Letter to Peter Parley,AND HIS ANSWER.Belleville, Gloucester county, Va.,March 26th, 1844.Dear Mr. Parley:I am very much interested in your little book on the sun, moon, and stars; I understand it very well. The last lesson I read was about the centrifugal and centripetal forces. I have read a good many of your books of Asia, Africa, Europe, the Christmas Gift, and your magazine.I should like to have accompanied you in your journeys on the terrestrial and celestial globes; were you not afraid of being melted in Mercury and freezing in Uranus? I think I should have been.I have lately been reading the history of Virginia, which is the state in which I live. I think it very interesting. It tells when the state was first settled, and it gave me a great deal of information about the colonies. I did not know of Nathaniel Bacon, or the rebellion which he caused, before I read the book, although he lived and died within a few miles of our house. His remains were buried in Petsworth church. Nor did I know, before I read the history, that Charles 2d’s coronation robe was woven in Gloucester county.You may be sure I was very glad to have a knowledge of such facts. The Virginians were very loyal subjects, and would have continued so, had it not been for the manner in which they were treated by the king and his parliament.Are you a whig or a democrat? Mr. Parley, do you think we shall ever have as good a president as Washington? I fear not, but hope we may. Mr. Parley, where did you acquire so much information as you have given your little readers? My brother, who went to Cambridge College, says he has often passed your house; if I had been in his place, I would have stepped in and made your acquaintance. I am for Mr. Clay.I wish you would write a book on mythology. I would like to know something more than I do of the heathen gods. I have read a good deal of them, but not by you. Your method being so good to convey information, furnishes a reason why I should like to read a book on this subject by you. I have seen your geography, and think it very good for youth; it gives such a good description of the earth.Your little reader,Edwin T*******.PETER PARLEY’S ANSWER.My dear young Friend:Your kind letter, written in March last, was received by me some weeks since; but I have not been able to answer it till now. You speak very pleasantly of my little books, and tell me that they have given you a great deal of instruction. I am glad to hear this, and I shall be still more pleased to learn, that as they have added to your stock of knowledge, and increased your enjoyment, they have also shown you, that our goodness ought to increase with our learning. I shall at least indulge the belief that it will prove so in your case, and that you will thus, in after life—show yourself worthy of the name you bear.You speak with great interest of Virginia—and this is right—for it is your birth-place. It is natural to love our native land, and this love, which is called patriotism, is a virtuous and praiseworthy sentiment. How many beautiful and glorious actions have sprung from it!What a noble spectacle does the life of Washington present, who lived for his country! A true patriot is indeed a great man, and commands the admiration of the world. You may be proud of a state that produced Washington, but though I am a Yankee, he was my countryman, and I am proud of him too.You ask if I am a whig, or a democrat. If Washington was a whig, so am I. I do not know that, in all respects, we shall ever again have so faultless a character to preside over our nation; but I hope to see the next president, whoever he may be, willing to walk in his footsteps—willing to imbibe his spirit—willing to set an example of patriotism to the whole country and the whole world. If Henry Clay is this kind of man—and I am told he is—I shall rejoice to see him president. They say he has a noble, generous, patriotic heart—and an excellent head too. This union makes a great man. Without it no man can be truly great.I have hardly space to talk of politics, for you know it is a mighty long-winded subject. The best way is for you to call and see me, when you visit Boston. I live in a brown house, four miles from the city, and am ever glad to see my young friends. I always have a plate ready, somewhat in Virginia fashion, for my juvenile visitors. If my table is not so bountifully spread as yours, I will try to imitate that warm-hearted hospitality for which Old Virginia is famous. When you come, I will tell you whether I am a whig or a democrat—and one thing you will find out—and that is, that I like aclever fellow, whatever his politics may be. We will also, when you visit me, talk over the affairs of Mercury and mythology. If I do not tell you where I got all my knowledge, I will try to satisfy you that a moderate stock of learning, well employed, may do a great deal of good in the world.I am your sincere friend,Peter Parley.
