1

Selma Alabama

Dec'r. 3. 1857.

My dear Rayner,

You are again I am glad to hear
{struckthrough: again} restored to your usual health after severe attack
you had in the summer, knowing the severity of those
low country fevers I was quite uneasy for you & I had
hoped to hear from you more {illegible} of your restoration.
I have been a miserable sinner as a correspondent
with you in times past, but I fear if I have to
write you much oftener without hearing from you I
shall not only have retrieved my reputation but brought
you in debt. This is I think the third letter I have
despatched you without having succeeded in extracting
a reply. What have {insert symbol}you to do that so engrosses you, you
cannot let us know of the welfare of yourself, your
wife, & bairnes?

I am here to visit my son William who
is at school in the neighborhood & am so
far on my return home after the meeting of the
Board of Trustees of our proposed University.
I do not know that you have followed the
movement. It has gone steadily onward
since its inauguaration, requiring in the mean
season constant supervision & energetic action,
that all have endeavored to see supplied.