Description Letter by Thomas McCulloch 1818

Pictou June 22 1818

 

My Dear Friend,

 

            Some time ago I wrote you by the packed mentioning the commencement of our _ and _ your good offices to commission for us a quantity of books. Fearing lost my letter by some much once or other may not reach you and as the ward of the books would be a certain injury to our infant _ I have been _ to trouble you with an additional letter upon the same subject.

            Our first term commenced in May with the _ of _ students since which time we have received an addition of four and have a few others in prospect. The Windsor College our _ has _ out of which number two are coming to us. At present we have the favor of the public but whether this will continue most depend considerably upon our labor and success in teaching. In order to carry on the seminar the _ are not only _ to begin a library but to keep such an assortment of books as the students may require. For these purposes my last letter contained an order from Mr. Mortimer whom Mr. _ ford ₤15 belongs to a ladies society formed for the purpose of assisting our library. I must beg of you therefore to make up books to that amount in one parcel and direct it to Mrs. Mortimer. I would like them to be as much uniform as possible and such as would make a handsome appearance in a library. If you would also get a few shelves of coloured _ to _ upon them _ _ these of similar words (Donation from the Pictou Ladies Society) it might be useful. To my former left I have added a few which will make is necessary for you to compare them and should the _ _ the _ it must it must either be shortened or the book seller must give credit until we make _ a _ in the fall. They may be sent either to Pictou or Halifax but also there Mr. Liddel? will be your best advisor.

            Moore’s Greek grammar last edition 12, Dunbar’s Greek exercises 1, _ Homerica? 1, Dabzeler? Collectanea? Minora? 12, dillo? majora? 24, a copy of as many of the authors as possible from which the above are exhausted (not dear _ ) Guests Select Oralions? 24, Duncan’s Cuero? 1, Cuero De Bffuies 24, gates _, Grammar 6, a few cheap Lexuons & Bibles (Hel.), Harres’ Hermes Horne, Tooker Divisions of Purley Reids Works 2, Hewarls? Philosophy 2, Campbell Philosophy of Rhelorce? 2, Blair’s Leeliners? 2, Fenelon’s Dialogue on _, Raime’s? El of Buluism? 1, Poller’s? Grecian Antiquities Hutchison’s Philosophy, Burke on the Lublime? 1, Allison on Taste 2, Logan on the Papions? 2, Payley’s? nature theology 1, Burlamaque’s? _ 1, Wall’s Improvement of the Mind 6, Humer’s? Elsays? 1, Berkley’s Ideal System Luinetius? 1, Lochead Words 1, Ramses Sketches 1, Quintilian? 1, Buller’s? Analogy 1, Beloe’s Anecdotes 1, Simson’s oracle? 12, dillo? Gonce? Lections 1, _ _ of Greece 1.   

            It is not necessary that the class books be new if they be in good condition it is enough. If they are to be sold it would be proper for the book seller to number them that the price of each may be _ by a reference to the _.       

            After writing thus far I went over to Mr. M who wrote the order upon the other page before I was aware of the nature of it and after it was done I did chose to say any things upon the subject. The ordering of the above books is altogether out of Mr. Liddel’s time and the _ which he could not manage for us to any advantage. Besides ordering books for us upon a long credit is to defeat our view of having them cheap nor does it appear to me that this is at all _ as Mr. M has already received about ₤70. The former order I sent to will reach you upon which you can act only adding to it such other books as this list continues. Should the amount far exceed the money you can keep out a few of the books which you judge least necessary. In a few days a vessel will sail for Glasgow by which I will send you a little package.                             

With best respects to Mr. M,

I am yours most affectionately

Thomas McCulloch