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From: DC0119s, Hugh McLees, 1831-1910 (1860) Letters, 1855-1859. Finding Aid
Davidson College
March 6, 1858
Brother John,
I have just received a letter from you by which I perceive that a letter sent by me to you about the 17th or 18th of December has been lost and thus you are ignorant of several things of which I consider you cognizant as I had written them to you in this letter you institute several inquiries in regard to my affairs I will try to answer them in order you ask when I returned to College? The first of . I have the benefit of Mr. Humphreys scholarship I had the offer of one from Mr. McLure of one also from Col Leland but declined them lest Mr H should think I had something of bad feeling toward him as I have been very reserved toward him for some time. I pay for board $9.00 per month $12.00 will about cover expenses for board washing wood and lights the institution is in thriving condition the students are the most highly
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moral and religious ser of young men that I ever saw this had grown out of the severe treatment of wild young men they have sent away are generally just as soon as the faculty know that they are so. hence none but decidedly moral young men can stay they are more like a band of theological students than ordinary college students. in regard to or Lacy I have no complaints in regard to plagerism the students had a little fuss with him here just before I came about partiality but it is all over with now we have about one hendred students. There are more S.C. than N.C. there is brother of Nancy Anderson (who went ot school at that palce in 1851) here he is very smart young man I hold him as one of my associates and C. Chandler is here young Maslan from the Savanah side of Abbeville is here and many others that you would probably know by name if I should mention them.
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There is a matter that is brewing that few know anything of as yet that is destined to play a wild game about professors I look at it as a more serious matter for the college than even a difficulty with Dr. Lacy this is the probable vacation of their seats by Hill and Leland it is known publicly that Hills stay is uncertain but they are not aware that Leland is likely to leave sooner than Hill as realy seems to be the case Col L received a grabitous offer of a sit in an instution which proposes to pay one third more than he receives here this is at Spartenburgh C.H. S.C. he is gone there now to see what the place is like and if he determines to go in five days from this time his resignation (to take effect in July) will come to the public ear here and will carry surprise to all for no one is dreaming that such a thing is in his head at this time. Hill has had an offer of almost double
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what he receives here to establish a Citadel in Charlotte but they have buildings to erect before he can commence so he will if he even accepts not yet off in tow years the trustees of the college are a acting a strange part to let these men leave their seats if they wish the College to flourish for they will not get such men to take them again soon and one half of the students will leave for my own part I will not say what I will do but it seems like it will be taking away the principal part of Davidson attractions and I do not know what about enduring the severities of Davidson winters after it is thus shown of the lacks of its strength. It is true Prof. Wishburn is a very able and amiable man and I would leave him reluctantly but the will perhaps be associated with weak colleagues and it would be hard to stay for this instruction of only one great man out of six or seven. I will have to take to take more paper to say to you all that I have to say
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after I left you I had a very trying season of mental anxiety as I was attempting to come to a decision about what I would do a remark made by Col Leland during my interview with him at your house had turned over a new leaf in my round of thoughts It was during the season of perplexity that I neglected to write home for three weeks about which you reprimanded mr in your letter of Dec 8th I was then placed in an all important season where I could not take counsel with any friend or relative in whom I had confidence (Humanly speaking) but I trust that I sought and obtained direction from a higher power than man. I must say to you that I am no longer undecided as to what will be my course in life I trust that I have not taken this step rashly without knowing what I did through prone to act from the impulse of the moment without waiting to consider what is right and what is wrong further that I have not taken it unwillingly
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though doubt and weakness oh: that he may eneble me to be for the future as faithful, devoted, and self-longing in his service as I have hitherto been unworthy, slothful, and disobedient to be brief and plain with you I have decied to finish my college course as soom as possible and enter the seminary as a student of Theology. Not withstanding the great responsibility of the undertaking since coming to a decision I have experienced a calm in my own bosom to which I have been an utter stranger for seven years. On my return to Kanshaw I found D.M.<Lure in a state of mind similar to my own he has taken a similar course and has gone to Oglethorp to finish his college term. He will be at the in Oct. Next. I was very sorry to hear of the death
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so many prominent members of your Church I was also poined to hear at the sad state of affairs among the living I hope that you will finally succeed in adjusting those difficulties you ask about my school D.C. I decided in pleasing my employers with one or two expectations, I have their certificate to this effect they paid me up every dollar that they owed me when I finished they offered me the same for another year but I declined the offer I offered to stay till Oct. at the rate of $50.00 per month but they did not get up to my offer I could have placed my money matters on a better footing by this short stay though every hour of time is important to menow I wrote you the whole of this about the 17th Dec but I see you have never received the letter by your ignorance of the contents of that letter.
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I have exhausted my bundle of items mainly I believe I did not tell you I believe thet J.E. Mlure was married to Miss Reeves of Sumpter. Miss Price about whom I spoke to you while at home in the summer died about the first of January of typhoid fever her death gave a severe shock to some of her companions and I must admit to myself and some other young men in the vicinity she had encouraged my calling and passing an hour there ocasionaly and I had done so until I became well acquainted with her. She took fever about the 19th of Dec. and lay for some days in a doubtful situation then grew better and was pronounced better and dismissed by the physician the 24th of the same month. She was able to sit up during Christmas week and evn to walk about the house a little. All had been anxiously awaiting the result of the case and when she was declared our of danger her friends felt relieved and some of them during the ensueing week passed the time in mirth and gayety occasinaly calling to see her as the week went by we had two or three parties and in short passed the week in a very light thoughtless was scarcely had we gone through with our sports when we heard Miss Price had relapsed and in a single day she was gone no-one was prepared for the event but it came. I must stop
Yours H
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From: DC0119s, Hugh McLees, 1831-1910 (1860) Letters, 1855-1859. Finding Aid
Cite as:
McLees, Hugh. Letter to Brother John. 6 March 1868. Hugh McLees, 1831-1910 (1860) Letters, 1855-1859. Available: <https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/archives/digital-collections/hugh-mclees-letter-6-mar-1858/.>
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