Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-09-09
Professor John w. Webster to the Rev.
DR.. Francis Parkman,
Brokher of Or. George PdrERaan.

PROFESSOR JONI W. W HeDSleE " snO nov.
DR.. Francis Parkman,
Brother of DR.. George Parkssam.
BosroN, August al, 1850.
The follow letter was communicated to
the Boston Transcript of this evening, by
the Rev. DR.. Putnam, he having been au.
,horized 10 mako it public by the late Pro.
(essor Webster:
g.. BosToN, August 8, 1850.
Dear Sri cannot leave this worldin
the peace Of mind for which | pray, with.
out addressing you as the head of thu. lam.
ly which have SO deeply injured and at-
Aicted, 10 mike known TO you ano them
the bitter anguish Of soul, the sincere con-
triton and penitence have felt at having
been the cause Of the afflic,ion under which
you and they have been called to mourn.
can Offer no excuse for my wicked and
fatal ebulli,ion OF passion, bu. what you
already know; nor would | attempt to pal.
late it. had never, until the two or three
last interviews with your brother, felt to-
wards him anything bu, gratitude for his
many acts of kindness and friendship
Tha, should have allowed my feelings,
excited m the occasion, to have overpow.
cred me so as TO involve the life Of your
brother and my own temporal and eternal
welfare, can even now. hardly realize.
| may not from you receive forgiveness
in this world, yet | cannot but hope and
believe you will think Of me with compass.
ion, and remember me in your prayers 10
Him that will not turn away from the hum.
BILE and repentant. Had | many lives,
with what jay would | lay them all down
could in The least atone for the injury !
have done, or alleviate the aftliction hnve
caused; but can only pray for forgive
ness for myself, and for every consolation
and blessing upon every member Of your
family.
In Justice to those dearest to me, beg
10 assure you, and enlreas you to be-
lieve me, no one Of my family had the
slightest doubt Of my innocence up to the
moment when the contrary was communi-
ca,e to them by DR.. Putnam. That they
have your sincere pity and sympathy, |
feel assured. There is no family, towards
every member Of which have always felt
a greater degree Of respect and regard,
than tina, Of which you are the head:
From more than one have received re.
peated acts Of friendship and kindness, for
which have ever been, and am, most tru-
ly grateful. Towards yourself in particu-
lar, have not only my own feelings been
those of the most sincere regard and graf.
i,ude, bu. every individual Of my family
has felt towards you that you were their
pastor and their friend. Often has my
wife recalled the interest you took in her,
from her first becoming your pnrishioner;
and often has she spoken with feelings Of
deep gratitude, of the influence Of your
public minis:rn,ions, and Of your private
instructions and conversations, and of your
direction Of her enquiries and reading, in
what related to her religious views. These
she often recalled and referred to, as hnv-
ing firmly established the religious faith
and trust which are now such sources oi
consolation and support 10 her and our
children. 49, x. :.
As TO myself, nothing that h's occurred
has weakened those feelings, and although
those | leave behind me may not meet
you without the keenes. anguish, trust
YOU will exonerate them from any -purtic.
ipation in, or knowledge Of, the fathers
sin, up to the moment hJve mentioned;
and may you remember them in your pray.
ers to the "Fnther Of the fatheriess, and the
widows God"
beg you: my dear sir, to consider this
strictly private letter, and by. no mems
to give ii publicity; Mt the same time | will
request you TO make known to the imme.
dia,e members Of your family the state Of
my feelings and contrition.
That every consolation and blessing may
be vouched to yourself and to every msm-
Der Of your family, is the heartfelt prayer
Of Yours,