The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

1845
Andrew Wylie Jr. to Andrew Wylie, Bloomington, Indiana
Pittsburg Feb.20, 1845
Dear Father,
This paper is already so crowded with inky traces that I fear you will find it difficult to
make out what is on it. You are altogether under a misapprehension about my dealings in politics.
During the whole of the exciting campaign of last summer and autumn, I was not out a single day,
nor did I make a single speech. I am already quite sensible of the folly of such a course, and have
not the slightest [?] to pursue it. Monday next I go to the District. I beg Dr Addisons pardon for
the unjust suspicion. I knew that you had great faith in him, and knew also that he was the only
person likely to speak with you on the subject. It is a matter of no consequence now, however.
When I came home I felt that you had shewn no warmth of sympathy with my own feelings,
and were disposed to bring forward the dark side of the future, and at this I was disappointed.
For myself, I could not endure existence looking habitually at the unpromising signs of things
to come, and fancying evils before their arrival. I am obliged to you, however, for the parental
concern which dictated your cautions & your fears, and trust you will pardon my own petulance,
that you were not as blindly in love with your “belle fille” as myself.
My love to all the family.
Your affectionate son,
Andrew
John H. Wylie to Samuel T. Wylie, Cincinnati
Richmond Sept 25 th 1845
Dear brother.
The “Bloomington Herald” just received, directed by your hand with the question “Why
dont you write,” reminds me that I have of late been somewhat remiss in the matter of letter
writing. And by way of apology I have only to say that I could write you nothing that would
interest you & secondly I have not felt much like it -- Father says that my last was a “doleful
one” and doleful things are not agreeable especially if they be re peated at short intervals. But
in extenuation of this fault I plead that I have felt miserably doleful and must write just as I feel
-- Although I halted a long time at home considering the matter of a location, I am now satisfied
that I did not halt long enough, and that I suffered the opinions of my friends to have a greater
influence over me than (perhaps) they should have had. In this, however I may be in the end
mistaken -- I now see anoth er thing which escaped me i.e. When I visited this place the leading
men of the city!! (who by the way, with one or two excep tions, are rather small men) advised
me by all means to settle here, pointed out the many advantages of the place, the small number
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of physicians, gave it as their opinion that I would go immediately into a practice. &c &c But
the truth of the matter is about this -- That the town has been going down for the last few years
and that these men are using every effort to bring it up again, & in order to [do] that hold out
inducements plausible but false to every man of respectability who may be inclined to settle
here. In my own case I know this to be so some of these men who appeared so very anxious that
I should come here have used their influence to induce other physicians to do the same. And in
the spring one certainly and perhaps two or three others are coming. Mr Fiske is a very good man
and really believed what he said, and still believes that in a short time I will be The physician
of the place--but he knows about as little of the world and of human nature as I -- Perkins the
lawyer who was so positive about the matter I find to be a blustering swaggering dema gogue--
pretty much such a man as Gorman of your place. The fact of the thing is about this that nature
has done a great deal for this place--it is finely situated, has the command of most excel lent water
power, is healthy &c but it is cursed by a kind of society which will shed its influence over every
thing as long as it exists -- At all events it is a kind of society which will never suit me, and to
which I dont think I can ever accommodate myself. I should have left it before this had I had the
means of leaving & don’t think I would stay if I had the practice of all the physicians of the place
put together. I had a letter from Ben Gwathmy a few days since, he was just ready to start for
Cambrige where he intends remaining about eighteen months or two years, says that he ardently
hopes that Andrew will not go East without Irene -- Speaks of Carry [Mary Caroline Bryan Wylie]
in very high terms -- says she has become quite celebrated about Louisville. Judge Morrison was
here a short time ago -- it was like meeting with an old friend & I suppose he is with you at this
time, if so remember me to him.
Andrew Wylie to John H. Wylie, Richmond, Indiana
Bloom n Dec r 3 d 1845
Dear Son:
Because you do not get frequent letters from home think not that you are “out of mind.”
No; far otherwise. You are in our hearts and in our prayers daily. I am no less anxious for your
well-being than for that of any other of my children and I am sure I feel far more concern for
them than for myself. But I can do but little. If I had millions and the bestowing of it would
avail I would give it freely. But it is not money that will answer--and if it would, I have it not. I
am, and expect to be, poor. To make the end of the year meet is as much as I can do. The funds
of the Institution are in a disordered an [sic] precarious state. My last quarter has been due more
than a month and nothing can be got. It is very likely that there will be a curtailing perhaps entire
suspension of payments for some time. I must therefore act with caution. Your books--which,
though you have written me nothing to that effect--I suppose, have been received--and books
ordered for Sam--amounting together to $150 I must pay for in the course of the year. An old
debt with inter est incurred to Johnston, at first of $500 is yet to be paid to the Bank of Bedford to
which he assigned it: 100 and upwards yet remaining to be paid. The expenses of the family are
great. So that even if my salary should be paid it is doubtful whether I could set you on your feet
again--unless indeed I should resort to a forced sale of property which in present circumstances
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