University of Virginia Library

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With feelings of proud satisfaction & gratitude to God,
I acknowledge the r.pt of your very welcome letter of 28th ult.
conveying the pleasing intelligence of your success before the B.d
of Visitors. This high honor reflects credit upon the whole connexion.
You have earned it by your sole exertions, under the blessing
& directions of a good providence, which has ever guided you.
Your high position is a responsible one, & we shall be anxious
that you should sustain yourself, & that the school over which you
are called to preside will loose none of the interest imported to
it by your worthy predecessor while under your charge. The prayer
of your anxious Father was. Lord grant success to my son Francis
in his efforts to obtain a higher position of usefulness, so that
I would call your attention to the fact that you owe a heavy debt
of obligation to that Good Being who has ever been your friend &
guide. Never forget your duty to Him. It is so natural for man to
forget his duty to God, while honored by men. I hope the faith of
my beloved son is rooted & grounded in God. We notice flattering
newspaper notices of yr appointm.t. We receive continually the
gratulations of yr friends here. It is the nature of man to laud a
rising Genius. Let all your efforts be aimed at adding honor &
dignity to the station you have been placed in. I am still undetermined
about the journey to the Uni. If I come I think I sh.d take
the short out in my Rockaway & take time leaving here about the
Wednesday preceeding the 20th inst. There are difficulties in that
arrangement. If you should conclude to visit Leesburg going out,
you travelling in a pull convey.e would get here before I c.d return.
Ellen is anxious to know yr. definite arrangement. She
wishes to know if you intend to have much company with you. Can
you not if this reaches you write to her at once. Perhaps a visit
on yr return would be as well, when you could quietly spend a week
or more with us & rest yrself, but I cant approve yr northern visit
I should greatly prefer a visit to the different Va. Springs, to
enjoy the mountain air & scenery, the good mt.n mutton, venison etc
& see the elite of the South who congregate there usually. Yr
health w.d more likely be promoted by this trip. As regards yr
friends funds, you may if I do not come draw on me for the whole
or part as you like, a part w.d suit my means best just now, & the
bal. in a month or two. If I come I will pay you there, otherwise
place yr dft endorsed well in yr Bank for collection & it will be
done.

I did not get yrs till Sat, 2d inst. It was postmk 29th
June. I fear this will not reach you at home, & will request yr
P.M. to forw.d it if he knows yr whereabouts. Write immediately.

You say I must by all means come out about the 20th, &
you are to spend 2 or 3 weeks at the spgs. That alone w.d fetch
the 20th. I would like to hear more definite arrangements.

I feel deeply indebted to Dr. Harrison for his friendship
tow.d you, & this would prompt me to try & come out that I might
personally present him my warm thanks & acknowledgements for his
very effective attentions to the interest of my dear son, during
his residence at the Uni.

Be not elated my son, conduct yrself soberly & with
great dignity. Your blushing honors come thick upon you. In less

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