CHAPTER III
A COMPARISON OF WORD USAGE AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE IN THE 1822 BEALE LETTERS AND THE REMAINING TEXT IN THE 1885 BOOKLET ENTITLED "THE BEALE PAPERS"
If Thomas Jefferson Beale did not write the letters attributed to him, who did? A comparison of the word usage and sentence structure in the letters and the remaining text of THE BEALE PAPERS seems to indicate that they were written by the same person.
The most persuasive comparison is in sentence structure. Both the letters and the texts show the tendency of the writer or writers to write sentences structured as "IT WAS ... THAT ...". In the letters, the following examples occur:
IT WAS imperative upon us THAT some one here...
IT WAS with this design THAT I first visited ...
IT WAS doubtless correct THAT when outside parties...
IT WAS finally decided THAT it would be best...
IT WAS suggested THAT in case of an accident...
IT WAS in accordance with these instructions THAT I visited...
and variations as follows:
IT WAS not considered advisable to retain...
IT WAS too frequently visited by neighboring...
IT WAS at this time (THAT) I handed you the box...
The following examples occur in the booklet text:
IT WAS during this period of his success THAT Mr. Morriss...
IT WAS at this time THAT Mrs. Morriss exhibited...
IT WAS the unblemished character...THAT induced Beale...
IT WAS in 1862...THAT Mr. Morriss first intimated...
IT WAS in the month...THAT I first saw...
IT WAS not until 1845...THAT I decided upon opening...
IT WAS not until 1862...THAT he thought proper...
and variations as follows:
IT WAS not the wealthy...alone WHO appreciated...
IT IS needless to say THAT I shall await...
This is a remarkable number of occurrences of what most people would consider an awkward sentence construction, considering that there were only 90 sentences in the letters and 155 sentences in the rest of the text of the booklet (other than quotations from the Declaration of Independence).
Both the letters and the text use an excessive number of reflexive pronouns, sometimes in places where they are not properly reflexive. The following examples occur in the letters.
Perhaps not so reliable as yourSELF
Several friends who like mySELF were fond of adventure
Each member of the party bound himSELF by a solemn
Appropriating the portion assigned to yourSELF
A gift not from mySELF alone but
Affecting the fortunes of mySELF and many others
Some letters addressed to yourSELF and which
Sealed addressed to yourSELF and endorsed
My highest esteem for yourSELF
The following examples occur in the booklet text.
His friends who were formerly as sanguine as himSELF
Benefit from this source to himSELF, he is not
Readers be more fortunate than mySELF
Friendship for mySELF and family whom he would benefit
It should revert to mySELF or my heirs as a legacy from himSELF
He came ... seeking entertainment for himSELF
Exception of the two letters to mySELF
And to mySELF alone did he reveal it
Save what has been consumed upon it mySELF
As fully as I mySELF do
Among the other words which are repeated, sometimes excessively, between the letters and the booklet text, are Success, Pursuit, Enterprise, Commence, Latter, Systematize, Afford, Ascertain, Unintelligible, Ultimate, Contingency, Engage, Understand, Fully, and Encounter. It is improbable that two different people would have the tendency to use these words and expressions to the extent shown by these two sources.
Go to top page of Beale Code material
.