Ellen Fuller Channing

ELLEN FULLER CHANNING 1820 August 7, Monday: Potatoes were 1st planted in the Hawaiian Islands. Marie Anne Elisa Bonaparte, a sister of Napoléon Bonaparte, died at the age of 43. Ellen Kilshaw Fuller was born to Margaret Crane Fuller and Timothy Fuller. In the United States of America, this was the 4th national Census Day. Exceedingly few were living alone. In Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, for instance, the census turned up only two such individuals: a solitary Mary Garfield, a spinster who spun for her neighbors but did not get along well with her kin and who was being referred to as “old Moll Garfield the witch,” and a solitary Jonas Stone, an “insane person” who rejected all attempts at help and was in the process of being coerced by town authorities. HERMITS 1841 Spring: Ellery Channing II, while studying law in Cincinnati and discovering that he was not motivated for such pursuits, became enamored of another person from the Boston area, a Miss Ellen Kilshaw Fuller, the younger sister of Margaret Fuller, daughter of Timothy Fuller, deceased, and Mrs. Margaret Crane Fuller. HDT WHAT? INDEX ELLEN FULLER CHANNING ELLEN FULLER CHANNING September 5: From Cincinnati, Ellery Channing wrote the widow Mrs. Margaret Crane Fuller in Massachusetts, about her daughter Miss Ellen Kilshaw Fuller. You have probably heard that Ellen is engaged to me.... She loves me so much, so deeply, so truly... in her arms I am under the shelter as of a wide-spreading tree... we were made for each other... to you, also, another child has come.... ELLEN FULLER CHANNING September 24: Despite the efforts of the bride’s guardian in Cincinnati, the wedding ceremony of William Ellery Channing II and Ellen Kilshaw Fuller was performed. “She did it, however, in opposition, not only to all of us, — but to her mother, sister, his father and (I fear) her own coolest conscience … our very domestics have been critical of her conduct in this regard … Ellen is now suffering the practical results of — what I can only call Emersonianism, — as it presents itself to young minds and hearts … not to thwart her nature; and the result is before us.” Mr. D.H. Thoreau was written to by Isaiah T. Williams in Buffalo. Buffalo N.Y. Sept. 24, 1841 — Mr. D.H. Thoreau My dear Sir, Your kind offer to receive and answer any communication from me, is not forgotten — I owe myself an apology for so long neglecting to avail myself of so generous an offer. Since I left Concord I have hardly found rest for the sole of my foot. I have followed the star of my destiny till it has, at length, come and stood over this place. Here I remain engaged in the study of Law — Part of the time I have spent in New-Hampshire part was in Ohio & part in New-York — and so precarious has been my residence in either place that I have scarce- ly known whither you might direct a letter with any certainty of its reaching me. When I left Concord I felt a strong desire to continue the conversa- tion I had so fortunately commened with some of those whom the Public call Trancendentalists. Their sentiments seemed to me to pos- sess a peculiar fitness. Though full of doubt I felt I was fed & re- freshed by those interviews. The doctrines I have there heard ever since, been uppermost in my mind — and ^ like balmy sleep over the weary limbs, have they stolen over me quite unawares. I have not emp embraced them — but [they] have embraced me — [I] am led, their willing captive. Yet I feel I have but yet taken the first step. I would know more of this matter. I would be taken by the hand and led up from this [darkness] and torpidity where I have so long grov- eled like an earthworm. I know what it is to be a slave to what I thought a Christian faith — and with what rapture do greet the hand that breaks my chains — & the voice that bids me — live — Most of the books you recommended to me I was not able to obtain 2 Copyright 2013 Austin Meredith HDT WHAT? INDEX ELLEN FULLER CHANNING ELLEN FULLER CHANNING — “Nature” I found — and language can will not express my admi- ration of it. When gloom like a thick cloud comes over me — in that I find an Amulet that dissipates the darkness and kindles Page 2 anew my highest hopes. Few copies of Mr Emerson’s Essays have found their way to this place — I have read part of them and am very much delighted with them. Mr Park’s German I have