Letter from E. Block to Isaac Leeser;September 05, 1849 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from E. Block to Isaac Leeser;September 05, 1849

Author

E. Block

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

5 September 1849

Location(s)

New York City

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 2 page(s) on 1 sheet(s).

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3x05xh81/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3x05xh81

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

content

N. York. Sep 5. 1849
Dear Isaac
I owe you an apology for my neglect in failing to inform you earlier of my design to relinquish my school. You know too well my friendship & esteem for you and how highly I estimate your good opinion to believe for a moment that my silence could be owing to any cause unpleasant or offensive to you the fact is simply that altho I have for a month past contemplated writing you a long letter on the subject, various things have occurred to cause me to defer it from day to day the last was the fact of your absence in Bali.?
I am grieved and mortified to have to state that my endeavors to establish a classical school for the Jews of N York have completely failed— whether the cause of my want of capacity or moral unfitness or simply from the want of proper patronage & support. That portion of the Jewish public who feel any interest in the matter will judge and of course for the greater part unfavorably to me, the unfortunate are always in fault. I have never as any time during the two years of my probation had more than 14 pupils never during the first six months more than 7 and those of all ages—from

the child of 7. sent to learn to spell & read thro all the intermediate ages to the boy of 12 who was somewhat prepared to receive the kind of instruction I contemplated in my plan. I of course had as many classes nearly as pupils, and apart from Hebrew & German had to undertake personally all the various branches of instruction, to organise a school properly, under these circumstances, without the aid of assistant teachers, was impracticable under such the incapacity of some, the indolence and obstinacy of others were serious obstacles, but I bore up against all discouragement and during the last year my school was supplied with capable teachers in Hebrew in German in Music in latin. French algebra and geometry and the English branches— thus affording at least the groundwork of a system of useful and practical education, well for the higher branches I had three boys, of whom one alone applied himself with tolerable dilijince, and he is the only one of my pupils to whom I can point with any pride to illustrate the advantages of my tuition, altho' others have in some branches made very satisfactory progress. I have to add to the list of discouragements, the want of punctuality in payment. There is yet due for tuition or near $200. which I may never get. You thus see that my failure is not the result of any want of perseverance I held on as long as possible.
I regret that I must necessarily remain your debtor for the bill you have against me for ?. I have on hand belonging
9-5-1849

to you the Tephiloth sent to A Dittenhoffer which he did not take as his. Father tho't his old one would answer and 3 spellers. I will either await an opportunity of disposing of them for you, or hand them to your agt as you may desire.—
I have on consultation with Mr Jonas my Brother Mr Judah & other friends concluded to resume my former avocation, and with strong promises of their support I am now established in an office No 120 Water St where I am awaiting business as a commission merchant. I do not flatter myself with hopes of immediate success, and expect to encounter many difficulties. “mais boque la galère avec patience et courage on accomplit tout.”
My I ? remember that I have another apology to make in not informing you directly of Sarah's engagement, but allowing the information to reach you thro' general rumor. You have seen the gentleman I believe, he stands very high in Charleston as a rising member of his profession—and is esteemed for his private worth as a good son, brother and citizen. We are all much pleased with him. My house at present is very full, besides Rosalie's children and Mrs. Solomon & Son, we have Zonny Labat during his vacation from Yale, and Mrs. & Miss Jacobs. The cantatrice, it will not do to use plain english little schozu? one of my pupils is yet with us. Rosalie will not leave us till late in October, we have all continued to enjoy good health during the season except myself. Mine has been bad, but
9-5-1849

is much improved since I have entered upon my new business. All of us write in best regards to you. Your Aunt Rehine is well Ben recovered—you have doubtless heard of Rachel's loss of her youngest boy— of congregational news this may interest you I know nothing. I have been to two or three funerals recently and have been struck by the narrow and confined appearance of the burial place of one of the richest and most numerous congregations of this great metropolis, apart from the certainty of the necessity of removal in a few years away from a continually encroaching population, it seems like a desecration of the remains of the dead to huddle them together in such a spot surrounded as it is and overlooked by houses that resemble barracks, teeming as they do with that description of population that swarms upon the outskirts of a large city—can you not in your next Occident suggest the idea of a general Jewish cemetery, located upon Long Island, and guarded by state charter perpetually against desecration by any possible charge of destination to be provided with lots suitable for family burial to be sold in f? only to those of Jewish ritual and to be exempt from seizure or sale on execution. Why cannot we as Jews avails ourselves of the general improvements of the age in which we live?
Yours
E. Block.

Identifier

LSKAP0116

Date

1849-09-05