CHAPTER V

STUDENT LIFE AT LE GRAND-LAW AND LOVE IN LONDON-AN INTERESTING LETTER

After about a year and a half at St. Omer, young Charles was found fitted for entering the college of Louis Le Grand at Paris where he was to spend four years in completing his classical education and fitting himself for the study of English law, which he was to pursue in London. He was doubtless instructed as his father before him had been, that his study of the law was not for the purpose of enabling him to earn money as a practitioner, but to equip him for the burdens of handling a great estate and for the responsibilities of a public career. For in those days men were educated and trained for public life. In the case of Mr. Carroll, as well as that of nearly every one associated with him in the patriot cause, his education was along lines to best fit him for a clear understanding and a forceful exposition of the great problems of government with which he would have to contend. There was not much haphazard in the matter of men getting into great public positions. The ones trained for the work were the ones that had it in hand, and those best trained stood the best chance. There was doubtless another strong incentive for work and thorough equipment. The Carrolls were Roman Catholics and they had for two generations suffered from, and chafed under the disadvantage in this regard; under which they labored. To rise above all this and become influential and strong, a man must be not only equal to the tasks that public life imposed, but he must be so able and thorough as to be almost indispensable. It was this

kind of equipment to which young Charles Carroll was aiming. How well he attained it will be shown as his career unfolds.

Letters to and from his father in Maryland showed how close in thought and feelings the two were; though so far separated and so seldom able to meet. But the letters kept them in touch.

College life at Le Grand was just as exacting in the matter of studies as he had found it at St. Omer; but the attitude of the young man and his studious habits enabled him easily to keep at the head of each of his classes. The father was always pleased with his reports and didn't hesitate to express himself freely to that effect. He praised the boy, thanked the masters, and encouraged him constantly to put forth his best efforts. How helpful and encouraging these letters from home were, was constantly shown in the later life of young Charles.

Though it is not the purpose to reproduce letters the following is so pertinent that it cannot well be omitted. It is interesting beyond the matter of being a family letter, for it tells of the conflicting claims of England and France to part of this continent; and tells the story with a clearness and exactness that will make the letter most interesting to readers of the present day. It is in answer to an inquiry on this matter and is for the purpose of enabling the young man to discuss the subject intelligently.

Dear Charley:

July 26, 1756.

I have received the following letters from you Dec. 14th, 1755, one without a date wrote as I suppose about the 10th of last January, and the last dated February 27th, 1756. You may be assured they were all very welcome to me and your mama. I suppose you may buy Locke and Newton in

Paris, if not desire your cousin Anthony to write to Mr. Perkins to send them to you or any other books you may want. As war is declared I know not how you will get these books. The carriage through Holland will amount to more than the first cost. If they could be sent to Rouen they would by the Seine reach you at little expense.

Tho' we are threatened with the introduction of the English Penal Laws into this Province, they are not yet introduced. But last May a law passed here to double tax the lands of all Roman Catholics. I wrote you the 16th of last September and then enclosed one from your mama; as you do not acknowledge the receipt of that letter, I suppose your mama's letter miscarried with it.

I am glad to hear you enjoy your health at Paris. I sent your letter to your cousin, Walter Hoxton. There was no final decree against Dr. Carroll. He died before the cause was ripe for a trial, but I hope his son will be obliged in time to pay what his father justly owed. All your letters give reason to hope my scheme will succeed. I have wrote to cousin Anthony to whom I refer you on this head, as I refer him to you for what follows: You desire to know the origin of our American war, and the events that have happened in the course of it. I will endeavor to satisfy you in as clear and concise a manner as I can. If the priority of discovery was only to give a title to lands in America, the King of Spain would be entitled to all America; as neither France or England would agree to such a claim each of them must found their title to their several dominions here in possession. The uncontested possessions of the English seem to be from Kennebeki River southward to the river Savanna which is the northern boundary of our new colony of Georgia.

The possessions of the French before the Treaty of Utrecht were from the Keenebeki to the northward to include Arcadie, all Nova Scotia, New France or Canada, and Louisiana. The first set

tlements of both nations were upon the shores of the seas and rivers that wash their several territories. As their colonies increased the French extended their settlements to the eastward, the English theirs to the westward. The settlements under the different nations now approaching each other the question is how far the English shall extend theirs to the westward and the French theirs to the eastward.

The English in many or most of their grants extend the western bounds of their colonies to the South Sea but may be not with much justice or reason, for by this pretension they would not only swallow up all the French settlements on the Mississippi, but New Mexico which the Spaniards will hardly consent to. Nature seems to have pointed out other boundaries to the two nations which perhaps in the next treaty of peace they may establish. The French as settled on St. Lawrence and Mississippi, I suppose claim all the lands watered by the several rivers and streams falling into the said rivers. The English by a parity of reason may as justly claim the lands lying on the several rivers and streams emptying themselves into the Atlantic Ocean. This diversion of the waters is made by the Apalathean Mountains which take their rise in the point of Florida and extend thence to the northward, inclining more or less to the eastward, and this chain of mountains as I said before, may perhaps be hereafter agreed on as the common boundary between the contending powers.

The dispute about their possessions to the northward is of a more intricate nature. The French were certainly the first settlers not only of Canada but of Nova Scotia and Acadie which they contend to be two different provinces. The English on the contrary contend that Nova Scotia includes all Acadie. The priority of the French possession of the aforesaid countries I believe is undisputed, and tho' they were formerly disturbed in their possession of Nova Scotia, under