I with pleasure take this opportunity of dropping you a few lines. I arrived here on the 28th of May & stood my examination for the Sophomore class on the 30th. I passed on ever thing I tried for but there are Mathematics, Prosody & Ancient Geography, that I have to make up, though I think of joining as an irregular & reciting with the Freshman & Sophomore classes, at least until I can make up entirely. After I had been here about a week I took a trip to the western part of the State in company with one of the Faculty, his sister, & a young man of the Senior class. We traveled through some beautiful country diversified with hills & plains. We finally reached the Pilot Mountain in the eastern part of Surry County & from it we obtained one of the most beautiful views our eyes ever beheld, on one side were the Blue-Ridge & Saura-town mountains, whose tops seemed bedewed in clouds & on the other beautifulplains extending as far as the eye could reach, the Mountain is several thousand feet high formed like a pyramid with a space of about an acre upon the pinnacle which seems to be composed entirely of rocks carelessly thrown together. We returned after having spent three weeks very pleasantly & profitably. Next Friday (14th) our session commences when I wish to commence ascending the "hill of science" it now appears very steep and rugged but I desire by close application to render it smooth & level; I shall find it very difficult for a year or two though, I expect, but I must try. The young men here are very wicked indeed there are only some dozen professors of religion in all College & I expect my religion will be put to a severe test but through the prayers of my friends I hope I shall outride every storm. I hope you will always remember me in your secret devotions.

Give my best love to our family & all your scholars & receive my best wishes for your welfare.

Please write soon & consider me