Wonderful letter from Francis Beattie Brewer, (see below), to his sister regarding religious and social events during his days at Dartmouth College.  In the opening paragraphs of his letter he details the extent of the religious studies he is taking and says: "i think there is more feeling on religious subjects than there has been since I entered college.  We hope now we are to have a revival here. We have a class of 90 and only 40 pious ones." But not all is religion. He later comments in regard to the family of Deacon Sargent "They have a daughter living with them 18 or 19 yuears of age qite an interesting young lady...". An outstanding and easy to read letter from a future top businessman and politician. Extremely historic item in outstanding condition. Postmark is light, but the content and writer are the true value here.

BREWER, Francis Beattie, a Representative from New York; born in Keene, Cheshire County, N.H., October 8, 1820; attended the Barnet (Vt.) public schools, Newbury (Vt.) Seminary, and Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N.H.; was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., in 1843 and from the medical department of the same institution in 1846; practiced medicine in Barnet, Vt., Plymouth, Mass., and Titusville, Pa., from 1849 to 1861; pioneer oil operator and lumberman in Titusville, Pa.; moved to Westfield, N.Y., in 1861 and engaged in banking, manufacturing, and agricultural pursuits; State military agent with rank of major during the Civil War; member of the board of supervisors of Chautauqua County, N.Y., 1868-1879; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1872; member of the State assembly in 1873 and 1874; Government director of the Union Pacific Railroad four years under Presidents Grant and Hayes; appointed manager of the State insane asylum, Buffalo, N.Y., in 1881; elected as a Republican to the Forty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1883-March 3, 1885); was not a candidate for reelection in 1884; resumed the practice of medicine; died in Westfield, Chautauqua County, N.Y., July 29, 1892; interment in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pa.