Leonidas Polk Family Papers

appeared here last week with authentic papers sustaining older grants than the one of the Estill grants with which the Sewanee Co. helt title and after search the Corner & the marked lines of these tracts have been found, located by je as shown on the accompanying plat, which embrace 1750 acres exclusive of the older tracts as indicated on the plat.

Knowing that delay is dangerous, I proceeded at once to make the best bargain I could to prevent excessive rates if payale & succeeded in obtaining a written obligation from the agent of the Claimant (who assured me he was clothed with authority,) to sell the land in question for the use of the University at $1 per acre, ato which he stood bound until the next meeting of the Trustees.

I then went to Winchester hoping to find some flaw in the [?] claim, but to my sorrow to the astonishment of the party who [?] by the survey could, after a thorough examination of the Entry Books &c it was conceded that the Thompson Entry under which the claim is [?] older than the Estell Entry - but it is hoped that [?] [?] under possession may be brought [?] against the Claim - But as soon as the attempt is made to do a long & tedious lawsuit will be the conveyance

and if the University goes on with its improvement before a decision is had, an enormous sum may have to be paid & most likely by the University. With this view would it not be well for you to urge the immediate settlement of this claim now if the sum stipulated [?] be demanded. There is a party speculating in land contiguous to the University bounds, who i believe are in correspondence with you, who being cognizant of this claim, have intimated to me that through their agency the money asked by the claimaints be raised by contribution in Nashville.

I would now respectfully call your attention to the position the University is found in relation to the Sewanee Company - supposing this claim of 1750 acres to be sustained & it comes for the most part out of that portion which has been divided [?] of partnership conditions and then the Estate Interest of 1/3 in the whole grant is also to be deducted & [?] the Sewanee Company still hold an undisputed right to 1/2 of the proceeds or [?] in 2500 acres

These matters become highly important to be seen to at this time from the circumstances that the present Compy is declared insolvent & will be sold and on the 21th of this month- and a new Compy will be formed, as is [?] in a printed circular of that Compy to the old stockholders. Altho, the new Compy will retain the rights of the old Compy over the Real Estate, it will be paid from the obligations of the old Compy & in that case what becomes of the obligation to furnish 20,000 tons of [?] transportation & the 2000 tons of Coal to the University -

I feel sick & discouraged at the sad condition of our affairs & would enlarge on the subject but I think I must inform you, in conclusion, that I have deemed it prudent under the circumstances to suspend the work of clearing & have discharged all the men except a few to bring up the logs & sufficient already collected.

To Bishop Polk 2nd March New Orleans

May 7 1860

Rt. Rev. L. Polk D.D.

My dear Brother

I scratch a line in haste to give you the names of the Trustees elected by our late Convention -- Rev. W. [Crane?], Thos Staunton of Natchez, and Dr. Thos. B. Magruider near Port-Gibson.

I regard Mr. [Crane?] as the best choice we could have made from among the Clergy. Stuanton is quite a young man but is well-educated, very wealthy, a pious Communicant and is said by his Pastor to be a warm advocate of the University. D.M. is a most worthy man, a truly pious and zealous member of our Church, and one who trains his family & household in the nurture of the Lord; but he is without wealth and influence; nor has he that particular standing which is calculated to give [eclat?] to our enterprise. Mr. Smedes declined an election on the ground of multiple engagements which would be likely for some time to prevent his attending any of our meetings. And Geo. M.W. was regarded as too dutiful a friend to be thrust into the place without previous notification &c.

Bishop's Place Miss. Mr. James D. Stewart (W. [?] Son-in-law, and one of our Bankers) was appointed our University Treasurer, an excellent appointment. Oh what a loss we have all sustained in the death of that best and most useful of men--George [Yerger?]! How mysterious are such visitations! And yet faith teaches us that they are all have done most wisely. If you were amongst us you would see a stricken & mourning Diocese mingling its tear with a bereaved family! How much, and how often did we miss him in our late Convention. He was our right-arm, our Leader in all that was for God, and one whom all delighted to follow. I feel as if my strongest staff had snapped suddenly under me, because I had come to lean too heavily and confidently upon it. His wife is still bowed to the earth under the blow. For some days fears were entertained both for her reason and her life. I am glad to learn that notwithstanding his lifelong prodigality in giving to everyone and to every good cause, he leaves a handsome and [?] estate.

Do let me have a line from you. I long to know what you & Elliott have been doing since we parted. I know that you have not been idle; but knowing as I do that all of our

future depends now, under God on the success of yr Subscription list. I can not but feel anxious to hear what has been done. In my Address to my Convention I ventured to state that about $600,000 had been subscribed. I was somewhat in hopes that your Commissions would ere this have made an [?] into this State. It is now too late for this reason, as few Mississippians (Bp. not excepted) have a dollar in their pockets or think themselves worth a dollar from May to Nov. inclusive. The only important moment of our late Convention was a determination to raise $45,000 within the next twelve months to inflate our Episcopal Fund. This may interfere some what with yr Subscription list- I hope not. --

On Friday I set out to visit Washington, Bolivar & Coahoma Counties. Of course I intend to call on Hamilton. How pleased would I be to meet you there.

Within you will find an acknowledgement of Dr. Lacey's "Letters [?]". Altho dated several months ago, they reached me only a few days since. Tho D can not fail to do well if he will only be a little more patient, and hold on hopefully. I long to hear how Mrs. Polk is. Has she improved any in the matter of eyesight? My kind regards to her & all the family.

Yrs very truly in X W.M. Green

Beersheba Springs

July 9, 1860

[Mrs. Kenneth Rayner]

My dear Sue,

I have just heard of the [addition?] to your family of a fair boy, & I write to congrat-ulate you on the event. I do so not as an ordinary [uncle would?] but as it is an instance of Gods good will to you and your husband of a special character and to explain to you the loss you were called on to mourn last [Jan or Jun?]

[illegible] with both of you I am here to expand it & I had the little stranger may have the singular good futures to fulfill all his expectations of his mission. I am glad to hear you have got on to luck as he was expected.

I have been on the top of the Cumberland Mountain in a cabin with all my family excepting [illegible] [illegible] me & his are all my

well. Hamilton with his wife & two children are here, & Kate and her husband & one child. We have a large number of Southern families her also. The climate is delightful & the family able [illegible] could wish. Bp Otey & his family are also here and the Bishop of Georgia & his family close by. We are not a great way from the seat of our university -where we shall all be in

course of a [illegible] or two as well as others of our brethern Bishops at last for the summer.

You have heard of the death of brother William. I saw him on my way here. He died of an [affliction?] of his heart. He was a good man, a quiet, honest, Christian gentlemen & I have no doubt was good to the end.

Will you give my best to W. Rayner & say to him I would take it as a favor if he would send me a receipt for working a compost bed such as he makes in N.C. I want it to make such