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Davidson College Jan 29 1839
I am now able to say that I think my health is considerably improved since I wrote you last and I am also in a much better state of mind but I am not entirely clear at all times yet of gloomy feelings. Since I have been here I have been enabled to attend tolerably well to my studies, the plan which I have pursued has been to be regular in exercise & use light diet, and then study until I found myself becoming weary and stupid & then lay down my books and walk out until I got a little recruited & then go back to my books again. In this way I have been able to stand study much better than I expected, but loosing one half of the session and when I came here not being able to study very hard. I have got considerably behind, but I have great ground for thankfulness that things are no worse, however painful may be the afflictions of the body it is not to be compared with the distraction of mind, when the body is diseased if the mind is calm & tranquil and we can look up with resignation to him from whom all our mercies come, and who also sends all our trials, and cast all our cares upon that Saviour who died to save a lost world, & [ ] us when we
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were his enemies, and that our trials however severe are designed for our good, we can bear then with something like christian fortitude.
How strikingly true are he words of the Psalmist, when he says “The spirit of a man sustaineth his infirmity but a wounded spirit who can bear?
How uneviable (for the time) is the condition of that christian who cannot enjoy the things of religion, and will not return to the mean and beggerly elements of this world, for comfort, for he knows it cannot give that comfort which he seeks, but would rather spend his last breath in life and his loving kindness which are better than life, althoug [sic]this blessing may seem for a time to be denied.
I have no doubt that we are often tought by sever trials what we could not learn in any other way, and I hope I have learned what will do me good as long as I live. I think I can say with the Psalmist that it was good for me to be afflicted.
I hope I shall by the grace of god enabling me live in such a manner as never again to need such severe correction from my kind Parent.
The examination comes on, on the two last days of this month times are very throug [sic] now, but I hope after that is past I will get a little relaxation, which I need. If I am not mistaken I wrote you that President was in bad health. I do not think he is
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any better he has not preach [sic] any of the consequence since last April or May. His inaugural address (which I sent you) was was [sic] I believe the last publick address he has delivered. I believe he has not preach [sic] a sermon during the whole session, but has attended to his classes generly.
There has been no social interest manifested here in the things of religion this session. We had a communion here in November there was only one joined the church, I felt mush gratified when he came to join the church. When he came here at commencement of the first session he was one of the boldest opposers of religion that was here, he did what he could not only to keep from thinking seriously himself but tried to keep others from it also. He had been coming in by degrees for some time, and I hope has eventually yielded up his heart to the service of God. He had for some time before [torn] he joined the church broke off from….[illegible]…so ciates, and hope may continue in welldo…[illegiblle]
Father’s people are only in moderate health and he is declining very fast in a general way he has pretty good health. Mother has her pretty well [sic] & is not very much afflicted with pains, but she is considerably failed since you saw her.
Louisa is still in bad health some times about and others lying.[?] I have some doubts whether she will ever be well. Sarah Janes’s health is not very good.
Lot’s family are in tolerable health. Polly had another son on the 8th of this month I believe it was. She has got about again.
Hugh is still at Beaties Ford, he and Burton have dissolved Copartnership, and Hugh & a man by the name of Danel[?] are going to set up this spring. Hugh expects to start on the north soon to purchase goods.
Give my love to Sarah Ann and also to the children. Maria L., James F. Charles M and William H.H. H.
Write again when you can make it convenient.
Yours respectfully
T.H. Hamilton
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Original
From: DC0116s Hamilton, Thomas H., 1809-1874 (1840) Letters, 1835-1839. (Finding Aid)
Cite as:
Hamilton, Thomas H., Letter to Brother. 29 January 1839. DC0116s, Hamilton, Thomas H., 1809-1874 (1840) Letters, 1835-1839. Available: https://davidsonarchivesandspecialcollections.org/archives/digital-collections/thomas-h-hamilton-letter-29-jan-1839/.
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