I now write you to inform you that I have sent your subscription to the Episcopal school to Raleigh 2and now have the a reciept from the treasurer, which I shall enclose in this letter to you. The business has been adjusted without any trouble on my part. In passing through Raleigh I was unable to see Mr Freeman for having arrived their at about eight I left at three in the morning. I wrote you in a previous letter informing you that brother William was unwell, but I take pleasure now in letting you know that he has quite recovered, and regaining his flesh; he was sick during about a week and a half, having a fever every day though never very much, and without any chill: When he was first taken, we supposed a three grain pill would be sufficient, but finding that of no service, we concluded to send for Dr Yancey , which was accordingly done, but after attending about a week, and no visible change apparing, for his medicines were week, brother sent for him again and told him his situation, and that he wished to get well and be detained no longer from his college duties, and therefore he wished him to administer something strong and that would at once over come the desease; Dr Yancey then did3 that, which we were on the point of doing before sending for him viz he order prescribed to brother to take 3 of his pills, and on the morning "Seidlitz powders" which he accordingly did and ever since that time has continued to mend.

A l circumstance occurred here last friday night similar to Mr Benton's case. For sometime young men were losing their money, and they were unable to account for it; for some lost their money after midnight when every one is asleep except those who prowl about for some unhallowed purpose, others before they had gone to bed when they had steped out but for a few moments, other again lost their money in the open day; thus were robberies committed, which in no manner be accounted for, to suspect a student they were loth, and how any other person could have affected was a mistery. However the rogue was discovered in the following manner; having passed a note to one of the merchants here with the name of the original owner Mr Southall a young gentleman in college, it came to the hand of the owner who immediately whe went to the merchant demanding of him from whom he had got the note, he answered from Mr John L Henry , the note was carried to Mr Henry to ask him from whom he had gotten the note, not in the least suppossing him to have been the thieft his accounts were unsatisfactory, and many of them filled with glaring absurdity. He was then pitched upon as the theif, after a while he confessed one or two thefts, and denyed4 the others with oaths of the most violent kind, and he would then confess it and so on denying and confessing untill he by degrees made a full disclosure and went and got the money from an old hollow tree where he had hidden it; this was about 12'Oclock at night he was much frightened indeed so much so that he did not know what he said telling lies and then denying them with the next breath; th those who detected him told him that wo that they would hang him the next day. Some who pittied his misfortune gave him some money and started him that night to clear himself he started with a napsack and has not been heard of since, one person who gave him $5 also gave him this encouragement "be sure you do not steal a horse". He broke open trunks and robbed coat pockets. The officers were after him the next morning. He stole $250,00 besides money last session also knives and pocket-handkerchiefs, happily he took not from brother or5 myself Give my respects to Messrs Davenport & Brickhouse ; brother joins in love. Believe me your affectionate son

1. Pettigrew Family Papers, SHC. The letter is addressed "Mr E. Pettigrew Esq / Cool-Spring/ Washington Co/ N.C."; the amount of postage, "18 1/4" cents, has been written in the upper right corner. A circular postmark has been stamped to the left of the address but is too faint to make out. The number (or date) 1835 appears at the far left edge of the envelope face, and a second date "[1834]" has been penciled in at the top of page one by a later archivist. Despite a relatively contemporaneous date written on the envelope face, the letter refers to events that occurred in 1834, not 1835. Dialectic Society minutes reveal that John L. Henry , the student mentioned as having stolen other students' money, was expelled from the Society on September 17, 1834 (Vol. 8, UA). Francis A. Southall , whose money was stolen, was himself suspended for two months in May 1835 for disrupting the "peace and quiet of the village" and evidently did not return to the University (Philanthropic Society Minutes, Vol. S-9, UA).

2. The following announcement appeared in the American Annals of Education and Instruction, April 1834, pages 193-94:

An Episcopal School will be opened on the first of April, near Raleigh, in North Carolina. It is to be superintended by Mr. Cogswell, recently of the Round Hill School at Northampton, assisted by a chaplain and teacher. The prospectus treats instruction as only a part of education, and presents physical education and the discipline of the mind, the formation of the character and of religious principles, as essential objects in such an institution. The pupils are to constitute one family, and the whole will be under the entire control of the principal and rector. No honors or distinctions will be conferred; the spirit of emulation being considered only a temporary excitement, and are consistent with Christian principles. Systematic instruction is to be given in the Bible and in Religion, as regularly as in the Classics and Mathematics. Parental supervision and training is intended to supply the place of premiums and severity. (Knight 4:38)

3. A comma following did has been crossed through.

4. Pettigrew wrote i on top of y.

5. Pettigrew wrote r on top of y.