Battle Family Papers

But in the pillage of Constantinople and the fatal consequences resulting from that dreadful calamity, we are presented with the destructive effects of the crusades in their most glowing colours. This magnificent and celebrated city, which had, since the decline of the Roman power in the West, been the capital of the Eastern Empire, and for many ages the emporium of the world and the only refuge for the arts and sciences during the reign of barbarity and ignorance in Europe, was taken, plundered and set on fire by the crusaders and [pushed?] at once from that proud station which for centuries she had held, into to the lowest state of debasement and insignificence. Long must genius lament the loss of many immortal works of antiquity that were consumed in the conflagration which laid Constantinople in ruins. The destruction of its capital gave a mortal blow to the power and strength of the Eastern Empire; her wealth dissipated and her provinces disjointed she presented but the mere skeleton of a once powerful and flourishing country The refulgent star of her glory sunk so low in the horizon that the crepuscular light it afforded served only to aggravate the horrors of her miserable and benighted condition. Such were deplorable consequences of those expeditions, which, as friends to religion and humanity as friends to literature and the interest of society we must ever execrate and deplore.

William H Battle E Philips

Spoken 1st Oct. 1819

3.

and to dispose the one to virtue while he is storing the other with knowledge, is another advantage which the student enjoys momentous in itself and enhancing in a great degree to the importance of his collegiate life. To him is offered the blessed opportunity of hearing the holy word of life announced in all it glory, of having all its wonders displayed and all its divine precepts explained and [exposed??]. To him is made the rich offer of salvation, of that precious balm which never fails to heal the aggravated wounds of fallen man. By hearing the superiour charms of virtue over those of vice set forth in the voice of truth from the sacred [?], and by observing the nobler pleasure it gives to those who stray not from the path of rectitude, his heart is engaged on the side of religion and becomes fortifi

[paragraph highly illegible due to crossings out from the other side of the page] The importance of a Collegiate life is again strikingly exhibited in the hopes and expectations of friends and relations. Else why their anguish at the students disgrace? Why their pay pleasure at his success? Why does the father exhibit such uncommon, such peculiar ?? solicitude at his son's departure for College? What means those gentle yet expressive adminitions to his son to flee from the haunts of vice and to seek the abodes of virtue and as he gives the last affectionate farewell whence that anxiety so deeply fixed on his countenance that as if he was scarce able to restrain the [page torn] [illegible]

should the sales of the property prove sufficient, to pay over all balance or ballances thereafter remaining in his hands to the aforesaid Nathaniel Hunt his representative or assigns without delay.

But out of the sale of the crop of the present year the said William Battle is authorised and required to pay to John Overton, his present years wages as overseer for said Nathaniel Hunt, and to suffer and permit the family of the said Nathaniel Hunt to retain the use and possession of all the above sold and conveyed property, untill it shall be sold according to the duties of the said William Battle as trustee [?] - In testimony of all which the aforesaid Nathaniel Hunt and the aforesaid William H Battle have hereunto set their hands and seals this the day and date first above written -

Done in presence of Witness Samuel Johnson Jurat. N. Patterson

Nat Hunt {seal} Will. H. Battle {seal}

State of North Carolina } Franklin County }

Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions September Sessions 1828

I hereby Cerrtify that the execution of the foregoing Deed wintessd was duly proven in Open Court, by the oath of Samuel Johnson & was on Motion ordered to be Registered Test. S. Patterson [??]

the foregoing send in Trust is duly Registered in Book M page 97 17th of Sepmr. 1828

?? Thomas CR

New York Sept. 28th 1829, -

Mr. McCain,

Dear Sir,

Yours of the 19th inst. I have this day recd. and with pleasure I comply with your request in behalf of the Diabetic Society -

This is to certify that I have in my possession a Diploma Plate which I engraved for the Diabetic Society of Chapel Hill College, April 2nd 1822 for which I received Ninety Six 75/100 Dollars in full - Said plate I have kept safely; and shall continue to keep it, subject to the order of said Diabetic Society

Joseph Perkins

118 Duane St. Corner of Broadway a short distance above the Park New York.

of the modern Green language. He spoke our language quite fluently and his address was much admired. After the debate was concluded, several subjects of literary interest were proposed for consideration and enquiry, which upon being moved, drew from the mover some remarks upon their nature and object. Mr. [David?] Sparkes made several short addresses in this way. A short time before the meeting adjourned Dr. Wainwright of Grace Church N. York, prosed an expression by the meeting of the satisfaction and instruction which they had derived from the convention and made some very appropriate and eloquent remarks upon the occasion. A vote of thanks was given to the President of the Convention Dr. Bates President of Middlebury Colledge Vermont, to which he returned a very happy reply and there after prayer by Dr. Morgan? the convention adjourned to meet again next fall. Among the members of whom you have heard something and which were pointed out to me by a gentleman who sat near me, was Noah Webster, author of the Dictionary, Professor Patton?, Dr Woolbredge? author of the geography and Colonel Knapp, author of Knapp's dictionary. I was very sorry that I did not see and hear Mr. Gallatinn who made a speech the evening before my visit. Mr Livingstone, the U.S. Senator from Louisiana had also spoken a day or two before. I did not think any of the speakers whom I heard were as eloquent as Mr. Gaston, but there was much good sense and sound reasoning in their remarks. Dr Wainright, I thought to be most of the orator. I was highly gratified at the visit and could have gladly spent several day in the same way, had an occasion & my business permitted. The night previous to my visit to the convention I went to the Park Theatre to see Miss Clara Fisher. The decorations of the Theatre were very elegant and the performance quite equal to my expectations. Miss Fisher I found to be a great favorite. She was encored every time she sang and had to return and sing each song a second time. She acted a male part in the force to wit, that of the Little Sargeant in the Invincibles and did ample justice to the character. On Sunday I went in the forenoon to the Catholic Church. I saw what the protestants call a great deal of mummery but hear some most delightful music. I had never known until then how much music is calculated to heighten the feeling of devotion. The priest delivered a good and perfectly unexceptionable sermon, but spoilt the whole after he had finished by reading from little scraps of paper, that the souls of persons who had recently died were to be prayed for. In the afternoon, a friend took me over to Brooklin which is a beautiful place, and from which there are fine views of New York, the harbor, shipping, etc etc. On Monday morning 10 o'clock. I left the city, crossed over to Hoboken on the Jersey side, and took the stage for Patterson,

