three letters from the ford and ravenel papers

Three Letters from the Ford and Ravenel PapersSource: The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 26, No. 3 (Jul., 1925), pp.146-150Published by: South Carolina Historical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27569663 .

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THREE LETTERS FROM THE FORD AND RAVENEL PAPERS

The letters printed below form part of a miscellaneous collection

of papers belonging to the late Dr. Edmund Ravenel; many of the

documents were from the estate of Timothy Ford Esq. and were

in Dr. Ravenel's possession. The collection was deposited in

this Society by Frank R. Frost Esq. Addressed

Timothy Ford Esq1 Charleston

S. C.

[Circular Stamp]

Savan, Ga

Oct

31.

Pinckney Island2 Octr: 27th: 1810

Dear Sr:

It is Dr: Willich who so strongly reprobates the administering of

arsenic in any form, notwithstanding the recommendation of

Doctors Fowler, Arnold, Withering, Willam, Marsh, Pearson &

Many other respectable practitioners. He says there are others of

equally extensive practice and erudition, who deprecated the use of

this active & dangerous medicine, & he relies strongly on the con

clusive Testimony of Dr- Black, who maintains that he has seen

the internal exhibition of arsenic attended with fatal effects, such as

hectics, paralytic, spasmodic & phthisical disorders; & that even the

external application of this substance has often produced dreadful

consequences. The Authors of the Edinburgh practice of Physic, Vol. 1 p. 134 edition of 1803, in five vols. 8:?? Speaking of the

Arsenical solution, says, "it is necessary in the exhibition of this

dangerous remedy in every case, & under every form, that the

Physician should continually watch its effects on the System j

1 For some account of Timothy Ford see this Magazine, vol. XIII, pp. 132

133. 2 Pinckney Island in St. Luke's Parish, Beaufort County, bounding on

Okeetee Barony (this Magazine, vol. XIII, p. 119).

146



THREE LETTERS FROM FORD AND RAVENEL PAPERS 147

otherwise the most serious evils May occur to the Patient."

The younger Dr. Duncan in his Translation of the Edinburgh, new Dispensatory published in 1804 says that "notwithstanding the successful exhibition of Arsenic by Dr. Fowler and other

eminent Practitioners, & notwithstanding its daily use as a

domestic remedy in the fenny parts of England for the cure of

intermittent fevers, it is suspected on such strong grounds of

undermining the Constitution, & laying the foundation for Mortal

diseases, that its general use ought to be discouraged. Surely, my dear Sir, these authorities are sufficient to make you hesitate before

you continue the use of this deleterious substance, or recommend

it to our friends. Candour however obliges me to mention an

authority quoted by Dr. Duncan in its favour. The French

Directory when their Army in Italy were seized with agues in

the marshes of Lombardy, ordered their surgeons to cure the

Soldiers by this remedy in two or three days, under pain of military execution.

That you may be always exempt from the prescription of such

mild, humane & amiable gentlemen, & of their skilful successor, is the sincere wish of

Your friend

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney3

Timothy Ford Esq.

2.

Addressed

Dr. E. Ravenel4

Broad St.

[No place, date in pencil, 1832]

My Dear Sir

I proceed to give you some account of your & Wards5 new dis

coveries.

3 General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, 1746-1825. 4 Dr. Edmund Ravenel, born Dec. 8, 1797; died July 27, 1870. Married

(1) Charlotte, daughter of Timothy Ford and his wife Miss DeSaussure;

married (2) Louisa C, daughter of Timothy Ford and his second wife

Miss Prioteau. 5 Henry Ward, a taxidermist employed by Dr. Bachman and Audabon.



148 SO. CA. HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL MAGAZINE

The Finch & Swallow are as I expected the (Fringella Cau

dacuta) sharp tailed Finch, & the (Hirundo Rufa) Barn Swallow.

