Harris, Charles Wilson, 1771-1804
Page 1
University
Sept. 5th. 1796
My Dear Friend
I received by last post your final answer on the subject of our correspondence.
Your determination to accept of the professorship of Mathematics gives me great
pleasure, and tho' you will find our institution in an infant state, yet such a
foundation has been laid, and so great are the exertions on the part of the
trustees, that I entertain scarce any doubts, but it will be brought to
perfection in due time. I am sorry that
Dr. Smith
is not agreeably
situated at
Princeton. I had often mentioned his name to the
trustees,
but always supposed that no offers from this state could entice him from Nassau,
particularly since he accepted the Presidency. I wish our
trustees could make a
removal to the
University agreeable and profitable to him; such
an event I am certain would be highly useful to our growing institution. At any
rate, I will make use of your letter to introduce proposals of that nature. I
have already transmitted extracts of it to
Gen. Davie
of
Hallifax and
Mr. Hogg
of
Hillsborough, they
are leading trustees, and not unacquainted with
Dr. Smith's
literary character.
Page 2
I would advise you to relinquish the idea of coming by water, it will be
attended with many difficulties, and prevent you from seeing some of the best
parts of the U.
States. To travel by stage would cost 50 Dollars before you could arrive
at Petersburg, 170
miles from this. I think it the best plan to purchase a small but good
horse and a single chair, you could with this equipage travel very conveniently
and as expeditiously as on single horse. In your chair box you could carry many
necessaries which you might need before the arrival of your trunk. This plan you
may make as cheap as you please and keeping the post road through the city
Washington, Alexandria, near
Mount Vernon,
Richmond, Petersburg
&c. you would find much entertainment and improve your knowledge
of the Geography of our country & without doubt it would be very
serviceable to your health. The loss in the price of the horse could not be
considerable, and I would take the chair off your hands. A half-worn chair, if
well made, would answer your purpose & be much cheaper. You would save
something considerable by filling your trunk with one or two pieces of linen,
stockings, shoes, broadcloth and whatever articles of clothing you would need in
the course of a year all which are much dearer here than in Philadelphia & sometimes
not easily procured.
Page 3
Your trunks may be addressed to Petersburg as on the annexed paper, where they will be
received, and cost of shipping paid by Mr Gracie & Anderson, who will forward them on to Hillsborough immediately, they
will receive directions to this purpose long before your trunks can arrive. If
no ship for that place should sail while you are at Philadelphia, Mr Otto can superintend
that business.
I wish to order about 100 Dollars worth of books from
Robert Campbell Bookseller in the city. This I shall
do before you set out. You would oblige me by putting them in the same line of
conveyance with your trunks & with the same address. I will write to
Mr Otto on
the subject, from whom you will receive further accounts. Give my best respects
to [Dr. Smith],
Dr
Minto &
Mr Hobart
. I am, sir with sincerity
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