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Preferred Citation

Philip R. Fendall, Jr. Correspondence, 1813-1841 (1813-1817), Accession # 10851-a, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased by the Library from Timothy H. Bakken, Halvor Americana, of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, on October 27, 1989.

Biographical/Historical Information

Philip Ricard Fendall, Jr., a native of Alexandria, attended the College of New Jersey at Princeton from November 1813 until his graduation in August 1815, and was admitted to the bar in Alexandria ca. 1820. He was a prominent lawyer as well as a political and literary writer. He later moved to Washington, D.C. where he filled the office of District Attorney of the District of Columbia from 1841-1845 and 1849-1853, during the administrations of John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Millard Fillmore. For years, he was considered one of the most competent advocates of the capital.

Scope and Content Information

This collection of correspondence, 1813-1817, 1830, and 1841, consists of 27 letters, chiefly from Philip R. Fendall, Jr. (1794-1868) while a student at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) and residing at Nassau Hall, Princeton, New Jersey. There are 22 letters to his mother, Mary, and his sister, Lucy Eleanor, in Alexandria, Virginia, and five letters to Fendall from Peter Hoffman Cruse (1795-1832), Oliver Norris, Edmund Lee, Jr., Josiah Stoddard Johnston (1784-1833), and Albert Gallatin Brown (1813-1880).

The letters from Princeton reveal glimpses of Philip's personality, activities, and plans during this time, and provide an overall view of college life. In general, he discusses his entrance into college, expenses, studies, examinations, professors, fellow students, college life, religious matters, and various other personal and political affairs.

During a visit to the northeast, Philip discusses his stay in Baltimore, Maryland with his friend, Charles Oliver, and his father, Robert Oliver, "the wealthiest, the most influential & liberal man in Baltimore" (May 31, 1813). In November, he has made the trip north to begin college, and writes about his trip describing his fellow passenger, Dr. [John Syng] Dorsey (1783-1818), the nephew of Dr. [Philip Syng] Physick (1768-1837), describes Dr. [Ashbel] Green (1762-1848), discusses the books he needs, and mentions that there is a delay in the opening of the school (November 9, 1813). He writes of his matriculation into college, on November 13, 1813, as well as the good fortune of having made the acquaintance of John Wurts (1792-1861) at the Tavern and being introduced to his brother whom he chose as his roommate, and includes college expenses and a list of books needed. His December 17, 1813 letter consists of a lengthy explanation of the college's two student literary institutions, the Whig and Cliosophic societies, and reveals his choice to join the Cliosophic Society. In his discussion of the societies, he writes about John Wurts and [Charles Pettit] McIlvaine (1799-1873) and their society ties. He writes again following preparation for quarterly examinations, admitting his enjoyment of religous studies even though it improbable that he will become a parson, discussing the parliamentary contest between [Richard] Stockton (1764-1828) and [Charles Jared] Ingersoll (1782-1862), and inquiring about his bills (January 31, 1814). In a February 17, 1814 letter to his sister, he criticizes and instructs at great length on "the mechanical part" of her letter. During the time to follow, his letters are concerned more with religious concerns. In his May 20, 1814 letter, he discusses Dr. Green's attendance at the Presbyterian convention and his hopes to benefit their church; and, makes observations on European affairs, including the Allied armies taking Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the intended reduction of the French empire. On August 3, 1814, he describes a "remarkable circumstance" that occurred in the village where William Thornton committed suicide. His September 10, 1814 letter mentions the prospect of his literary distinction being favorable and discloses persons receiving first honor, including [John Blair] Dabney (1795-1868) from Virginia and [Charles Pettit] McIlvaine from New Jersey. In answer to news from his sister, he writes on January 14, 1815, expressing his shock at the deaths of Mr. [Richard] Brent (1757-1814 Dec 30), Judge [Nicholas] Fitzhugh (1763-1814 Dec 31) and the latter's son, Burditt (1795-1814 Dec 26). His further concern for religious matters is evident in his letter of January 25, 1815, where he discusses "one of the most extraordinary revivals of religion..." at great length and attributes it to the conversion and explicit profession of [ ] Newbold of Philadelphia and mentions his own intention to devote his life to the Episcopalian ministry. Apparently his intentions were misunderstood by his mother, whom he writes on February 13, 1815, explaining that his intentions are not to become a preacher or minister, and giving a lengthy discussion of religion. His May 25, 1815 letter reveals that the religious state of the college is highly gratifying. By summer 1815, he has nearly decided to embrace the study of theology and has come to the conclusion that knowledge should not be confined to a particular profession but rather should embrace the whole circle of science, and writes a discussion of his "future professional destination" to his mother on June 17, 1815. He also discusses Dr. Green's disapproval of the commencement ball and his subsequent contribution for the purpose of "erecting an establishment for instructing the poor children in religious knowledge." Letters from July and August 1815 are largely concerned with commencement and examinations, which are comprised of twenty-three branches of science (August 14, 1815).

In addition to Philip's letters home, there are five letters to him from friends. Peter H. Cruse writes from Alexandria, Virginia, on January 24, 1814, revealing his constant study of law, his mortification over Philip's decision not to become a fellow member of the Whig Society, and his pleasure at Philip's preference for Baltimore over Philadelphia. Oliver Norris writes from Alexandria, Virginia, on March 7, 1815, concerning religious concerns, particularly the revival of religion at the college, various denominations of Christians in the eastern United States, and the Episcopal Church in Virginia. Edmund Lee, Jr. writes from Princeton, on August 26, 1817, concerning Dr. Green's demands prior to commencement. There are also two letters, 1830 and 1841. Included is an interesting letter, November 30, 1830, from Josiah S. Johnston in Philadelphia, referring to the early events of Henry Clay's bid for the presidency in 1832 and the advantage of the National Convention for Clay, and mentioning the trouble in the current administration of Andrew Jackson. In his letter of April 4, 1841, Albert Gallatin Brown writes from Jackson, Mississippi, having just completed his first term as a U. S. Congressman, referring to affairs in that state as continuing to be in "a gloomy condition."