James Madison Papers
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To James Madison from Philip Freneau, 22 November 1772

From Philip Freneau

RC (LC: Madison Papers). Marked by JM “Rcd. Feby. 19. 1773.” Freneau specialists have accorded much attention to this letter and have printed it in full at least four times. It is called “Freneau’s liveliest known letter” by Philip M. Marsh in his edition of The Prose of Philip Freneau (New Brunswick, N.J., 1955), p. 580.

Somerset County in Maryland1
November 22d: 1772.

Sir

If I am not wrongly informed by my memory, I have not seen you since last April. you may recollect I was then undertaking a School at Flatbush on Long Island.2 I did enter upon the business it is certain and continued in it thirteen days—but—“Long Island I have bid adieu, with all its bruitish brainless crew. The youth of that detested place, are void of reason and of grace, From Flushing hills to Flatbush plains, Deep ignorance unrivall’d reigns.[”] I am very poetical but excuse it— “Si fama non venit ad aures” if you have not heard the rumor of this story (which by the by is told in various Taverns and eating houses) you must allow me to be a little prolix with it. Those who employed me were some Gentlemen of New York. some of them were bullies, some merchants, and others Scoundrels: They sent me Eight children the eldest of whom was 10 Years. Some could read, others spell and a few stammer over a chapter of the Bible. these were my pupils and over these was I to preside. My Salary moreover was £40,—there is something else relating to that I shall not at present mention. after I forsook them they proscribed me for four days and swore that if I was caught in New York they would either Trounce or maim me: but I luckily escaped with my goods to Princetown—where I remained till commencement—so much for this affair. I have printed a poem in New York called the American Village, containing about 450 Lines, also a few short pieces added; I would send you one if I had a proper opportunity. the additional poems are,—1. a Poem to the Nymph I never saw—The miserable Life of a Pedagogue—and Stanzas on an ancient Dutch house on Long Island. As to the main poem it is damned by all good and judicious judges—my name is in the title page.3 this is called Vanity by some—but “who so fond as youthful bards of fame?” I arrived at this Somerset Academy the 18th: of October and intend to remain here till next October. I am assistant to Mr. Bracken[r]idge[.] This is the last time I shall enter into such a business. it worries me to death and by no means suits my “giddy’ wandring brain.” I would go over for the gown this Time two years4—but the old hag Necessity has got such a prodigious gripe of me that I fear I shall never be able to accomplish it. I believe if I cannot make this out I must turn quack—and indeed I am now reading Physic at my leisure hours, that is, when I am neither sleeping, hearing classes, or writing Poetry—for these three take up all my time.

It is now late at night. not an hour ago I finished a little poem of about 400 lines, entituled a Journey to Maryland—being the Sum of my adventures. it begins—“From that fam’d town where Hudsons flood—unites with Streams, perhaps as good; Muse has your bard began to roam.” I intend to write a terrible Satire upon certain vicious persons of quality in N. Y—who have also used me ill—and print it next fall. it shall contain 5 or 600 Lines. Sometimes I write pastorals to shew my Wit. “Deep to the woods, I sing a Shepherds care, Deep to the woods, Cyllenius calls me there. The last retreat of Love and Verse I go—Verse made me mad at first and —— will keep me so.[”]5 I should have been glad to have heard from you before now; while I was at College I had but a short participation of your agreeable friendship and the few persons I converse with and yet fewer, whose conversation I delight in, make me regret the Loss of it. I have met with a variety of rebuffs this Year, which I forbear to mention. I look like an unmeaning Teague just turned out of the hold of an irish Ship. coming down hither I met with a rare adventure at Annapolis. I was destitute even of a brass farthing. I got clear very handsomely. could one Expect ever to see you again, if I travel through Virginia I shall stop and tallk with you a day or two. I should be very glad to recieve a Letter from you if it can be conveniently forwarded. In short ‘Non sum qualis eram” as Partridge says in Tom Jones.6 My hair is grown like a mop, and I have a huge tuft of Beard directly upon my chin. I Want but five weeks of twenty one Years of age and already feel stiff with age. We have about 30 Students in this academy, who prey upon me like Leaches. [“]When shall I quit this whimp’ ring pack, and hide my head in Acomack!” Shall I leave them and go “Where Pokomokes long stream meandring flows.[”]7 Excuse this prodigious Scrawl—without stile or sense. I send this by Mr. Luther Martin who will forward it to Col. Lee—and he to you I hope.8 Mr. Martin lives in Acomack in Virginia, this side the bay. Farewell and be persuaded I remain your

truly humble Servt and friend.

Ph. F-r-e-n-e-a-u

1Freneau taught briefly, beginning in October 1772, in the academy at Back Creek, near Princess Anne in Somerset County, where Hugh Henry Brackenridge (1748–1816) was principal from 1772 to 1776 (Lewis Leary, That Rascal Freneau: A Study in Literary Failure [New Brunswick, N.J., 1941], pp. 45–46; Claude Milton Newlin, The Life and Writings of Hugh Henry Brackenridge [Princeton, 1932], p. 25).

2This, together with other remarks in this letter, is additional evidence that JM left Princeton in April or early May 1772, before Freneau’s return there following his unhappy two weeks in Flatbush (Bradford to JM, 13 October 1772, n. 1).

4Probably a reference to Freneau’s intention to go to England to be ordained as an Anglican minister.

5If Freneau composed the satire, he apparently neither published it nor “A Journey to Maryland.” They are not known to exist in manuscript.

6Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (4 vols.; London, 1768), IV (Bk. XV, chap. 12), 129. Idiomatically, “I’m not the man I was.” Insofar as is known, Freneau did not realize his hope of visiting JM.

7Accomack County, Va., and Somerset County, Md., are separated by the Pocomoke River which flows into Chesapeake Bay.

8JM probably knew Luther Martin (ca. 1748–1826), who graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1766. Although a Virginia lawyer at this time, Martin is chiefly identified with Maryland. He served as its attorney general, 1778–1805 and 1818–1820, and as one of its delegates in Congress, 1784–1785, and in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. His national prominence, dating from his opposition to the ratification of the Constitution, was enhanced later by his verbal attacks upon President Jefferson and his career as a constitutional lawyer. The “Col. Lee” likely means Henry Lee (1729–1787) of Leesylvania in Prince William County, Va. Lee was a burgess, 1758–1775, a member of the conventions of 1775 and 1776, and county lieutenant during the Revolution. He was the father of “Light-Horse Harry” Lee and the grandfather of Robert E. Lee.

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