Benjamin Hale letter

A rich series of letters by Hale to his spouse, Mary Caroline Alsop King Hale. Most of the letters were written in 1827 during Hale's first term of teaching at Dartmouth College. Mary remained in Saco, Maine, pregnant and caring for their daughter. Hale comments on women and social life in Hanover, the cost of renting a home in Hanover, and his lectures in chemistry. In a letter dated 24 Sept. 1827, he writes about a lecture on electricity that was attended by a chief from the tribe at St. Francis, Quebec. He also comments on Bennet Tyler, president of Dartmouth College, and Matilda Webber Dana, widow of Prof. James Freeman Dana. Other topics include religion and church matters in Saco as well as Hanover.