University of Virginia Library

A special meeting of the Board of Visitors of the University
having been called by the Rector, in consequence of the death
of Professor Edward H. Courtnay the following members attended
viz Andrew Stevenson, Wm J. Robertson, and Harrison B. Tomlin,
who not constitating a quorum they deemed it proper to wait
another day, in the hope and expectation that a quorum of the
Board might be able to attend, and accordingly they adjourned
over to meet again tomorrow morning at 10 oclock.-

January 6th 1854

The same members were present on today as on yesterday
with the addition of Mr McDonald and not constituting a quorum

they did not feel themselves authorized to take any definite
action, in relation to the appointment of a Professor to the
Chair of Mathematics, made vacant by the death of the late lamented
Prof. Edward H. Courtney.

They however find a state of things existing in the University,
which seemed to them to require and justify their prompt
and immediate action upon the subject of the vacancy, as individual
members of the Board of Visitors-

After a full and free communication with the Faculty, they
derived the following information;- That, at the time of Mr
Courtney's death, he had just accomplished a work of great labor
in the preparation of his printed sheets, embracing his full
and entire course of Mathematics, for the whole of the session;
and that since his death, these sheets had been placed at the
disposal of the Faculty. That under the authority given him,
he had employed Mr Alexr L. Nelson as an assistant instructor
who has discharged the duties assigned him in the School of
Mathematics in a diligent and satisfactory manner,-

It was also stated to the undersigned by several members
of the Faculty, that, Mr Courtney, had repeatedly expressed to
them his entire satisfaction with Mr Nelson, as an Assistant
Instructor, had spoken in high commendation of his ability and
qualification as a Mathematician and Teacher, and had intended
recommending him for the Chair of Mathematics in Washington College

It was also stated as the unanimous opinion of the Faculty
that Mr Nelson (with the aid of Mr Dinwiddie now in the University)
was fully qualified and competent to complete the

Mathematical course during the present session, and was perhaps
better qualified, than any individual who could be obtained out
of the University, for carrying out the plan and design of instruction
and lectures introduced by Mr Courtney and indicated
in the sheets before referred to-

That Mr Nelson and Mr Dinwiddie were willing to act, and
that the Faculty were unanimous that this course should be
adopted-

The subscribers therefore, deeming it the best course now
attainable & essentially necessary to the best interests of the
University, recommend (as individual members of the Board of
Visitors) to the Faculty to carry out their recommendation by
continuing the services of Mr Nelson, & engaging those of Mr
Dinwiddie of the School of Mathematics & to do so upon the
terms indicated by them in their resolutions submitted to us
this day.