[Minor M. Cosby at Milton, Virginia, to John Warfield Johnston, Esq., at [Longwood,] Farmville, Prince Edward, Virginia, May 18, 1808, Box 1, John Warfield Johnston Papers, 1778-1890, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. This is my rough transcription. Extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]
Milton 18th May 1808
Dear John,
I have been very much disappointed in not hearing from you before this time & must confess I began to doubt the sincerity of that friendship which you formerly manifested towards me. You will be very much astonished when I tell you that your letter dated 28th Feb'y came not to hand until last Saturday. It did not get to this place at all. I found it by mere accident in the Charlottesville post office. The reasons you offer for not writing before this time are perfectly satisfactory.
My residence for the present year was for some time extremely uncertain; and one thing you may take for granted is, that if it had not been for the persuasions of Mr. Ogilvie I should not have remained here.
Near the expiration of the last year I begged leave of absence for the purpose of making some preparations for marrying & made the old fellow (J. O.) acquainted with my intention. He set to work and had but little difficulty in convincing me of the importance of staying in Milton for the purpose of taking charge of a small school and also to board his pupils.
The plan at once struck me as being extremely eligible and I had not a moments hesitation in consenting to remain. I accordingly made all the necessary preparations for boarding and laid in a stock of provisions for about 30, supposing that he would certainly succeed in getting that number.
He began business with about 10 pupils and continued about three weeks without much increase. He became extremely restless, left the school in charge of his assistant (a Mr. Snead) and took a trip to Williamsburg. He returned full of a plan which he has since put into execution and of which I make no doubt you have heard.
He dissolved his school the day after his return; but not being satisfied he convened his pupils again before anyone had left town, and as they all thought had positively and finally determined to remain. This was on Saturday.
The Monday following they assembled in the school room, had copied their questions and one of them was called upon to read them. They were read -- but are yet unanswered. The school was finally dissolv'd.
The last accounts from the old gentleman stated that he was in Winchester, and that his success in the novel character of a travelling lecturer was greater than he anticipated. It is said that he intends going from there to Baltimore, Philadelphia and all the principal towns to the north.
I rec'd a letter from him about 5 weeks past, the principal object of which was to prescribe a course of study for me to pursue during the year. I expect to hear from him again very shortly pretty much at length -- will mention to you in my next, everything that I suppose will interest you.
I have a school in this place consisting of 13 pupils. You have no idea of the immense labour necessary to discharge properly the duties of an instructor where he is interested as he ought to be in the improvement of his pupils.
You shall hear from me more at length shortly, and do not fail to write yourself.
Yrs. respectfully
Minor M. Cosby
N.B. I am very glad you discovered the mistake respecting the blanket for I assure you it gave me not a little uneasiness. m.m.c.
[Minor M. Cosby (born 1781, died in Milton, Albemarle, Virginia, February 23, 1810) married Ann I. Moore in Albermarle County on December 15, 1807. "Ann Cosbey" is listed in the 1810 US Census for Virginia as heading a ten-person household in Milton, Virginia, including four slaves. Before he died, Minor M. Cosby also served as postmaster for Milton.
Mr. Ogilvie = Scottish-born, "the old fellow" James Ogilvie (1760-1820) was in his late forties at the time, knew and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson and committed suicide at age sixty.
John Warfield Johnston (1790-1818)]
[One may conclude from this letter that Cosby had taught or tutored Johnston; Ogilvie, too. But where? At Longwood, in Richmond, or at one of their little fly-by-night schools somewhere else? In any case, Johnston would soon be off to Philadelphia to attend medical school at the University of Pennsylvania]
[For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.]
[Many thanks also to William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
Milton 18th May 1808
Dear John,
I have been very much disappointed in not hearing from you before this time & must confess I began to doubt the sincerity of that friendship which you formerly manifested towards me. You will be very much astonished when I tell you that your letter dated 28th Feb'y came not to hand until last Saturday. It did not get to this place at all. I found it by mere accident in the Charlottesville post office. The reasons you offer for not writing before this time are perfectly satisfactory.
My residence for the present year was for some time extremely uncertain; and one thing you may take for granted is, that if it had not been for the persuasions of Mr. Ogilvie I should not have remained here.
Near the expiration of the last year I begged leave of absence for the purpose of making some preparations for marrying & made the old fellow (J. O.) acquainted with my intention. He set to work and had but little difficulty in convincing me of the importance of staying in Milton for the purpose of taking charge of a small school and also to board his pupils.
The plan at once struck me as being extremely eligible and I had not a moments hesitation in consenting to remain. I accordingly made all the necessary preparations for boarding and laid in a stock of provisions for about 30, supposing that he would certainly succeed in getting that number.
He began business with about 10 pupils and continued about three weeks without much increase. He became extremely restless, left the school in charge of his assistant (a Mr. Snead) and took a trip to Williamsburg. He returned full of a plan which he has since put into execution and of which I make no doubt you have heard.
He dissolved his school the day after his return; but not being satisfied he convened his pupils again before anyone had left town, and as they all thought had positively and finally determined to remain. This was on Saturday.
The Monday following they assembled in the school room, had copied their questions and one of them was called upon to read them. They were read -- but are yet unanswered. The school was finally dissolv'd.
The last accounts from the old gentleman stated that he was in Winchester, and that his success in the novel character of a travelling lecturer was greater than he anticipated. It is said that he intends going from there to Baltimore, Philadelphia and all the principal towns to the north.
I rec'd a letter from him about 5 weeks past, the principal object of which was to prescribe a course of study for me to pursue during the year. I expect to hear from him again very shortly pretty much at length -- will mention to you in my next, everything that I suppose will interest you.
I have a school in this place consisting of 13 pupils. You have no idea of the immense labour necessary to discharge properly the duties of an instructor where he is interested as he ought to be in the improvement of his pupils.
You shall hear from me more at length shortly, and do not fail to write yourself.
Yrs. respectfully
Minor M. Cosby
N.B. I am very glad you discovered the mistake respecting the blanket for I assure you it gave me not a little uneasiness. m.m.c.
[Minor M. Cosby (born 1781, died in Milton, Albemarle, Virginia, February 23, 1810) married Ann I. Moore in Albermarle County on December 15, 1807. "Ann Cosbey" is listed in the 1810 US Census for Virginia as heading a ten-person household in Milton, Virginia, including four slaves. Before he died, Minor M. Cosby also served as postmaster for Milton.
Mr. Ogilvie = Scottish-born, "the old fellow" James Ogilvie (1760-1820) was in his late forties at the time, knew and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson and committed suicide at age sixty.
John Warfield Johnston (1790-1818)]
[One may conclude from this letter that Cosby had taught or tutored Johnston; Ogilvie, too. But where? At Longwood, in Richmond, or at one of their little fly-by-night schools somewhere else? In any case, Johnston would soon be off to Philadelphia to attend medical school at the University of Pennsylvania]
[For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.]
[Many thanks also to William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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