| Title: | Comly, John to Forsythe, John Jr, 1801 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4901 |
| Collection | John Forsythe Letters |
| File | forsythe/12 |
| Year | 1801 |
| Sender | Comly, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | schoolmaster |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Byberry, near Philadelphia, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Westtown, Co. Chester, Penn., USA |
| Recipient | Forsythe, John Jr |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 897 |
| Genre | taking his position at the school |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Respected frd Having an opportunity of sending thee a few lines I may thereby inform thee of my situation in regard to coming to Westown to supply thy place. On my return from the Institution in the 11th month I called on Alexr. Wilson (agreeably to a previous request of his) and among other things, inform'd him of thy prospect of leaving the School—I had open'd my concern of offering myself as a teacher there, to him, sometime before: and from the conversation which thou and I had, and which pass'd between him and me, I expected to hear, or receive a visit from a part of the Committee soon after their return from Westown in the beginning of the 12th month-But hearing nothing from them for some weeks after; and Friends of our meeting having lately been raising a considerable Fund, in order to establish a free School, to commence the first of the 2d month next, wished to know whether I would engage to teach it for a year. Thus circumstanced, it appear'd necessary for me to know, whether the Committee placed any dependance on my going to Westown or whether I was at liberty to engage with the Trustees here at Byberry; accordingly I went to Philada the week before last, and had a conference with a subcommittee, who had been nominated by the acting Committee to come lo Byberry to visit me in my School: but had been prevented thro' the difficulty of travelling, indisposition of one of them, and other circumstances—I received no answer from them, whether my offer was accepted or not — They were to report their sense to the acting Committee next day. And inform'd me there was a probability of their coming to visit, me in a few days. I heard nothing further from them till last fifth day, when I received a few lines from Alexr Wilson, that they expected to be up at Byberry sometime in the week, which is now past, and they have not been— The Trustees of our Fund have been impatient for an answer from me; of which I informed the sub-committee by a friend a few days ago, who brought me word from a member of that committee that my concern had so far claim'd their attention as to expect it would shortly be accepted and approved—This morning I was informed by a Friend (who was in town yesterday & saw Alexr Wilson) that the Committee expect me to come to Philadelphia again as they have been prevented from coming up to visit me— I feel no anxiety about the event, whether my proposal be accepted or rejected by them—But I desire that the mind of Truth may be diligently sought after and attended to by them and me, therein: and that, if it be my lot to take thy place in the Institution, it may be with Divine approbation and the unity of Friends and especially of the Committee and the Teachers now engag'd in the School—I hope that thou and the others have well weighed the matter, as I requested—if so, it would be acceptable to me to receive a few lines expressive of your result thereon— If you have found nothing to operate against my coming. I should like to be inform'd how long it will be convenient for thee to continue there— as I am under a necessity of staying here three months after the agreement with the Committee (if that should take place) and I have reason to believe it will be with considerable reluctance, that Friends here will part with me, unless they should find another to supply my place— My mind is often with you, with desires for the prosperity of the Institution: hut many discouragements arise in respect to my coming to bear a part of the burden—The leaving of a fathers house, near connections: and friends, an increasing line of business and other circumstances conspire to increase the trial—The greatness of the undertaking, the arduousness of the task, the importance of the station of a Teacher in the Institution, and my incompetent abilities and qualifications therefor, tend to increase my discouragements; so that if it were not for an apprehension of Divine requiring, I think, no other consideration would be sufficient to induce me to come—These and other discouraging prospects at times so attend my mind that I am almost ready to wish I had not open'd my concern -But at other times a secret hope arises, that however poor and unworthy I may be, yet if the concern is right and of Divine original way will be made, difficulties remov'd, and as I am attentive to the means, qualifications and abilities will lie granted, adequate to service appointed me—I crave the care and fellow-feeling of my friends and particularly the Teachers in the Institution; and I desire that if I have been too forward in offering myself for the important service, or if they should not concur therewith, I might be inform’d thereof— I hope thou wilt excuse this freedom— To thee I shall look for instruction and direction in many things (if I come) and hope thou wilt use freedom in informing me and exercise a fatherly care over me— I remain thy frd John Comly. Byberry 1st mo 11th 1801 |
