From Memoir of S.S. Prentiss, vol. 1, p. 59
Louisville, Ky, 4 October 1837 (to My Dear Mother)
"I wrote to William but little more than a week since, and I had
then no more idea of leaving Ohio, than I had, ten years ago, of
leaving Maine. Indeed, it is only three days since I thought of
it. I had, when I wrote last, several places in view in the city
of Cincinnati, but have been disappointed in some of them, and
others did not please me. I was, notwithstanding, on the point
of taking a school, the wages of which would but little more
than have paid my expenses. I thought, however, I would first
ask the advice of those gentlemen with whom I had become
acquainted; and they all, without exception, advised me — if I
wished to spend a year or two, both pleasantly and profitably —
to go down the Mississippi to Natchez, where I should, undoubtedly,
obtain a situation as tutor in a private family. In Ohio it
is much the same with regard to schools as in New England;
but it is quite different in Mississippi, and the other Southern
States. There they have no system of common schools; and the
rich planters, living at a distance from each other, are obliged
to have, each of them, a teacher in his own family. Mr. Storer
introduced me to a couple of gentlemen who reside in Natchez,
and who are now returning with their families from a visit to
the North. I am in company with them, and they tell me there
is no doubt I can obtain immediately such a situation as I have
described. I have, also, an abundance of letters of introduction
to persons in Natchez."
pp. 70-71
"I do not like the manner of living here, so well as I do our
Northern fashion. The white people themselves differ very
little, as I can perceive, from those of our own part of the
country. Slavery is the great pest of this as well as all the
other Southern States. It is considered disgraceful for a white
man to do any kind of hand labor — and everything is done by
the slaves. Of course, things are done in a very poor and
slovenly manner; and, though the people here are far wealthier
than they are in the North, yet I do not think they live so
comfortably or so happily. The negroes themselves, however,
appear to enjoy life, and are, for aught I see, as happy as their
masters. It is not often that they are treated so cruelly as we
are accustomed to suppose, and in general they are better off
than they would be if they were free — still it is a hard case for
them at best."
p 72
"I consider the profession of law in New England
(where I think I shall settle myself eventually, after all), as one
of the very poorest, in point of emolument. In this State,
however, the lawyers "live in clover," as we say; the most ordinary
make two or three thousand dollars a year, and some of them
five, six, and seven. Perhaps you will ask me why I intend
leaving a place where money is so easily made? I am not sure
that I shall; but the reasons which induce me to think about it
are these — one of the first and most powerful, as you may well
suppose, is that I may be nearer my friends; another is, that I
would dislike to live in a slave-holding State; furthermore, I
have seen no part of the Union which I think pleasanter, all
things considered, than that which I left. The only advantages
which these Southern States possess over those of the North,
are the greater facilities they afford for the accumulation of
wealth, and this, you know, I consider a very small item in the
account of human happiness. At least, I know it would have
small influence upon my own."
pp. 72-73
"The houses of the planters, notwithstanding their wealth, are
not better than those of our common farmers. They are, usually
two or three miles distant from each, other, and each one
surrounded by some ten, twenty or thirty negro cabins, which are
the very pictures of misery and filth."
pp 92-93
18 November 1838 (to My Dear Mother)
"My school is going on well, but I am perfectly disgusted with
the business of teaching ; it does not suit either my temper or
disposition. Nothing would tempt me to make a profession of
it. I shall, next fall, either return to Maine, or settle here as a
lawyer. I have been somewhat doubtful on this subject: should I
settle in this State, I have no doubt I could make a fortune with
the greatest ease, and my friends here urge me very strongly to do
it. But you know I never considered wealth as the most
important ingredient of happiness; perhaps I look upon it with too little
regard. In every other respect I should far prefer the North to
the South. The society is better, the country is more beautiful
and, besides, you have, in the North, no slaves — a strong
objection to the South. But yourself and the rest of my relatives
and friends, afford a still more powerful inducement for me to
return. All these considerations have determined me upon
setting my face towards home next autumn."
pp 93-94
"
In my last letters, you will recollect, I had come to the
determination to return, next autumn, to New England. Upon
more mature consideration, however, I am convinced that I
should act very much against my interest; and, though I had
fondly cherished the idea that, in the course of a year, I should
revisit the spot which will always be to me dearer than any
other, yet I think you will agree with me that it is my duty to
remain here. Since I wrote last, I have been making more
particular inquiries than I had before done, with respect to my
prospects, should I continue here a few years; and I find them
far superior to anything the North can hold out. By studying
this winter, I can be admitted to practice next July — whereas,
in Maine, I should be obliged to study more than a year. I
have, accordingly, given up my school, and am in a law office in
the city. The gentleman with whom I am studying, is a Mr.
Walker — the first lawyer in the place; he has promised me
every assistance in getting a start."
p. 100
"With respect to your idea of emigrating to this country, I
hardly know what to say. There are few sorts of business
which a young man can go into, unless he has capital. He will
have to obtain a clerkship, or a situation as a schoolmaster. It
is extremely difficult to obtain the more lucrative clerkships, on
account of the great number of young men who yearly come
down the river, from the Western country, in search of business. I
would have you to consider carefully before you take so important
a step, whether you cannot make a good living, and enjoy as
much happiness in Maine as anywhere else. I confess, too, I
should be sorry on mother's account, as well as the children's,
that you should leave home. Still, if you are bent on
emigrating, I would not discourage you, and I do not doubt you will
succeed in the end. However, if I was myself in Maine, with
my present experience, I would not leave it."
p. 100
24 June 1829
"I have seen no people here whom I ever saw before, with the
exception of my classmate, Boyd. But I frequently meet with
Yankees who are much more numerous here than I had supposed:
quite often, too, I see individuals from Maine. A large
portion of the men are emigrants; they are very enterprising —
but associate little with each other, except in the way of
business. Self is here the sole object — each one being entirely
absorbed in his own views, and caring little or nothing for his
neighbor. As to the women here — their general character is,
that of being extremely reserved and distant in their manners,
especially to strangers. But I am ashamed to say that I know
very little about them. You inquire about churches — there are
in this town, a Presbyterian, an Episcopal, a Roman Catholic, a
Baptist, and Methodist church. They are pretty well attended,
and the sabbath is kept here very near as strictly as in Portland.
I attend sometimes the Presbyterian, and sometimes the Episcopal,
service."
posted by Lloyd at 8:03 AM 