-A good Carriage maker would git rich in Natchez there being none there apropos-I have been long Expecting my Carriage A good French dancing Master would find great Encouragement-And so would a Lady proficient in teaching Young Ladies Needle work -&c. &c. The People here lament the want of Teachers for their Children more than any thing. I shall inclose you a list of some of the Little Nabobs of this Country where I Visit that you may the better understand me hereafter when I speak of them. Thomas Rodney. Thomas Rodney to Cæsar A. Rodney. Washington Misisipi Territory June 28th 1804. My dear Son By a dispatch received by the Mail today from M'. Gallatin I rece'd a Letter enclosed and an appointment of Mr Shields as Agent for the United States at the Board agt Fraudulent Claims &c for which he is to obtain a Compensation of 1500 dol3. to be paid quarterly -If C. R. Wilson was now here he might take Shields place as Assistant Clk.-but whether he is on his way or not I cannot tell not having heard of or from him since I wrote to him two months ago. Yet I hope he has obtained something better as this at best would be only an Introduction, to Something better which he might expect if I could stay here any time perhaps-It seems generally supposed here now that Mr Munro will be appointed Governor of Orleans and that Claiborne will return here in October-This seems to be founded on Information of Senator Cocke of Tennessee who was lately here who says that when Congress was about fixing the Salary of Governor he waited on the President to mention that Subject who replied to him "that they ought to make a generous allowance for that it would require a Munro to be sent there" hence it is Concluded that Munro will be appointed-Lawyer Brown however who has lately come from Kentucky and now resides in this Town and who had his information from his brother Senator Brown and Senator Brackenridge says the Presidents Mind was not known on that Subject-Yet I am apt to think Munro's Situation is not very pleasant in England and that he would prefer the Government of Orleans to being there nor is it unlikely that the President will make him the offer In this case there will be a person wanted to Supply his place in which case I think it not unlikely that Mr Nicholson or yourself may be applied to-but as I am not in the Cabinet my Conjectures may be wide of the Intentions Yet I believe there are few if any that would more generally obtain the public approbation, as you both stand on the firmest ground of Patriotism without the practice of those invidious and Vindictive Sentiments which Create Adversaries without gaining friends. But Enough of this I leave the President to do what on Mature Consideration he may Judge the best-I have several times given him Miscelaneous information respects the western Country but presume not to advise in Cabinet measures, unless Invited to it tho' I know that my Counsel in the worst of times was frequently preferred to that of all others, but the present time presents no great Difficulties we have not received a line yet from Robert Williams since he left Orleans-Mr Briggs has wrote to several of the Surveyors but says not a word of Williams-Briggs says he was to wait on the President & Gallatin the 28th Ult. but says not a word of returning-I wish that John Fisher Could be appointed one of the Judges for Orleans district The Salary would maintain him hansomely and that is a Country where he might advance his fortune as there will be great Opertunities of doing so Honestly-As to the health of the place it is much Misrepresented to the Eastward-From the best information I am inclined to think it healthier than this place -and I never saw the air more uniformly clear & pure any where than it has been here since my arrival The three Hotest days we have had was last week to wit 21'. 8710. 22 89° 234. 90° Two of them I had the Interm fever but have perfectly recovered and now think I have had my Seasoning-Indeed at worst it is as healthy as Kent-Let your Mind remain Serene and Firm and the Tempests of the world will roll away without Injury-Give my love to Susan and the Children and my respects to all Enquiring friends. Your affectionate Father Thomas Rodney (Written across the sides of the sheets) The Major and Myself Each have a room in the Government House where we lodge it is the best & Pleasantest Situation in Town-& my room is large and Pleasant we have other rooms for business & are Surrounded every day with the Young men Employed in the several offices and Claimants so that we are seldom alone we have also many Visitors The Diplomatic Corps seems all to have been ranged at Paris, against Mr Drake the Brittish Minister at the Court of Bavaria. (To be continued.) SOME ACCOUNT OF THE FUNDS OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA; WITH EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORTS OF THE TREASURER AND LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1918. In accordance with the direction of the Council, the following statements have been prepared: Prior to the creation in 1877 of the "General Endowment Fund," all legacies, donations to the Society for the purpose of investment but for no specific object, and life membership payments, were carried by the Treasurer to a separate account called the General Fund. The interest from the investments is applied generally for the uses of the Society. Money received from members in payment of annual dues is credited to the General Fund. This amounted in 1918 to $7,620.00. This Fund amounted December 31, 1918, to Legacy of Eliza Gilpin $8,760 00 $5,100 00 This, the first of the Special Funds, was established in February of 1854. A subscription of twenty-five dollars to the Fund will entitle the subscriber during his or her lifetime to receive one copy of each book or other matter published by the Fund, subsequent to the date of subscription. The same privilege is extended to libraries for a period of twenty years. This Fund has published fourteen volumes of "Memoirs" and forty-three volumes of the "Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography." The capital of the Publication Fund, mainly derived from life subscriptions, on December 31, 1918, amounted to to $42,587 76 The capital of the Building Fund December 31, 1918, amounted $500 00 $1,087 52 IV. THE GILPIN LIBRARY FUND. This Fund was created in accordance with the will of Hon. Henry D. Gilpin, proved February 3, 1860, the income from which is to be applied to the purchase of books and manuscripts. The capital of the Gilpin Library Fund, December 31, 1918, amounted to V. THE BINDING FUND. $62,500 00 This Fund was originated by Dr. Thomas B. Wilson in March of 1861. The capital of the Binding Fund December 31, 1918, amounted to ... Which sum includes: Gift, Dr. Thomas B. Wilson Gift, John Jordan, Jr. Gift, Penn Manuscript Fund Gift, Mrs. J. F. Combs $7,100 00 $700 00 1,000 00 1,000 00 2,000 00 1,000 00 VI. THE LIBRARY FUND. This Fund was originated in 1872 by George Washington Smith, one of the founders of the Society, the income to be applied by the trustees to the purchase of books printed or manuscript, for the use of the Society. The capital of the Library Fund, December 31, 1918, amounted to Which sum includes: Legacy of William Man Legacy of Horatio Gates Jones Legacy of Jesse George Gift, George W. Smith Gift, John William Wallace Gift, John Jordan, Jr. $20,505 00 $8,000 00 4,505 00 4,000 00 1,000 00 1,000 00 500 00 VII. THE GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND. "All donations and bequests of money to the Society, unless otherwise directed by the donors or testators, and all monies received in lieu of annual dues, shall be invested, the income only to be applied to the support of the Society and carrying out of the purposes for which it has been established, and such investments shall not be converted into money, except for reinvestment." The capital of the General Endowment Fund, December 31, 1918, amounted to ... Which sum includes: $155,527 74 Gift, Mrs. Frederic C. Penfield, to create the R. Jarvis C. Walker Memorial Fund ... $50,000 00 |