<hi rend="bold">Letter from Joseph Caldwell to "My dear Friend," June 3, 1807:</hi> Electronic Edition. Caldwell, Joseph, 1773-1835 Funding from the University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill supported the electronic publication of this title. Text transcribed by Bari Helms Images scanned by Bari Helms Text encoded by Sarah Ficke First Edition, 2005 ca. 13K The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2005

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 University of North Carolina Papers (#40005), University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Letter from Joseph Caldwell to "My dear Friend," June 3, 1807 Joseph Caldwell 3 pages, 3 page images 1807 Call number 40005 (University Archives, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

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 </bibl> </taxonomy> </classDecl> </encodingDesc> <profileDesc> <langUsage> <language id="eng">English</language> </langUsage> <textClass> <keywords scheme="unc_history"> <list> <item> Any special keywords assigned for this project </item> </list> </keywords> </textClass> </profileDesc> <revisionDesc> <change> <date>2005-11-11,</date> <respStmt> <name>Sarah Ficke</name> <resp/> </respStmt> <item>finished TEI/XML encoding.</item> </change> </revisionDesc> </teiHeader> <text id="unc05-20"> <body> <div1 type="letter"> <pb id="unc05-20-p01" n="1"/> <head>Letter from <name key="pn0000268" reg="Caldwell, Joseph" type="person">Joseph Caldwell</name> to "My dear Friend," June 3, 1807</head> <opener> <dateline> <name key="name0000165" reg="Chapel Hill, NC" type="place" rend="yes">Chapel Hill</name> <date>June 3<hi rend="sup">d</hi> 1807</date> </dateline> <salute>My dear Friend,</salute> </opener> <p>I had the unexpected pleasure of your letter a few days ago, in which you give me information of many interesting events which have passed since our separation. I had learned some time ago that you were settled as a pastor in one of the congregations of <name key="name0000238" reg="Connecticut" type="place">Connecticut</name>; but was totally unacquainted with the removal you have made into another state. In 1796 I received an invitation while I was studying at <name key="name0000909" reg="Princeton University" type="organization">Princeton</name> and acting as tutor there, from an old friend to come to <name key="name0000745" reg="North Carolina" type="place">N. Carolina</name> and fill his place as Professor of Mathematics in the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">University</name>. After further correspondence I determined to accept and answered him on the last day of October. There I have continued ever since, and am likely to spend here the remainder of my days. The difficulties, trials, and anxieties I have encountered through this lapse of time, are too numerous to be recounted within a short compass. About three and a half ago I married, and at the end of two years had a daughter who with my <name key="pn0000271" reg="Caldwell, Susan (née Rowan) " type="person" rend="yes">wife</name> has a few months since been surrendered into the hands of Him who gave them. </p> <p>When I first came here I found the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">University</name> just commencing business, and it took two years afterwards to render the highest class fit for its degrees. There was no president, and I suffered myself to be<pb id="unc05-20-p02" n="2"/>persuaded, young and inexperienced as I was to take the superintendency of the institution. After a year's experience, I determined to resign, and stated to the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization">Trustees</name> that this was the only condition upon which I could consent to act any longer in the college. At that time there was but one officer in the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">University</name> beside myself. On this resignation, I continued as professor of mathematics, and another professor was appointed to whom the superintendence was assigned. In little more than eighteen months he left us, and the consequence was that I was obliged to assume his business anew. For four successive sessions I continued to solicit of the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization">Board</name> the appointment of some other person to the chief professorship, but a person was not to be easily had, and the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization">trustees</name> still insisted that I should continue. At last finding it no longer to any purpose I went on in the business, and had the good fortune to give general satisfaction to the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization">Trustees</name>, the students, & the public. In July 1803 I married, and a year afterwards was regularly elected President with a salary of $1000. This is a small sum for such an office, and the heavy duties annexed to it; but the buildings of the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization">University</name> are not all finished, and the <name key="name0000107" reg="Board of Trustees" type="organization">Trustees</name> are forced to apply their funds to that object as far as possible. I was made happy by a daughter, who died six months ago when she was 14 months old, and my <name key="pn0000271" reg="Caldwell, Susan (née Rowan) " type="person">wife</name> soon followed her to the grave. Such is the fallacy of human expectations, <pb id="unc05-20-p03" n="3"/>and the transition of present happiness!</p> <p>About 8 or ten months ago the trustees of <name key="name0001064" reg="South Carolina College" type="organization" rend="yes">Columbia college</name> in <name key="name0001063" reg="South Carolina" type="place">South Carolina</name> elected me to the professorship of mathematics in that college with a salary of $2000 but finding my attachments grown to this place, and disliking change I declined the appointment, though they held up as an inducement the prospect of a speedy succession to the Presidency which is endowed with a salary of $3000.</p> <p>I must confess I was surprised at those parts of your letter which speak of the change of your sentiments with respect to the doctrine of the Trinity. No doubt you may have found reasons satisfactory to your mind to induce you to relinquish the opinions you formerly held. I have not seen the books you have published on this important subject but hope that I shall be able to procure them either from you or by some other means. It is a doctrine which has been the occasion of many controversies & schemes in every age; but often having settled my opinions with respect to it I have never felt myself shaken by the arguments which have been advanced against it. It would seem by the title of your book that you think what is called the orthodox doctrine denies the unity of the divine Being. This I hope is not the case.</p> </div1> </body> </text> </TEI.2>