I have been here now a fortnight and agreeable to your request (and I assure you it affords me much pleasure to comply) I shall attempt to give you as graphick a description of things in general as I am able.

I left Wake Forest College on 5th of July and got to Raleigh the same evening the next evening I left for the University and arrived here the ensuing morning at the dawn of day travelling the whole night only twenty eight miles

I have been examined and did not get in the Sopomore class in all of its studies but I recite in the class. Latin Prosody I have never studied but the class has, hence I shall have to make it up Algebra I studed about a year ago and I did not think I could stand as rigid an examination as they examined without reviewing it, so I was not examined upon that.

The University is plasantly situate upon an elevation on the southern side of Chapel Hill in a large and natural oak grove. There are five large brick buildings, three of which contain rooms for the students the other two are Chapels one the old chapel in which morning and evening prayers are held the other the new chapel (for this is the way they are distinguished) in which the Holy Writings are expounded. Another building is in contemplation for there is not rooms enough for the present number of students. It is rumoured that President Swain is going to the north this fall to see some of the northern colleges and I suppose make some improvement upon the next building he is certainly going but whether partially for that or not I am ignorant

I have to apply myself more intensely to my studies now than ever before It is on account of the increased quantity of the lessons here in comparison with those to which I have been accostomed

It is a law of the university that the President shall transmit a report of the demeanor of each student to their Parents or Guardians respectively, twice a session so I wish you when you get mine to write to me immediately and transcribe in your letter his report I predict mine will be very common at first but if studying will better it, it shall be done.

The present number of students is, I believe, about 165 and it continues to increase some every week. Nothing hinders any person from learning here if he can learn

It was costomary to black those who came here to join the freshman class So friday night the club prepared themselves with Lamblack and whatever else they wanted and began to give them a coat. They had just comenced nearly when the Faculty came up and you can imagine how quick each one absented himself for the President had publickly announced that whoever was caught in a Blacking Club would have to leave. The next day (the second day of the session) the faculty examined several of the students about this blacking expedition and dismissed two but A pledge that those who signed it would not engage in such while a student of the University was circulated and nearly universally signed. This pledge was signed upon a condition that if they (the Faculty) would restore those whome they had dismissed They were restored. So we will have no more blacking for at least two years I was in debt some when I left Wake Forest college and I promised my creditors to ask you to send me the money in my first letter. I owe about sixty five dollars at WFC. There is no credit here it matters not what you want unless you have the money you cannot get it

So I will be much oblidge to you if you will send me $100, for I shall have need of the ballance, after paying my Wake creditors, here, and moreover I assure you that each cent shall be spent with the utmost frugality I will not ask you for money to spend lavishly for I know where it has to come from and I am also aware of the smallness of the principle

I expect to hear of your leaveing Camden and coming up the coutry to live where the sallow cheek is changed into ruby. I both hope I ma hear so and hope it may come to pass for a small sacrafice [unrecovered] luchre cannot counterpoised as great change of health as would be produced in your family.

I expected to hear from some of you Camdonians after you got home but I have been unexpectedy disappointed

What Female school are you going to patronize next or has Aunt Esther bought a new Wheel for I believe I have heard you say that after your daughter had finished their education they had to play upon the piny woods Piano. Tell cousin Jane to let me know the name of the first tune she learns to play upon "Hygeias Harp" alia the wheel.

Let me know in you letter something of your [unrecovered] after you left W F Colleg

Cousin Jane and Miss Mary Lamb left their parasols at Mr Waits I believe so if they come up the country they may know where they are and if they go to Oxford they can be sent to them very conveniently Answer this as soon as is convenient and you will very much oblidge your true Friend and Servant