AND HIS ANSWER.
Belleville, Gloucester county, Va.,March 26th, 1844.
Dear Mr. Parley:
I am very much interested in your little book on the sun, moon, and stars; I understand it very well. The last lesson I read was about the centrifugal and centripetal forces. I have read a good many of your books of Asia, Africa, Europe, the Christmas Gift, and your magazine.
I should like to have accompanied you in your journeys on the terrestrial and celestial globes; were you not afraid of being melted in Mercury and freezing in Uranus? I think I should have been.
I have lately been reading the history of Virginia, which is the state in which I live. I think it very interesting. It tells when the state was first settled, and it gave me a great deal of information about the colonies. I did not know of Nathaniel Bacon, or the rebellion which he caused, before I read the book, although he lived and died within a few miles of our house. His remains were buried in Petsworth church. Nor did I know, before I read the history, that Charles 2d’s coronation robe was woven in Gloucester county.
You may be sure I was very glad to have a knowledge of such facts. The Virginians were very loyal subjects, and would have continued so, had it not been for the manner in which they were treated by the king and his parliament.
Are you a whig or a democrat? Mr. Parley, do you think we shall ever have as good a president as Washington? I fear not, but hope we may. Mr. Parley, where did you acquire so much information as you have given your little readers? My brother, who went to Cambridge College, says he has often passed your house; if I had been in his place, I would have stepped in and made your acquaintance. I am for Mr. Clay.
I wish you would write a book on mythology. I would like to know something more than I do of the heathen gods. I have read a good deal of them, but not by you. Your method being so good to convey information, furnishes a reason why I should like to read a book on this subject by you. I have seen your geography, and think it very good for youth; it gives such a good description of the earth.
Your little reader,
Edwin T*******.
PETER PARLEY’S ANSWER.
My dear young Friend:
Your kind letter, written in March last, was received by me some weeks since; but I have not been able to answer it till now. You speak very pleasantly of my little books, and tell me that they have given you a great deal of instruction. I am glad to hear this, and I shall be still more pleased to learn, that as they have added to your stock of knowledge, and increased your enjoyment, they have also shown you, that our goodness ought to increase with our learning. I shall at least indulge the belief that it will prove so in your case, and that you will thus, in after life—show yourself worthy of the name you bear.
You speak with great interest of Virginia—and this is right—for it is your birth-place. It is natural to love our native land, and this love, which is called patriotism, is a virtuous and praiseworthy sentiment. How many beautiful and glorious actions have sprung from it!What a noble spectacle does the life of Washington present, who lived for his country! A true patriot is indeed a great man, and commands the admiration of the world. You may be proud of a state that produced Washington, but though I am a Yankee, he was my countryman, and I am proud of him too.
You ask if I am a whig, or a democrat. If Washington was a whig, so am I. I do not know that, in all respects, we shall ever again have so faultless a character to preside over our nation; but I hope to see the next president, whoever he may be, willing to walk in his footsteps—willing to imbibe his spirit—willing to set an example of patriotism to the whole country and the whole world. If Henry Clay is this kind of man—and I am told he is—I shall rejoice to see him president. They say he has a noble, generous, patriotic heart—and an excellent head too. This union makes a great man. Without it no man can be truly great.
I have hardly space to talk of politics, for you know it is a mighty long-winded subject. The best way is for you to call and see me, when you visit Boston. I live in a brown house, four miles from the city, and am ever glad to see my young friends. I always have a plate ready, somewhat in Virginia fashion, for my juvenile visitors. If my table is not so bountifully spread as yours, I will try to imitate that warm-hearted hospitality for which Old Virginia is famous. When you come, I will tell you whether I am a whig or a democrat—and one thing you will find out—and that is, that I like aclever fellow, whatever his politics may be. We will also, when you visit me, talk over the affairs of Mercury and mythology. If I do not tell you where I got all my knowledge, I will try to satisfy you that a moderate stock of learning, well employed, may do a great deal of good in the world.
I am your sincere friend,
Peter Parley.