The Thrush is the (Turdus Ludovicianus) Water Thrush of

Louisiana. This is a valuable specimen. Audubon has figured & described the Bird, but although its habits differ from the

Northern (Turdus Aquaticus) Water Thrush it being a fine song ster & the other Solitary, yet its markings are so much like it that

Ornithologists hesitated in receiving it as a New bird & Nuttale

has omitted it, or rather gave it as the same: There is however this

difference the present bird is 1/2 an inch shorter & its tail slightly forked the other has a rounded Tail. The present Bird lives only in the South & has never before been seen as far North as Carolina, the former breeds beyond the limit of the U. S. The dispute thanks

to Ward and the Myrtle pond is now settled in favour of my friend

Audubon. This is his Louisiana Water Thrush and ours will

probably be the only specimen in any Museum.

The two small species of sand birds that Ward believed to be of

the same species are the (Tringa semipalmated) semipalmated

sandpiper and the (Tringa pusilla) little sandpiper. He should kill

several of these birds to enable us to discover their variations.

The mounted bird is as I stated the (Tringa himantopus) long

legged sand piper of Bounaparte. He has only designated not

described this Bird in his Synopsis, but as he mentions being about

to publish a drawing in his next Volume, and as I perceive that the

next volume is published in Philad. I did not get Miss Martin6

to draw it, as I hope Ward may kill another and send it to Town

before it is stuffed.

The Tern I have not examined carefully, but believe it to be the

(Sterna nigra) short tailed?or black Tern changing its plumage. You have therefore discovered no new birds but have found rare

ones?cleared up difficulties and added something to science. I

congratulate you go on and prosper.

If you could but get to an Island where the Birds are gentle?

you would do as much in a day as you now do in a month. Try to keep Henry at work?the Ticks are of no account, I did not

feel one since my return. We want the stone curlew?Tell-tale

and Marbled Godwits?the Shear water, Pelicans and all the

6 Dr. John Bachman's sister-in-law, who painted many of the birds of South

Carolina for Audubon.



THREE LETTERS FROM FORD AND RAVENEL PAPERS 149

Tringas, Hang around the Fish nets?not forgetting the Crabs and

Insects, This is the time for the Gannet and Wood Ibis?Perhaps also a Flamingo?spoon bill?or Scarlet Ibis may stray to the

Island?They are however very rare.

I enclose a check for $10. for Henry do get the money and give it to him. I will come down again as soon as you have more

novelties.

Yrs truly

Jno Bachman7

3.

Address

Doct. Ravenel

Professor of Chemistry Charleston So. Carolina

Meeting St. opposite the Scotch Church.

(This package contains specimens of Raw Sugar)

Havre December 11th 1832

Dear Sir

I have taken the liberty to send you a sample of sugar, made by a

new process by which less molasses is produced, and the sugar

crystallises in a much purer form than by the old plan?The proc ess has been discovered but lately, about 8 months, and thinking it would be acceptable to you I have sent you a sample of three

different qualities?it is now getting into general use in England ?The heat is applied by means of steam, and in a more gradual manner than by the old process, consequently the crystals are

purer.

I have inclosed a memorandum of the cost of machinery etc.

The specimens I have sent you is the raw sugar produced from the

juice of the cane?and was first made in Demerara.

I will start this evening for Paris, and as soon as I can get my affairs in order, I will endeavour to become acquainted with such

gentlemen, as would be glad of an interchange of specimens of

7 John Bachman, D.D., LL.D., born Rhinebeck, N. Y., 4 Feb., 1790; died

in Charleston, S. C, 24 Feb., 1874.



150 SO. CA. HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL MAGAZINE

conchology, when I will do myself the pleasure to write again? I must again apologize for the liberty I have taken in sending you the samples of sugar, and of informing you of what perhaps you has long been acquainted with?

With every sentiment of respect I remain, Dear Sir

Your obt. Servant.

F. Wurdeman.8

?F. Wurdeman ) Care of Thos. Taylor Esq. >

Havre ) 8 Author of Notes on Cuba, 1844.



three letters from the ford and ravenel papers

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