Letter from Abraham de Sola to Isaac Leeser;March 21, 1864 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Abraham de Sola to Isaac Leeser;March 21, 1864

Author

Abraham de Sola

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

21 March 1864

Location(s)

Montreal

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).

Letter

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p32r3ph1t/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p32r3ph1t

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

content

Montreal 21st March 1864.
My dear Sir—
It is long since I have had this pleasure; but during the whole of the past winter which has been a very sickly one no doubt in consequence of its extraordinary mildness—I have scarcely found time to write home. Correspondence is a luxury in which I cannot often indulge, especially as my duties increase in college, as do also my literary calls. In November last you wrote me “ I presume you have no time for anything but your own work, or else your fathers memoir ought to have been finished long since. ” You were right in your first supposition—the memoir (or nearly all) had been long finished and sent to England to my family there for perusal—I had to delay till I got materials very few of which however I did not possess before my visit to England three years since. They wished to publish it in pamphlet form and distribute it to the congregation (K. K. Shaar Ashmaim?) on consideration however we decided not to do so, and the M.S.? remained in London at my request until I had an opportunity to bring it out. Mr W. Benjamin has recently returned from England & brought it with him, having no copy I did not wish to trust the mail. As you were the first to express a desire to obtain full particulars of my late revered and gifted parents career I send it now to you, although perhaps a London periodical, would be the more appropriate vehicle for publication. Of this you may be assured no one in England (not even Beuisch with whom I am intimate) except my own family has seen it, and no one in America, except the Joseph's family here. It was Mrs J. H. J. who said it ought to be printed. I will leave it to you to decide whether you think it of sufficient general interest for your new volume. Mr Abraham Joseph goes to new York tomorrow and takes it with him. He will probably send it on by mail to Philada

I risk only about half what I have written of the Biography awaiting another opportunity for the balance, I should say the whole will make about 45 or 50 pages of M.S such as I send. If these the last ten pages are not yet written, but of course would be ready should you publish them. Should you not do so, please do not return the M. S. by mail, I prefer another opportunity, again even should you print, I must ask you to ? the copy for me. I will leave it to you to decide whether my name should be attached to it. Please let me hear what you think of this before you print. I would like while the type stands to have 150 or 200 copies taken for a pamphlet—same as my “Sanatory institutions” was done. Permit me to explain how this was. The articles were published in a monthly like yours—enough was set up for a sheet or half sheet I forget which printed off for pamphlet, and served for two months supply to the magazine. I need not say that I of course expect to “pay the difference.”
Mr Abraham Joseph wants two of your 12 mo Bibles—the ordinary calf binding I presume Please send them (or if you like to ? the sale with a couple more) to the following address A. Joseph Esq care Titus Smythe & Co. 151 Front St New York upon whom (i.e. Messrs Smythe) you can draw at sight for the amount of his two copies. This leads me to advise you to address S. Benjamin (Messrs Benjamin Bros Manchester) for the amount of his indebtedness to you. You are aware that I applied to them when here, but without success. Mrs John Levey is going to New York to open a Boarding House might also pay and Hebrew if you would write a line to Rev S. M. Isaacs, she would no doubt pay him if instructed to do so by you. Apropos des bottes Rev S. M. I is immortalising Jewish orthodox ministers in his “Diary” in a manner, for which it seems to me

we ought to be duly thankful. Punch? would not do it better whether the character such as he forms is no better than it should be, whether it would bear close analysis as far as moral principles, correct motives of actions are concerned, cest une autre chose. I fancy that you, not more than I would like to wear the cap so becoming to “a cunning Isaac” if not to a sincere good man and a Jew. At all events my “leaves from the life of a Jewish Minister” cannot be much more ?, so I am doubly encouraged to send them
Mrs Davis and her son seem temporarily fixed here, whether permanently so we shall see. Young Mr Nathan whom you introduced to us at the commencement of the winter, and who spent a few evenings with us, suddenly disappeared—whither I know not—Has he turned up in your part of the world.
I have lately been dragged into a new Literary organisation. They have passed me the complement of electing me president; but I dont think I shall accept of the office. I met at a social party by invitation & by his wish, the Bishop of New Jersey. He says he knows you and Dr Raphall. He also knew my uncle David Meldola. He is a very jolly fellow, and we took champagne—something in which you never, I very seldom indulge—together; you will say I have been keeping Purim before its time. Well I will at least wish you a merry one, and conclude—if not my toast—my letter with wishing you many happy returns Hebrew, and with my wife's united kind regards
I remain yours truly
Abraham de Sola
My brother Sam the Hazan is engaged
to Miss Henry niece of the late
D. A. Lindo.
As nearly all to whom I have spoken have
at least one of Grace Aguilars works
they did not wish to subscribe for them all again, imply some might have
them ordered. I did not ask any of the Pala?, for they dont read.

CIRCULAR
OF THE
Council of the Montreal Natural History Society,
The Council of the Natural History Society of Montreal have still to deplore the very defective state of their collection of mammals. The recent large increase of the working members of the society, its improved status at home and reputation abroad, and the removal of the Society to their present commodious building, all demand that this collection should attain the same completeness as that of the Canadian birds, now in the Museum, and become equally useful for reference. The Council would therefore respectfully represent to Naturalists, Sports-men and others, that they could much advance the desired object by sending their specimens to the Society for pre-servation; and to those kindred Societies who might also feel disposed to co-operate, the duplicate specimens of minerals, fossils, and birds, both American and foreign, now in possession of the Society, would readily be made available where wanted. In publishing the subjoined list of quadrupeds chiefly wanted, the Council desire to solicit the aid of the public generally to supply them, convinced that their efforts to foster and advance the special branch of science to which they devote themselves, will be appreciated.
ABRAHAM DE SOLA, LL. D. ,
Chairman Coun. N. H. S.
JOHN LEEMING,
Recording Secretary.
Montreal, January, 1864:

Lynx Canadensis, or Common American
Hoary Marmot.
Black-tailed Hare.

Wildcat.
Black-tailed Deer, or Columbia Deer.
Virginian Opossum.

Lynx Fasciatus.
Mule-Deer, or Cervus Macrotis.
Black American Wolf.

Parry's Marmot Squirrel.
Musk-Ox.
Fox-Squirrel.

Four-striped Ground Squirrel.
Long-tailed Deer.
Prairie-Wolf.

The Wolverine.
Arctic Fox.
Rocky-Mountain Sheep.

Collared Peccary.
Little Otter.
Rocky-Mountain Goat.

Red-bellied Squirrel.
Canada do.
Moose-Deer.

Canada Pouched Rat.
Caribou.
Prong-horned Antelope.

Black Spermophile.
Cinnamon Bear.
Ocelot, or Leopard-Cat.

Douglass' do.
Grizly Bear.
Prairie-Dog, or Marmot-Squirrel.

Richardson's do.
Common Deer.
Swift Fox, or Kit-Fox of plains.

Franklin's Spermophile, or Great Gopher of
American Buffalo.
Raccoon.

Wisconsin and Illinois.
American Elk.
American Badger.

Hare-Squirrel.
Polar Hare.
Specimens of species of Moles,

Black Squirrel.

Rats, Mice, Shrews.

Identifier

LSDCBx2FF11_12

Date

1864-03-21