George R. Fairbanks Collection

offices at Winchester. [?] & the originals are in the hands of Mr. [Bol?] = lard. By the time the Taxes are due (if we are not exempted from taxation entirely which I think that we are) we shall be able to scrape together money enough to pay them.

I shall endeavour to promise by the time of our meeting such information as will help us to form some conception of our fu= ture.

Your plan of building upon the mountain is, I think, one that would be agreeable to the Trustees of the University, as it would be very much to their advantage to have the fround occupied by a responsi-

but will have it ready for the meeting at New Orleans in Feb.

In addition to the amount of matter we had collected at the last meeting we have received a large amt. from England & have obtained also the plans &c of all we own in [?] [?] in this Country. Thinking we might find advantage in the actual inspection of the working of existing institutions in this Country I deemed it proper to avail of the [?] I had before & after Convention to visit those most entitled to consideration. I was therefore at Chapel Hill. The University of Va, the Va. Mil. Inst., Harvard, &

Brown. I also passed with [?] & had full & detailed conversation with one of the leading Professors, as to changes since my day. I also spent a day with Prof [?] of the [?] [?] the most eminent man of Science in this Country, at whose house I went & dined with Prof [?] of the Smithsonian Institute. The day following I spent {strikethrough; a day} with the Prof at his Institute from [whence?] I gleaned many [in?] [valuable?] [hints?]. With all these Experiences & publications Domestic & Foreign we feel ourselves in possession of the Experience of Mankind & I think we may with some confidence say we have made the most of things in the programs & Constitution we have preferred. The fact that we have succeeded in thinking

out the proper outline is supported by a remarkable enthusiasm, to wit that the day after we had completed it, we received Dr. [?] (Kings College London) reply to Bishop Otey's letter in which at the Bps suggestion he gave a sketch of his ideal of what we ought to have & it was on all points [?]& [?] what we had already adopted.

In compliance with the intentions of the Ex. Com: I exhausted all resources of the [?] for a Landscape Gardener, could find none to our liking. I prevailed on Bp. [Hopkins?]to lend us the aid of his high taste to carve out the outline of the Grounds. This he agreed to do being [?] interested on our work. & I came here to point out what we wanted done to him & to aid us setling what he wanted for his work. As Bishop Elliott & myself were charged with

the duty of furnishing Col Barney with funds to build the cabins for [the?] [?] [and other?] of the [?]. of the Board. We , [came?] on the [?] then wagon on way to Alabama Which we propose to [?] all next We have been here a few days & prepare to leave to day for Montgomery. Bp. Hopkins is perfectly delighted with the location in all its aspects. [& we?] shall I have no doubt have all our [wishes?], even the most sanguine need in the blessing of God, fully realized. I hope we shall see you at New Orleans.

With my kindest regards to your family & those of my brother when you see them. I remain [?] [L?] Polk.

No 1

University of the South with) Apt Jas G. Harrison & Co. Jackson County Alabama