University of Virginia Library

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Your letter conveying the distressing intelligence
of Mr. Courtenay's death reached me last evening. From what
I had previously heard I apprehended that result. Most truly
do I lament it on account of his young family, on account of
the University, and on account of himself. I have always been
on the best terms with him, took a great pleasure in his society
and conversation, and in fact I have never known a more
right minded & principled man. Whatever appeared to his dispassionate
judgment right, to that he firmly & strictly conformed.
You are not likely to find his equal in a successor.
I apprehend you have underrated the provision he has left for
his children—it is doubtless far less than could be wished
or than his merits entitled him to, but he certainly could not
have spent his income in any year at the University, and must
have been worth at least $15,000—and I should hope more. I
should be glad to be informed on this subject as soon as the
facts are ascertained.

Professor [OMITTED]of the University here is a good
mathematician—but I know not whether he would accept the place
in Virginia, but presume from what I have heard him say, that
he would not if he could be chosen to the office of provost-now
vacant.

David Tucker & his family are now here for the holidays.

In consequence of an offensive notice by John Randolph
of my speech on the Missouri question in Garland's life
of him, I wrote to Garland some time ago at St. Louis, and receiving
no answer addressed him a short note at Washington. A
copy of his answer & my letter are now inclosed, & I wish to
take counsel of the Doctor, Mr. Smith, Mr. Rives & yourself
& Maria as to the course I should now take. To publish these
letters would make known his disparaging remarks to hundreds or
thousands to whom they were previously unknown, at the same
time it is not easy to submit quietly to injustice when one has
the means of vindication in their hands. I have sometimes thought
of having a few copies of these letters printed, & communicated
in my former district & other places where his notice has been
read & understood—but Dunglison thinks that even such a guarded
publication would find its way into the papers—and therefore
he advises against it.

Your mother's health is as it was—her last attack
was this day week—she sends you her love.

Remember us to the Doctor, the children Mr. Smith &
Mr. Broaddus, & believe me