LETTER OF
The GOSPEL TRUTH CHARLES G. FINNEY
1834
To Lydia Finney
10 November 1834
[Autograph signed letter in the Finney Papers # 1147]
Addressed: Mrs. C. G. Finney
Western Oneida co
N. York
Postmark: NEW YORK NOV 10
Letter:
New York 10th Nov. 1834.
Dear Wife your letter of the 6th Inst is just recd
I hasten to say 1. Our Sexton packed the things I cant
say where they all are. 2. Mrs Green had taken the precaution
to take the spoons out of the Bureau & I put them in
my leather trunk. 3. The covered rocking chair is in
my study. 4. Br. Norton had paid Mr. Green for that
table some time since. 5. I will see if Br. Green wishes to
exchange carpets. 6. Dont neglect Nortons ear I fear he
will become deaf. I presume he takes cold in his ear
standing in the current when the window is raised.
If you are not aware they will all loose their eyes
or ears or lives in that way. 7. I have about abandoned
the idea of going west this winter. 8. Emily Seely is about
commencing to write some sermons for me. If she succeed
well Br. Green thinks I had better take her into the country
to write for me, as it is probable that I should not recover
by sitting & day after day keeping my mind heated with
writing. I could dictate to her an hour in the morning
& have mind off the subject the rest of the day. I intimated
to Julia Mc.Neal the thought suggested by you. Mrs Norton
was present & answered that she had proposed the same
thing to her & she declined. From Julia's manner I got
the impression that she would not like to go. Miss Bishop
is very earnest to go & said more than once that we must
reserve a corner for her. Emily is at a loss what to do.
She thinks she shant keep school. The house is to be sold
& the family must break up. Emily I guess from what she
says would be glad to go & I have thought her vocal
powers would be of some importance to you. Her singing
is very much improved. Both Miss B. & Julia talk a little
to[o] fast for us. I dont suppose Emily would be at first much
help to you about your work. She is however preparing her
mind to take hold of work somewhere. Her heart is torn at
the thought of breaking up & going different ways as they have
always been together. Before this you will have recd my
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letter on the subject of boarding instead of buying a farm.
If Br. Dunn is unwilling to obligate himself to take the farm back
in case I should want to leave I do not think upon the whole
that I had better purchase for these reasons. 1. I might not
want to rest from preaching more than 2 years. 2 In case I
should want to labor in the far west or south I should
want my family with me. I cant think of locating you
& roving far & near myself unless it becomes indispensable.
3. If I attempt to write it will be too much care for me.
4. Father & mother dont like to go there. 5. Should I be
taken away you would not want it. 6. Should you be
taken I could not stay there without you. 7. A house & barn
& garden is all I can well see to & write. 8. On many accounts
I should prefer boarding as that would give your whole time
to your children. 9. If after a fair experiment it was ascertained
that I shall not so recover as to be able to preach in that
case I might then make a permanent arrangement & purchase.
If you approve of it as I said before & Br. & Sister Dunn are
amind to take us at such a lay that I can pay them
without embarrassment I should prefer boarding there
to any where I know of. Which do you prefer keeping house or
boarding? To move our furniture will be expensive.
I am still undecided what to do about staying here this winter.
I preached twice yesterday & feel pretty well to day. Some
interest is waking up & several yesterday professed submission
to God. The church beg me to stay if I can only sit in
the pulpit & not preach at all. Some of the most judicious
of them think the church would scatter in every direction
as soon as it was known that I was going on account of
the abolition movements. Sometimes I feel so well that I think
I will stay then again when I get fatigued I think I
will not preach again but will leave immediately.
I hope to be able to determine soon. If I conclude to
stay I shall come after you, or send. If I dont stay I
hope to be with you soon. Did your things come
safe to hand? What else shall I bring if I come to spend
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the winter with you, & dont conclude to buy that farm?
I am sitting for my portrait again on condition that
Br. Green shall give it to my family in case I should
be taken away. I wish you were here to have yours taken.
If we board & Emily Seely comes with us can you &
she get along with the work? Can they make room
for her at Br. Dunn's. If we keep house what do you
say to going to Stephentown Br. Beach's house is empty?
It is near Judge Platts. No religious privileges there.
I suppose we might get a house in Rome but I
hate a village & besides it is unhealthy there.
Br. Dunn will I suppose at all events keep us this
winter if I come back there. Let me know immediately
what you think as if I come there I want to make arrange
ments accordingly. I dont know what to do with our
furniture it is scattered here & there? Shall I sell it or no?
I should think Br. Ingersolls folks must have been
nearly deranged by the manner in which they left things.
Br. Green has not been after Foote & I dont know
as he will go. Br. Spencer is to be here this week.
Perhaps I shall stay & get him to help.
If I leave the city my mind is to be dismissed
from the church. Should I get well I can come
& labor here as well as if I was pastor & while
I am pastor the church will never be satisfied
with any one else. I must throw them off from all
dependence on me. as I fear they are trusting
in an arm of flesh. Where is Charles' knife?
My ruler I found in the stand drawer.
Br. Greens number is altered to no.17 instead of 7.
I want to see you unspeakably. Give the babes many
sweet kisses for Pa. Tell them I try to pray for them.
Weather remarkably pleasant here. Our congregations
large as ever. Bible casses filling up again.
All send love. Your husband. C. G. Finney.
Love to that Dr. family & to all friends.