Volume 1

Life and letters of Peter and Susan Lesley / edited by their daughter, Mary Lesley Ames.

Date:
[1909], ©1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Life and letters of Peter and Susan Lesley / edited by their daughter, Mary Lesley Ames. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ing here if I desire to settle in a New England parish near it, I have another motive for staying through the winter or the early half of it. Mr. Rogers desires to go to Europe in the spring, and to carry with him not only the maps, etc., of our survey, which he cannot publish here, but some work of his own which he can; he and his brother have half written a manual which embodies their views, describes the general geology of the U.S. and will in- sure their taking rank with De Beaumont, Murchison and others at the head of science there. My friendship for him would decide me upon staying to give him certain necessary aid, provided that in so doing I violate no higher duty. If I settle in Milton, or if I am invited to preach anywhere in the vicinity for the time, I can give him what assistance he requires and which no other can. —It would be much more agreeable to me to drop the whole matter and make my home with you for a while, until some place offered itself for a permanent settlement. If you were wealthy I should desire you to support me part of the year as a Colporteur, and allow me to study and write in my own family circle the rest of the year. But as I am to obtain by the labor of my hands the bread that I put into my mouth, as Paul did, I consider myself blessed in the opening of a certain path of science to me for that end. I only wish it would yield me more money, that I might help some of my friends. . . . You see, dear Father, that unless I were to determine to return to the mountains of Pennsylvania in connection with the Tract Society (and with my relations personal with them, probably from my own fault, I am rather disgusted) or as pastor of Williams- port Church, where there is really no need of me, for the two churches ought to be under one minister,—or unless I were to accept Trumbull’s proposition to take his place at Valparaiso or go to California (and while you live I shall never do any such thing, and probably never at all)—there is no earthly reason for my leaving a certain occupation of my hands, heart and head, here in Boston, while it lasts. Whither shall I go? My heart draws me to your roof. But you would be justly astonished and offended, if I returned to you and remained, as you would think, whatever employed me, idly at home. There is no pulpit open to me in Philadelphia or near it that I know of. If further off—then I might as well be here. I cannot see, therefore, that any better course offers, since I am here neither idle nor in danger, than for me to continue to do what I find to do, as long as occu- pation of the right sort lasts. I have a heart for social affections: I have talents for public