I have no doubt but what you censure me no little for not complying with my promise sooner, but as Alexander and myself have been enjoying very good health and has been very punctual in the performances of our collegiate duties, and we do hope to continue in the same, I did not think it any absolute necessity of writing to you before this; I should be very much pleased to get a letter from Home, to learn how they all are prospering; I wrote to Mama sometime since, but I do not know whether she has received my letter, or not, I have not seen any answer as yet; We had an excellent oration delivered to us on the 22d ultimo by a member of the Sr. Class; Greater part of the students thought that it would not do to let the Birthday of such a man pass by, without drinking some spirituous Liquor, but I am sorry to say that some took rather too much, and was caught by a Member of the Faculty, who reported them to the Board, and they were arraigned before them, the next day; And they dismissed the two Messrs Polks1 of Tense., Aunt Polk's Grand Children and suspended four more for three weeks; The Messrs Polks are very much dejected indeed, I well know that they can not help feeling and that deeply and sensibly too, the disgraceful act which they have commited, Their Parrents will be mortified in the extreme; I see that Andrew Polk is dismissed from Princeton for quarreling with one of the Tutors, Col Nuttall has twenty three Boarders and is doing pretty well, four or five left him some time since, to go to a cheaper House; I should like very much to hear how your suit with Mr Persons came off; Alexander and Myself are well and we both unite in sending our best Love to you & Mama and to the rest of the Family, write soon

1. Hawkins is referring to Allen Jones Polk and Thomas G. Polk .