Letter from David Judah to Isaac Leeser;June 26, 1829
- Title
- Letter from David Judah to Isaac Leeser;June 26, 1829
- Author
- David Judah
- Contributor
- Isaac Leeser
- Format
- Letter. 2 page(s) on 1 sheet(s).
- Type
- Letter
- Language(s)
- English
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3n29pz8p/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3n29pz8p
- Physical Characteristics
- Unlined Paper
- Manuscript
- content
-
Tall. 26 June. 1829.
Dear Isaac.
Your mms. came safe to hand. not having entire confidence in my own opinions upon the merits of your work, I deemed it much more to your interest to forwarded to Mr. Etting (a man high in society and fully competent to judge whether the work ought to be farther revised and corrected, as by a single remark in your letter I suspect it does. Mr Mordecai ought never to have permitted it to pass from his hands without having it in every shape alike honorable to yourself and to the public hence he ought to have pointed out all its errors to you which he had remarked to Mr. Peioxato- It is a work of too much importance to be lightly cast off and put to pass- and believe me your reputation will sink or swim by its success. Therefore be not to precipitate in your writes to have it published till you are thoroughly convinced by the decisions of others competent to decide upon its merits that honor and profit is to be the result. Where I in your place I would solicit every investigation and leave not a loop to hang a doubt upon for criticism either in style spelling or punctuation, but let every thing bear you forward. These remarks are in the truest spirit of friendship, for I am looking always forward and never satisfied with the present. So shall I look towards you. I hope to see you take a high and honorable stand in the literary world for yourself and our society. I fear also that your ambition and the warmth of your friends will make you o'er leap the bounds of prudence. A stability of character is wanting Isaac in all men who come before the public and this world is more apt to judge harshly than favorable of us. I am never ? for repassing? the vigilance and perseverance of youthful ambitions, go on to the very summit, but each step must improve as you progress—let but the basement be punishment you bring so you have every thing to expect.
I shall take occasion on Sunday next to go out to Mr. Etting he will then have got so far into the work as to give some opinion upon it be it what it may favorable or otherways. I shall feel it my duty to express it to you in the most liberal manner, for having accepted of my duties to aid you thro this business and “leaving you to act as I think best” I am decidedly of opinion that this shall be no hurry off matters. ? of so much importance. If the course which I suggest is not compatable to your wishes, say so, and I will forward it to Philad- to Mr. Piexotto or return it to you without taking any farther interest then being permitted to subscribe for a few copies. For altho I have been crooked in my affairs generally, much of that was the result of friends and friendly advise. Seldom when I think on serious matters that I am not correct in my views, therefore Isaac draw your attention to that rock which many have split upon.
I shall now rest till Mr. Etting has gotten through with the work, then I shall over look it myself, and, as far as I can, so will I express myself to you. I shall be absent about three weeks but the nos shall be kept safe in my absence and nothing shall go contrary to your desires in any arrangmt. which I may make with the publishers.
With best affections.
Yrs.
Dav. Judah - Identifier
- LSKAP0219
- Date
- 1829-06-26
Part of Letter from David Judah to Isaac Leeser;June 26, 1829
David Judah, “Letter from David Judah to Isaac Leeser;June 26, 1829”, 1829-06-26, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/65682