Sir,—The office of librarian to the University of Virginia having become
vacant by the resignation of Mr. Kean, and the authority of ultimate
appointment being in the Board of Visitors, it becomes necessary, in the
meantime, to place the library under the temporary care of some one;
you are, therefore, hereby appointed to take charge thereof until the
Visitors shall make their final appointment. You will be entitled to a
compensation at the rate of one hundred and fifty dollars a year, to be
paid by the Proctor from the funds of the University. An important part
of your charge will be to keep the books in a state of sound preservation,
undefaced, and free from injury by moisture or other accident, and in
their stated arrangement on the shelves according to the method and
order of their catalogue. Your other general duties and rules of conduct
are prescribed in the printed collection of the enactments of the Board
of Visitors. Of these rules the Board will expect the strictest observance
on your part, and that you use the utmost care and vigilance that
they be strictly observed by others. Given under my hand this 30th day
of January, 1826.