<hi rend="bold">Letter from Thomas L. Spragins to his brother, Mel Spragins, September 22, 1808:</hi> Electronic Edition. Spragins, Thomas L. 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 Stephanie Adamson First Edition, 2007 ca. 12K The University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2007

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 University of North Carolina Miscellaneous Personal Papers (#3129), Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Letter from Thomas L. Spragins to his brother, Mel Spragins, September 22, 1808 Thos L. Spragins 3 pages, 4 page images 1808 Call number 3129 (Southern Historical Collection, 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>2007-02-16,</date> <respStmt> <name>Stephanie Adamson</name> <resp/> </respStmt> <item>finished TEI/XML encoding.</item> </change> </revisionDesc> </teiHeader> <text id="unc06-117"> <body> <div1 type="personal letter"> <pb id="unc06-117-p01" n="[1]"/> <head>Letter from <name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">Thomas L. Spragins</name> to his brother, <name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">Mel Spragins</name>, September 22, 1808 </head> <opener> <dateline> <name key="name0000165" reg="Chapel Hill, NC" type="place" rend="yes">Chapel Hill</name> <date>Sep<hi rend="sup">t</hi> 22<hi rend="sup">nd</hi> 1808</date> </dateline> <salute>Dear <name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">Brother</name>,</salute> </opener> <p>I assure you that nothing of a similar nature could have given me more pleasure than yours by the Mail—But I deem it unnecessary to discribe to you my feelings on finding that <name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">Mother</name> and the rest of the Family were usually well, for you will readily conclude that such news are interesting and excite almost inexpressible delight to one in my situation. You wish to be informed what Class I have joined and what are my present studes. Sir when I first came to this place I was very much devided in my mind what class to join, but after mature consideration I found it most expedient to join the members of the Sophemore Class which studies Latin, Greek, and Geography I first concluded to commence the junior studies but was doubtful that I should be inadequate to the task, in consequence of not being as far advanced as they were; and in case I could not make up some of thoes studies should not be able to graduate, which I look forward to. Thus <name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">Mel.</name> having informed you relative to my standing in College, I will proceed to acquaint you of other things which may occur to my recollection as I continue to write. </p> <pb id="unc06-117-p02" n="[2]"/> <p>No doubt but what you would be fond to know how I am pleased with <name key="name0000165" reg="Chapel Hill, NC" type="place">Chapel Hill</name>. I find my situation tolerable agreeable, and probably as much so here as it would be at any other seminary The Students as you would naturally conclude are of various discriptions; some are young men of good information and quite agreeable, others again are to the contrary of this. <name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">Richard Logan</name> agreeable to your expectation have become a Student at this place and is also a room mate of mine. Among the avantages at this place are the two Societies which is an advantage peculiar <name key="name0000165" reg="Chapel Hill, NC" type="place">Chapel Hill</name>, all transactions performed in each society are kept in profound secrecy we have some of the most distinguished men in the State in our Society which is the <name key="name0000284" reg="Dialectic Society" type="organization" rend="yes">Dialectic</name>, and from the decorum which exist in it, and the worthy members which composes it and also the information which it affords, it even merits the attention of Sages. The Library belonging to this <name key="name0000284" reg="Dialectic Society" type="organization" rend="yes">Society</name> exclusive of that which belong to to the <name key="name0001146" reg="University of North Carolina" type="organization" rend="yes">University</name> cost $1500 which is the best by far that I ever saw. </p> <pb id="unc06-117-p03" n="[3]"/> <p>The way the Students get their studies are different from any other seminary, for there is such emulation existing among them, especially between thoes of the <gap reason="[unrecovered]"/> Societies that they get their studies almost entirely by memory, which has an attency to excite ambitions in all of them and makes their stud <gap reason="[unrecovered]"/> though in getting them so they have to <gap reason="[unrecovered]"/> use of more industry, therefore it keeps us generally <gap reason="[unrecovered]"/> busy. Give my Love to all the fimily and in <gap reason="[unrecovered]"/> <name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">Mother</name> that I am better satisfyed sonsidering <gap reason="[unrecovered]"/> every thing than I expected when I first came here, and hope that this will find her enjoying a better state of health than when I left home. Write to me the first opportunity and let me know all the news which you may think worthy to put in a letter, and except this from your ever Loving brother </p> <closer> <signed> <name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">Tho<hi rend="sup">s</hi> L. Spragins</name> </signed> <salute rend="left"><name key="x" reg="x" type="person" rend="">W<hi rend="sup">m</hi>. Mel Spragins</name> </salute> </closer> <pb id="unc06-117-bk" n="[Back]"/> </div1> </body> </text> </TEI.2>