whence we had a magnificent view of country far as one could see. The excersises were opened by a lesson from Scripture read by Bp. Green[no, the singing of Old Hundred preceded this]. Then the Te Deum. Prayer by Bp. Cobbs. Gloria in Excelsis[singing by an extempore choir. . Bp Elliot's wife presiding at a Melodeon which I had noticed at my Hotel and proposed it should be sent for]

Our first meeting was held the afternoon. A body organized & adjourned adjourned to Monday morning. Bro. Gregg & myself then walked to the north point of the Mt., where we had a most exquisite view of the country below upon the winding Tennessee. It is far finer of its kind than I have seen elsewhere in the Alleganies, & was alone worth the journey of 700 miles to see. I wish I could give a daguerrotype likeness of it. Bp. Green & his clerical delegate met us near the point by another road, & I lay down & leaned far over the precipice to pluck some twigs of Sweet Birch. Mr. Gregg will not go near a precipice, & at supper tonight he took a fit of shudders when alluding to my temerity. Just as if I was going to tumble over merely a Birch twig.

It is rather cool up here at night, & the guests gathered around the parlor fire. have left it to have a chat with you & then an early bed. I have some notion of rousing Gregg at 3 o'clock & taking a moonlight view of the point. However, as I have not yet quite made up my lee-way in sleep, I may postpone it to another night, especially as I have yet to preach in Chattanooga tomorrow. The natives will be well treated to Episcopapcy tomorrow, as there will be service & sermon at the Methodist & Presbyterian houses also - twice in all of them. God bless you all, my loved ones. M.A.C.

Summit of Lookout Mt. Tenn,

July 30, 1857

[Dear?] Mary,

[?] are surprised at my locality, [?] must think me desperately [?] in my [?] for enjoying mountain life; but when we reached Chattanooga at 5 [?] oclock this evening, it was found that the dignitaries [of?] other Delegates were already the Mountain and carriages waiting at the [?] to take us up also. So we stepped in immediately and followed our illustrious [?] [diceprs?] [?] Davis however felt too much exhaustion for the [?] and remained at Chattanooga, to come up in the morning. [Bro?]. [Giegg?] [?], left our carriage soon after [commencing?] the ascent, and finished the journey on foot, relieving ourselves [?] and then by stopping to view the [?] as we gained a new elevation - occasionally

plucking a mountain flower, or sending a rock down the mountain side to signify our [?] to the world below. It is [?] cool up here, and it is well I have my thick coat with me. _ I judge from the arrangements made, that the convention is is to have its [?] here. The hotels on the mountain seem larger and better than the one in Chattanooga. [Bishops?] Atkinson and Freeman are not here, but I believe all the others are present. [Dr?] Warren from [Nola?] is here, but I have not met with him, he being at another house. There is no lay delegation from S. Car. I do not favor the location at Chattanooga or on Lookout Mt. The latter is a [?] [?] idea - and Chattanooga is sickly. What the folks will decide [?] is more than I can foretell. I suspect there will be varying opinions. I got through the journey better than I expected, and am now fresher [and?] [highter?] than when I left home. I could very easily travel on in the same way without inconnvenience last night I slept some in the [?]. Reaching At[lanta]

[At]lanta at 3 o'clock this morning and remaining there till [?]. I had still more sleep in a hotel. We had several delegates on the train to-day from Ala. and Georgia, and others are attracted hither by the occasion, so that the houses are crowded. I suppose there will be a short [?], so that I can easily get home on the 11th, as I intended when I left home. [Bis?] [Gregg?] and I are talking about stopping a day on the way home to visit Stone Mt. , if we adjourn Convention in time to admit of it. It is past 11 o' clock and I reckon I will bid you good night, a king [?] upon thee, dearest, and all the dear ones at home. - Ever Thine - [signed] A.