Letter from Bernhard Henry Gotthelf to Isaac Leeser;August 05, 1852 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Bernhard Henry Gotthelf to Isaac Leeser;August 05, 1852

Author

Bernhard Henry Gotthelf

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

5 August 1852

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s).

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3b27qb4j/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3b27qb4j

Physical Characteristics

Lined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

content

Revd Isaac Leeser
Dear Sir!
I am surprised indeed to learn trough your letter, received this morning, that you have not received my answer in return to your letter written to me some six weeks ago. Where the fault lays, I do not know; but believe me, that I regard and esteem you to highly, as to suffer your friendly and interesting correspondence to remain unanswered. A day or two after the receipt of your former letter, I tried to collect some of your outstandings, I called with very few exceptions on every one of your old subscribers and all I could get was $3.— of Warmser—; one had no money just now, the other would bring it to me in a few days, a third one wanted me to call on him, when I get ready to send the money to Pha. ? Wither the people is actualy so short of money, or wether they have a more pressing use for it, I cannot judge. I wrote to you this fact, which communication as you say did not reach you.
In a few weeks from now, as I understand, in the beginning of September, Mr Abraham Taudler is removing with his family to Philada., in the mean time I will try to collect for you all I can get and send the same by Mr Taudler. Rest assured that I will not neglect to do in this respect all in my power.
Before I commenced writing this letter I went to see Lymons, but he is not in the city and as I am told by

his employer, will not be before Monday next, when I hope to be enabled to settle his fault-finding to your satisfaction. I have seen this man most daily and he knows very well that I am asking as your agent in this city—still he never spoke a single word to me about being dissatisfied with the Occident nor the paying of the postage.
The Occident for July did not reach here before the 23d of last month, and as some of your subscribers here, happening to be in Cinci, read there the same number two weeks before, it created some dissatisfaction as to the long delay. Who is to account for it? I went very frequently to the post-office to inquire, but they could not or would not explain the matter. Your readers, the least the majority of them, in this city are every month very anxiously waiting for your valuable interesting paper, and so I would humbly advice you, to if in your power, to cause to prevent any future delay.—
In my last communication I made you acquainted with the fact and circumstances of Mr. Felsenheld's being Teacher in this city, but as you did not receive the letter, I will repeat the same.
Mr. Felsenheld is not elected by the congregation—he has started a school on his private responsibility. He is proprietary manager and teacher. His school is attended to by about fourty pupils; one Lady teacher is also in his employment. I believe he will succeed in keeping up a good School, he is very industrious, his pupils advance rapidly in Hebrew and the religious branches—not so much tough in english, as he is not sufficiently suported. It would therefore be very desirous

if he could be enabled to engage a good male teacher. Mr. F. is a very un=assuming man, attending to his duties as teacher solely and not mixing himself with other people's business.
Mrs Warder Cresson has been here. He visited me several times. He remained here 11 days and in the mean time lectured twice. You know the man, and so I don't need to tell you how he lectured. He sold about 30 of his books at $1.50 each.
My own position is as it were. I think I will be re-elected for another year, but it is a hard task to convince them that it would be more proper and beneficial on both sides to elect a minister for a more permanent term; as they or the majority of them deem it their business to out-spy me, and do not want me to sell them anything which they should or should not do. I can flatter myself of posessing the good feelings and friendship of a large majority of my congregators, but it seems they do not want me to do any thing else as reading the prayers (allegro) shechting?, and at some times so speak on general objects without touching their religious or moral transgressions. It sometimes indeed revoltes against my feelings to stand there idel as an unit uninterested looker-on, compelled to silence and checked by worldly considerations; but I can't help it.
This morning I enjoyed a visit from an old friend of mine, Mr. Aaron Dessauer of Ci. He told me by way of conversation, that the Broadway Kehilah in Cincinnati intends to appoint you, or give you a call as their Preacher and Master of the School to be established, provided you will accept it. I felt very happy to hear it, and I hope that it you will realize their proud desire. I do not tell you this for any other motives, as than to inform you

of the vast papuli towards you out here west, and that any such call may not find you unprepared.
Mrs. Rosenfeld, whom by the by you gave in your last number a tolerable good hit, has a few days since made application to his congregation for increase of salary, he lets them know, that he cannot live with $12.00 a year, and that unless they give him $15.00 he will quitt. A large majority, as I am informed is much opposed to this movement and are pressing on the Board of Man. to declare the situation vacant, and advertise for another Hebrew. My informant is a very highly respected gentleman and I have every confidence in what ever he says.
Mrs. Gotthelf, Lowasahn, Lirhsen?, Straus and a great many more requested me to give you their best wishes & respects.
Be pleased to answer the by receipt of this letter, and believe me to be most seriously & respectfully
yours
BHGotthelf
Aug 5th 1852

Identifier

LSDCBx1FF9_42

Date

1852-08-05