also found[.] and as have much as I should shrunk[.] from such sentiments a ^ year ago. half, do I already receive them. I have also obtained “Hero Worship” — which of course I read with great interest[.] and as I read I blush for my former [had] bigotry and wonder that I did not known it all before wonder what there is in chains that I should have loved them so much — Mr. E’s oration before the Theological class at Cambridge I very much want. If — you have it in your possession, allow me to beg you to forward it to me & I will return it by mail after perusing it. Also Mr. Alcott’s “Human Culture” — I will offer no apology for asking this favor — for I know you will not require it. I find I am not alone here, your principals are working their way even in Buffalo[.] this emporium of wickedness and sensuality. We look to the east for our guiding star for there our sun did rise. Our is motto that of the [Grecian] Hero — “Give but to see ^ and Ajax asks no more” — For myself my attention is much engrossed in my [s]tudies — Enter- ing upon them as I do without a Public Education — I feel that noth- ing but the most devo undivided attention will and entire devotion to them will ensure me [evn] an ordinary standing in the profession. There is something false — in such devotion — I already feel its chilling effects I fear I shall fall into the wake of the profession which is in this section proverbially bestial — Law is a noble [profession] it calls loudly for men of genius and integrity to fill its ranks. I do not aspire to be a great Lawyer — [I] know I cannot be, but it is the sin- cere desire of my heart that I may be a true one You are ready to ask — how I like the West — I must answer — not very well — I love New England so mch Page 3 comparatively that the West is odious to me — The part of Ohio ^ that I visited was one dead Level — often did I — a glimpse strain my eyes to catch of [some] distant mountain — ^ that should trans- port me in imagination to the wild country of my birth, but the eter- nal level spread itself on & on & I almost felt myself launched forever, Aloud did I exclaim — “My own blue hills O, Where are [thy]”! — I did not know how much I was indebted to them for the happy hours I’d passed at home — I knew I loved them — and my noble river too — along whose banks — I’d roamed half uncertain if in earth or Heaven — I never shall — I never can forget them all “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project 3 HDT WHAT? INDEX ELLEN FULLER CHANNING ELLEN FULLER CHANNING — though I drive away the remembrance of — them which ever in the unguarded moment[s] throngs me laden with ten thousands inci- dents before forgotten & so talismanic its power — that I wake from [the] enchantment as [frm] a dream[.] If I were in New-England again I would never leave her. but — now I am away — I fear forever — I must eat of the Lotus — and forget her. forever — Tis true we have a noble Lake — whose pure waters kiss the foot whose of our city — and its bossm bears the burdens of her our [commerce]. its beacon light now looks in upon me through my window as if to watch, lest I should is say untruth of that which was her nightly charge But hills or mounta[i]ns we have none. My sheet is nicely full & I must draw to a close — I fear I have already wearied your pat[ie]nce. Please remember me to yo those of your friends whose acquaintance I had pleasure to form while in Concord — I engaged to write your brothe[r] — Mr Alcott also gave me the the same privelege — which I hope soon to avail myself of. I hope [sometime] to visit your town ag[ai]n which I remember with so much satisfaction — yet with so much regret — regret that I did not earlier avail myself while there of the acqu[ai]ntances, it was my high privelege to make ^ and that the lucubrations of earlier years did not [better] fit me to appreciate & enjoy — I cheer myself with fan- Page 4 ning the fading embers of a hope that I shall yet retrieve my fault. that such an opportunity will again be extended to me — and that I may once more look upon that man whose name I never speak without reverence — whom of all — I most admire — almost adore — Mr Emerson — I shall wait with impatience to hear from you — Believe me ever yours — Isaiah T. Williams. {written perpendicular to text: Postmark: BUFFALO SEP 25 N.Y.

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