The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-04
IcoPY
BOgrON

BOSTON, august D. lS5O.
REv. DR. PARRMAN-Dcar Sir: Icannot leave this
world in the peace Of mind for which pray, with
out addressing you the head Of that family
which have 20 deeply injured and afflicted, To
make known 70 you and them the bitter anguish of
soul, the sincere contrition and pcnitence / have
felt at having been the Of the afiicton under
which you aud they have been called TO mourn I
can offer excuse for my wicked and fatal ebulli-
ton Of passion bot what you already know nor
would attempt 10 palliate it, have never, until
the two or three lasi interviews with your brother
felt towards him any thing but gratitude for his
many acts of kindness and friendship. That
should have allowed the feelings excited those
occasions 70 have OvorpOwercd me so as 20 involve
the life of your brother and my own temporal and
eternal welfare, can even now hardly realize.
! may not receive from you forgiveness in this
world, yet cannot but hope and believe you will
think of me with compassion, and remember me
in your prayers 70 Hin who will not turn away
from the humble and rcpentant. Had ! many
lives, with what Joy would lay them all down,
could ], in the least atone for the injury have
done, alleviate the affiiction have causcd but
can now only pray for forgiveness for myself and
for every consolation 0nd blessing upon every mem
Der OF your family In justcc to those dearest 10
me, beg 10 assure you, and entrcat you to be
licve mc, no one Of my family had the slightest
doubt of my entire innocence up to the moment
when the contrary was communicated To them by
DR.. Putnam That they have your sincere pity
and sympathy feel assured There IL no family
towards every member Of which ] have always
felt greater degree Of respect and regard than
that Of which you now the head From more
than one have received repeated acts Of friend.
ship and kindness. for which | have ever been and
am most truly grateful.
Towards yourselfin particular have not only my
own feelings been those Of the most sincere regard
and gratitude, but every individual Of my family
has felt towards you that you were their pastor md
friend. Often has my wife recalled the interest you
took in her from her first becoming your parishoner
and often has she spoken with feelings Of deep graf
itude, Of the influence of your public ministrstons
and Of your private instructions and conversations,
and Of your direction of her inquiries and reading in
what related TO her religious views. These she has
often recalled and referred 10 having firmly
tablished the religious faith and trust which are
such sources Of consolation and support to her
and our children, we'll to myself. Nothing
that has occurred has weakened these feelings and,
although those ! leave behind me may not meet
you without the keenest anguish ] trust you will
exonerate them from any participation in, or know
ledge of, the fathers sin, up 20 the moment have
mentioned, and may you remember them in your
prayers to the Father of the atherless, and the Wild
ow's God.
beg you, my dear sir, 10 consider this strictly a
private letter, and by no means TO give IL publicity;
at the same time will request you 20 make known
to the Immediate members Of your family the state
Of my feelings and my con,rition.
That every consolation and blessing may be