1788 - Tongue-In-Cheek Defense of the "Hulking" Youth of Kentucky ...

The following is excerpted from the Draper Manuscript Collection, indexed in The Preston and Virginia Papers of the Draper Collection of Manuscripts, State Hist. Soc. of Wisconsin, pub., 1915, in which he recorded his readings from early printings of the Kentucky Gazette - found on microfilm in the University of Arkansas audio-visual department. Historical accounts of this period, such as may be found in The History of Transylvania University, Peter, Robert, M.D. & Peter, Johanna, John P. Morton & Co., Louisville, Ky., 1896, p. 37, reflect the development of schools; "Our early historians tell us that notwithstanding the hardships and difficulties which these early settlers encountered and endured, schools, even 'Latin schools,' were comparatively numerous, besides the well-endowed district or State college, Transylvania Seminary. Ranck's interesting 'History of Lexington' hands down many interesting facts in this relation. McKinney (who fought the wild-cat) had a school at first in the primeval Lexington Blockhouse in 1780, afterward on Cheapside. John Filson taught here in 1782. Isaac Wilson of Philadelphia College, established his Lexington Grammar School in 1787; James Priestly advertised in the Kentucky Gazette, November 22, 1788, 'that he had been appointed to superintend and conduct the education of students in Latin, Greek, and English, the arts and sciences,' etc., in Bardstown". Wallace's concerns, expressed below, about the students' travels, were apparently founded in practicality; in a footnote on p. 25, The History, etc., Peters notes, "When the effort was being made to inaugurate the Transylvania Seminary the inhabitants of Kentucky were dwelling in stations, from one of which to the other it was dangerous to pass except in companies. John Filson, on his map of Kentucky, published in 1784 and reproduced in Colonel Durrett's Life and Times of Filson in 1884, lays down no less than fifty of these stations in what is now known as the Blue Grass Region." When we visited Midway, Ky., we were shown by a local store-keeper a commemorative plate engraved "Wallace Station" - his store was located in a corner of the original Wallace estate - which was once thought to have referred to a railroad spur which had a station at that point, but "Wallace Station" existed long before the coming of the rails.

Numerous characteristics of style serve to identify Wallace as "Agricola", including the reference to himself a "very staunch whig"; Wallace was among the founders of the Whig Society at the College of New Jersey.

Here begins that rather vitriolic series of exchanges via the public medium of a state newspaper, between Wallace and John Filson; it is thus, as noted earlier, a bit ironic that the names of both men are preserved together with the former commemorated as part of the honor conveyed the latter.

" For the Kentucke Gazette.

to Mr. Filson.

Sir.

As I am a citizen of Kentucke, and have a number of children to educate, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to see schools raising so thick in various parts of the district. How happy for this infant country that we have so many gentlemen of learning and ability, who are ready to take our youth by the hand, and lead them through the whole circle of arts and science, at so moderate an expence. Only a few months ago, I was puzzled to find a proper school for my sons; now the scene is changed, and I seem equally embarassed to know which seminary to prefer.

At one time I had concluded to suffer my boys to drink at the Royal Spring, and try the efficacy of that wondrous font; being a very staunch whig, I hate even the name of royal, though applied to the waters of Parnassus. I then turned my attention to Lexington School, and was about putting my sons under the tuition of the former professor of Philadelphia Colledge. But, before this could be accomplished, an injurious production from some of the promising youths of Jessamine seemed to press me to send them to that celebrated seat of the Muses.

However, Sir, upon a careful revisal of your late publication, and seriously weighing the matter in my own mind, I have at length come to a fixed resolution to keep my boys at home till your academy is opened. For of all plans of education hitherto offered to the public, yours certainly bears the palm, & promises the most extensive utility. Your design is great and important. To unite the Scholar, the gentleman, & the Christian all in one, is the supreme, the ultimate end of Science. Indeed, a design like this will stamp divinity on your institution, sanctify philosophy, and raise humanity to a consummation which every good man must devoutly wish. And in this view of it, I have the pleasure to inform you, that all my acquaintance are charmed, are delighted with the institution, and determined to give it every encouragement. And as we feel so deeply interested in this institution, we wish to know more of it, and fully to understand every syllable that has dropped from your learned pen concerning it.

But, here, Sir, we labour under an unhappy disadvantage. In my neighbourhood all are illiterate, and unaccustomed to high flowery language or abstruse reasonings. Your sentiments are, many of them, so new; your stile is so lofty, your periods are so lengthy, so crowded with such a variety of matter, your conclusions are often so remote from their premises, and relatives quite out of light of their antecedents, that we are totally lost in their usage, and the longest line of our understandings are not able to fathom the depths of such erudition. I have, therefore, by the desire of my neighbours, flung those parts of your advertisement that we could not understand, into a few plain questions, As.

1. What is meant by the word popular, as affixed to the situation of your intended Academy?

2. Is it necessary that your scholars should travel a mile every day, in order to find boarding at 8 or 9 pounds a year?

3. Are youth, who receive their education in populous cities, generally more virtuous than such as have a private education?

4. What peculiar charm have Northern teachers to inspire virtue, suppress vice, and explode all party spirit that Southern teachers do not possess?

5. What is the meaning of the verb hulk?

6. Are young cadres, educated in the country, guilty of the sin ---- of hulking?

This question comes from the fair sex themselves: Who have taken the alarm. They fully believe that the crime of hulking, which you have so indiscriminately charged upon their brothers, is a rude stroke of satire, indirectly aimed at them. Take heed, good Sir; tis death to provoke the Fair.

Lastly, for the benefit of such as cannot give their children a public education, be pleased to point out that peculiar movement, that particular nick of time, when admonition, like a thunderbolt, shall knock a hulking boy out of his 'awkward gestures', into a 'genteel movement'.

By giving a plain, easy solution of these questions, you will, Sir, oblige many of your well-wishers, and, with the rest, your ^most obedient and humble servant -

Agricola

[Whom a pen-mark makes "C. Wallace" This article should have been entered - P. 52]

[Ky. Gaz: - No. 28 - March 8 - 1788.]"

Filson responded to Wallace's satirization of his advertisement, with the following article as copied by Draper.

"To Agricola

You have taken the liberty to animadvert upon the publication of the intended Seminary, proposing a few silly and impertinent questions, which I shall take no notice of. Your officious performance Reflects no reputation, indicating a spirit of altercation, which in every attitude I view with contempt. As you have been so personal with me, you will please to leave your proper name with the Printer and oblige -

John Filson.

[Ky: Gaz: - No. 34: April 19 - 1788]"

A month later, the following reply to Filson appeared:

"To Mr. Filson.

Sir. 'You have taken the liberty to animadvert upon the (viz. my) publication of the intended Seminary, proposing a silly and impertinent question, which I shall take no notice of. Your officious performance reflects no reputation, indicating a spirit of altercation, which in every attitude I view with contempt.

Agricola.

[Ky: Gaz: - No. 38. May 17 - 1788.]"

This animosity did not discourage others from seeking to enter the foray, as may be seen in the following notice:

" A person qualified to teach reading writing & arithmetic in its various branches, book-keeping, Surveying and Navigation, geography or the use of the globe, &c. is desirous of a school in any part of the district, a small part cash would be required in the subscription the rest in property paid quarterly. A line directed to A. B. at the printers will be duly attended to.

May 22 - 1788.

[Ky: Gaz: - No. 39 - May 24 - 1788.]"

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