University of Virginia Library

I was unfortunate in not seeing you at the University on
the 29th when I was there for space. perhaps, of an hour. I did not
arrive in time to do more than witness the delivery of the Masters'
Diplomas, the last act in the ceremony of the Public Day, and after
the crowd dispersed, my attention was called in the direction of one
or two ladies of my acquaintance, with whom I was left alone by the
unforeseen and provoking departure of their proper escorts. A haok
was on the way to Charlottesville at the time of my release, and I
was compelled to take the chance of getting there otherwise than on
foot. The Alumni dinner took up the rest of the day, and on the next
I left for Staunton, to meet a positive engagement. It was my purpose
to have called on Prof. Smith, as well as on other Profs, but
I was prevented, as you see, by want of time. However, I heard more
from others about you, than I would have heard from yourself, and
therefore I don't regret missing you so much, pleasant as you are to
look upon. It is well that men should know how they stand in the
esteem of their race, and on this account I take the liberty of saying
between you and me that you stand a very fair chance of being
damned (to use a saying of Buckingham's) since he is accursed of
whom all men speak well. There was an universal sentiment in your
favor, going to make you out a great man, and I would have been disposed
to rate you one, had I not enjoyed better opportunities than
any of my informants of knowing the opposite. As however the world
is on one side and I on the other, numbers will doubtless carry the
day, and you be decided as indeed a great man! I will enter a minority
protest to any such verdict, placing my judgment above that of
all the rest of mankind combined: unless you occupy the same ground
with me.

What a "jog-trot" gait is mine, by the way. You have gone up
like a rocket and not come down like a stick, while I have spent my
time in fixing and getting ready to go up, without rising in the
slightest. The worst of the matter is, that now and then a random
desire takes possession of me, which it is utterly impossible to
carry out. My practice draws its slow length along so slowly, that
all my matrimonial aspirations are actually nipped in the bud. What
am I to do about this? The "gal" is poor,- I am poor,- therefore etc.
I don't believe all creation could starve me from practising law, if
I remained single, but the question is just narrowed down to this:
Shall I sacrifice my profession for a wife? What is your opinion
about it? You see, I can make a living—at least I think so, but am
not even certain of that—at teaching, or on a tight, very tight,
pinoh, at editing; but at law a poor wife operates as an estoppal.
You were surprised before, and upon hearing this, will be more surprised
than you were at first, at my throwing up the place at Concord,
but I would not have been satisfied there as a subordinate,
treated badly by the boys, and my sister will no longer be an obstacle

to my removal from Richmond, as was the case last winter.
If I could get a nice Professorship, I would be very glad to take
it with a wife in the bargain: and as you intimated during our
correspondence last winter, I want you to have a look-out for one
for me. Now, in conclusion, let me beg you to keep all this communication
strictly confidential, as I know you will do. Furthermore,
write me about yourself, since I have written so much about myself.