Brook Farm: Historic and Personal MemoirsCodman, John Thomas
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Brook Farm: Historic and Personal Memoirs
Codman, John Thomas
Brook Farm Phalanx (West Roxbury, Boston, Mass.)
Sir: Having been informed by Mr. Brisbane that an establishment on the
united interest principle has been commenced near Boston, I hasten to
address you to inform you that for some years I have felt impressed
with its superiority to the individual system; and have been, and still
am, anxious to engage heart and soul in so good a cause. I have been in
this country between four and five years, and have a comfortable
situation; but feeling confident of the ultimate advantage of an
Association, and feeling assured that I could render myself valuable in
such an establishment, I prefer casting my lot with those who feel
desirous of acting for the restoration of man.
I have to inform you that from my youth I have chiefly engaged in the
dry goods business, ironmongery, grocery, etc., and have a general
knowledge of trade. I am of industrious habits and with an active turn
of mind, and together with my wife, I may justly say, few will be found
more useful and desirous of acting for the general good. I am about
forty-two years of age, and my wife is a little older; my son is
fourteen, and we are fully prepared for active life. I have no
knowledge of any mechanical trade, but am fond of it as well as
agriculture and gardening; I possess a fair share of health; am fond of
writing and bookkeeping; only occasionally disposed to gaiety, but
rather for scientific relaxation; not fanatical in religion, but a
regarder of the great commandments and charitable for the feelings and
the convictions of others.
I have, sir, given you an unvarnished statement with regard to myself,
and I should feel obliged by your informing me at your earliest
convenience if myself, wife and son can be admitted by my investing two
hundred dollars for the furnishing of the apartment assigned to us. Are
there any Wesleyans with you, and what is the distance to the Wesleyan
chapel?--as my wife is a member of that body. From what I have learned
from Mr. Brisbane's letter and newspaper he was kind enough to send me,
I should judge your establishment to be such as we could safely and
comfortably join, and I trust you will give me in your answer
additional reason to think so.
I remain, sir,
Your obedient servant,
H. Gawler.
_From a Printer_.
Bangor, ME., Jan. 1, 1845.
_Mr. George Ripley_,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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