University of Virginia Library

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I was very glad to get a letter from you at last,
though I readily excused you for not writing, as Mary's letter
gave me the news of the University. I was very glad to learn
from you what she had omitted—that Mr. Smith had overcome
his first repugnance to an introductory lecture, and still
more that he had acquitted himself in so satisfactory a way.
The rest of his path in the session will be comparatively
smooth, until he is called upon to punish one of those disorders
which always must be expected, with more or less frequency,
where so many young men are congregated. The members this year
will, I think exceed 450, though fall short of the 500 I supposed
they would approach.

Mary's articles did not leave Philadelphia on Saturday,
as I had expected, but, owing to some delay of the
steamer, on Monday last—so that if they were to go to the
University by railroad they might get there by tomorrow—but
I know not whether that is a safe mode of sending a piano. Mr.
Smith, in a postscript to Mary's letter said he would send on
the money as soon as he knew the amount. I did inform him of
it eight days ago, & have not yet heard from him. This would
have been of no importance whatever if I had not on the faith
of his letter told Scheer & the curtain man they should have
their money this week, & if it does not arrive, I may find
some inconvenience in advancing so large a sum. The whole
amount was $551.37 but from this must be deducted $7 for the
piano cover. Mary wished one of India rubber and they are
the best, but they are not made here—but in New York, &
those which Scher.r had are a dingy white with faint dingy
flowers, & we thought them so ugly that we declined sending
one. The black ones are much handsomer—& some one going to
New York or dealing there might get her one—but take ear that
it is not too small as some here would be.

Your mother was taken last night with one of her
distressing attacks, & is consiquently very weak today. She
previously had a respite of a fortnight—and this return was
owing no doubt to overfatigue in procuring a waiter now that
Pollard & his wife are expected. I presume you have heard
that Maria Hunton has married an old Bachelor of sixty worth
two or three hundred thousand dollars. Frank & Ned will now
speak more favorably of her.