Thursday, March 2, 2017

John Campbell to David Campbell, February 1, 1811

[John Campbell at Richmond to David Campbell at Abingdon, Virginia, February 1, 1811, Box 1, Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. This is my rough transcription. Use of the long 's' modernized; extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]

Dear Brother

The election for a Judge of the general Court to supply the vacancy occasioned by the promotion of Judge Brook to the Court of Appeals has just taken place. Gen Peter Johnson [Johnston] (of Prince Edward) has been appointed.

The votes by the first ballot stood thus. For Johnson [Johnston] 125 for Thos Preston 27 for Smith (the Lieutenant Governor) 27 so that Johnson [Johnston] was duly elected by the first ballot.

I have not time to amuse you with the various circumstances attending this election. I never felt more difficulty on a subject in my life. The above mention'd gentlemen were the only persons that were named who would accept of the appointment.

The characters of Johnson [Johnston]  and Preston you know. Smith is a dunce. Now who would you have chosen? Taking all the circumstances into consideration, I voted for Preston. Allen Taylor could not have been elected. He has made one or two rank federal speeches this Session in consequence of which he has become unpopular.

I acknowledge I choose between evils. I by no means felt satisfied with the choice yet I expect it was as good as I could have made. Johnson [Johnston] was represented to the House by a number of gentlemen as an excellent judge of law as an old revolutionary soldier as a man of fine natural understanding expanded & improved by great literary information.

I will amuse you when I see you. This Session may be justly call'd the celebrated Session of Appointments.

Such maneuvering & intriguing you have no idea of. State in testick's[?] paper that Gen Johnson [Johnston] has been appointed. Say nothing about the other Candidates.

Tell Sister Maria I was last night at a Levee at Geo Hay's where I saw all the great folks of the place that I there received an invitation from a charming girl to spend this evening at her Father's whether I shall repair so soon as I can put on clean clothes.

Excuse me dear brother for my brevity. I shall see you again.

Tomorrow I will write to Sister Maria.

Vale et Salve [take care and greetings]
John Campbell

[John Campbell (1789-1866). Later became Secretary of the Treasury under Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.
David Campbell (1779-1859)
Maria Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859)
Francis Taliaferro Brooke (1763-1851). There is a portrait of him here that may been painted by Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866).
George William Smith (1762-December 26, 1811) died in the Richmond Theatre Fire at the end of the year.
Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831)
Thomas Preston = probably Thomas Lewis Preston (1781-1812), Virginia House of Delegates (Rockbridge County).
Allen Taylor = possibly related to John Taylor (1753-1824).]
     
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 Campbell Family Papers (1731-1969), here's a link to the guide.     

[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]

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