Bachelor's Hall August 9th 1831

Dear sister

I have just finished reading your last letter for the tenth time and as it is [underscore] my [/underscore] motto [insertion] to [/insertion] "return good for evil" I can not for my life consent to punish you by compelling you to undergo the torments of "hope defered" 'Tis, indeed, a cruel revenge you have taken for my "long silence" - one, entirely inconsistent with your usual benevolence - Is it not strange that [underscore] I [/underscore] should be singled out as an object of vingeance by one whose province it has hitherto been to dispense favours and happiness to all who have had the good fortune to come within the range of her benevolence? But in your thirst for revenge you forgot the pleasures of anticipation, and the intense delight of enjoyment after suffering the horrors of suspense. - so you see you have not as much cause for self-graulation as you might suppose - But do not again inflict such [underscore] pleasure & delight [/underscore] upon one who feels but too desolate and friendless already, - let chastisement come from a hand less dear to me. -- Please kiss little Sue for me before we go any farther and then we'll proceed -- I have nothing of my own to kiss except a horse - I must therefore kiss the [underscore] property [/underscore] of other people. Speaking of kissing reminds me of a wedding to which I am invited on Thursday evening next All the world ( a space four inches square) is to be there. I, too, shall go - but the only being on earth whose presence could impart joy even in the solitude of a desert, will not accompany me, In all the vast assembly there will not be one being whose heart shall beat in unison with my own - I shall therefore be [illegible] and desolate when all else is gayety and reverlry - but appearances must be kept up at the expense of inclination - 'tis so in N. C. and we, of Florida, are not wiser than other people. Would you believe it, I have serious notions of joining the dance on the reception!! Dopy dances with great eclat - are not my heels as light as his! or are all the excellences of some

life - now do not think I have little or no faith in your judgement on the contrary I have a great deal of confidence in you but I think it probable there will be so many persons anxious for you and Bro W to move out that they will represent the advantages of that country in the most glowing colours while they will conceal if possible the disadvantages. Cousan Isaac Hall (Hale?) was here this evening seems to dislike the idea of our going he told me to tell you to leave that for a less worthy man - I have not seen an old acquaintance in a long time I was more pleased to see he has altered so little and reminds me so much of "Auld Lang Syne" I was surprised today and somewhat alarmed at the reception of a letter from Mrs Forster she informed me of the death of Cousin Sally Gilbeth it is a great affliction to the family but o, what a blessed exchange for her - she died triumphing in the hope of immortal glory. The old lady tells me they were at home yesterday - she also said that she heard from you when you were about 100 miles from here that you were well and going on well but did not mention how she heard this. This is the only time I have heard of you since you left. Lo - my dear Husband write often you cannot conceive half the anxiety I feel about you this moment. I feel full to the brim. The children are well and have been so since you left with the exception of little Sue who was very sick an hour or two one day. She frequently talks about you - Joel scarcely ever says any thing about you - they are both very bad having been humored a great deal - little Kemp continues very fat and swell - is still very much like a Scotchman. Tis nearly 10 o'clock at night and everyone gone to bed but myself - I will therefore conclude - do I again beg of you to write often. All [?] send their love to you and Bro W - tell him I have not heard from Sister E - - - so I expect he will not enjoy the contents of this letter a great deal. Now my dear Husband farewell with the hope that

am sorry for the family as I believe she is the main [prop?] I understand the old man is very much dejected. I suppose you have not heard of the death of Henry Horn who married Pennina Phillips I believe I have written every thing I can think of that would be in any degree interesting to you & perhaps more but any thing to fill up. I hope before the expiration of one

This week there will be a change in affiars & that I shall see you well & lively - no tongue can tell how much I do wish to see you, I every morning think & feel a degree of pleasure at the thought that one more day has passed of the time you were compelled to be absent. Write as often as you can any thing from you is interesting to your ever aff wife - Lucy M. Battle Rapid is well & Lively

Louisburg NC Dec 2 1833

William. H. Battle Esqr Raleigh N.C.

this extraordinary match, if on the contrary the Gentleman had been 29 & the lady 112 it would have been more reasonable as the Maltese Ladies are generally Grandmothers at the age of 30 & GreatGrandmothers at [43 & 5?]. You may think that I joke but I assure I do not & if you wish to read the best account of Malta ever written buy "Travels in Malta & Sicily by A. Bigelow of Boston there you will find the true character manners & Customs delineated in the most correct and splended Style. his language is pure & chaste & at the same time amusing & instructing. When I receive a letter from you with a few questions on the various points which you [insertion] may [/insertion] wish to know I flatter myself that my letters will be a little more acceptable This is only an outline & I write more from the desire of hearing from you than give you [paper is torn] amusement which you do not deserve for your nonCorrespondence. I have commenced Arabic which I find the most difficult study immaginable. They write from the right tot he left in this manner [arabic writing sample] which means the King done justice, my name they write thus [arabic writing] ---& Cousins [arabic writing]: but as it is very difficult for me to write backwards as yet. I cannot

Mrs Lucy M Battle Louisburg N.Carolina

Favored by [Josh] King Esqr.