You wou'd have heard from me ere this time had I not wish'd to be able to give you some encouragement to send my young friend John to Carlisle. My desire was to find a lodging where I cou'd have him with me, and some quiet, honest family of Friends, or others, where he might have boarded, as it wou'd not have been so proper for him to live with a mess of officers. I have been able to find neither, and am myself still in a tavern. The people here are no more willing to harbour us than those of Lancaster were at our first coming there. If, however, you can resolve to let him come here, I believe Mr. Despard and I can make him up a bed in a lodging we have in view, where there will be room enough. He will be the greatest part of the day with us, or employ'd in the few things I am able to instruct him in. In the mean while I may get better acquainted with the town, and provide for his board. With regard to expence, this is to be attended with none to you. A little assiduity and friendship is all I ask of my young friend in return for my good will to be of service to him, and my wishes to put him in the way of improving the talents Nature hath given him. I shall give all my attention to his morals, and as I believe him well-dispos'd, I trust he will acquire no bad habits here.
Mr. Despard joins with me in compliments to yourself, Mrs. Cope, and family.
I am,
Sir,
Your most humble servant,
JOHN ANDRE.
I am,
Sir,
Your most humble servant,
JOHN ANDRE.
I am,
Sir,
Your most humble servant,
JOHN ANDRE.
CARLISLE, the 3d April, 1776.
DEAR SIR
I am much oblig'd to you for your kind letter, and to your son for his drawings. He is greatly improv'd since I left Lancaster; and I do not doubt but, if he continues his application, he will make a very great progress. I cannot regret that you did not send your son hither. We have been submitted to alarms and jealousys which would have render'd his stay here very disagreeable to him; and I would not willingly see any person suffer on our account. With regard, however, to your apprehensions in consequence of the escape of the Lebanon gentlemen, they were groundless, as we have been on parole ever since our arrival at this place, which I can assure you they were not. I shou'd more than once have written to you had opportunitys presented themselves; but the post and we seem to have fallen out; for we can never by that channel receive or forward a line on the most indifferent subjects. Mr. Despard is very well, and desires to be remember'd to yourself and family. I beg you wou'd give my most friendly compliments to your family, and particularly to your son, my disciple, to whom I hope the future posture of affairs will give me an opportunity of pointing out the way to proficiency in his favourite study, which may tend so much to his pleasure and advantage. Let him go on copying whatever good models he can meet with, and never suffer himself to neglect the proportion, and never to think of finishing his work or imitating the fine flowing lines of his copy, till every limb, feature, house, tree, or whatever he is drawing, is in its proper place. With a little practise, this will be so natural to him, that his eye will at first sight guide his pencil in the exact distribution of every part of the work. I wish I may soon see you in our way to our own friends, with whom I hope, by exchange, we may be at length reunited.
I am,
Dear Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
J. ANDRE.
I am,
Dear Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
J. ANDRE.