Your letter of Novr 29. was acknowledged by mine of Mar. 15. soon after which I was favored with your two others, accompanied by an obliging letter from Mr. Key, and sundry documents, all bearing testimony to the qualifications of Mr. Ritchie for the Chair of Nat: Philoy. vacant in our University. We are greatly indebted for this further evidence of your attention to a subject so interesting to the University, and are fully sensible of the confidence due to the recommendations from sources so highly respectable. As a selection for the vacancy, however has been necessarily postponed to the next meeting of the Visitors in July, I must ask the favor of you to ascertain from Mr. Ritchie whether his acceptance of the appointment should it be then offered to him, might be counted on, and how soon he might be expected to enter on the duties of it; and to forward the result to us as quickly as possible. The inconvenience of the delay & uncertainty in this course to all parties is much regretted, but happens to be unavoidable.

It will be proper to apprize Mr R. if in doubt as to the amount of the annual Salary of the Professorship, as distinct from the fees, that it is limited by law to one thousand dollars.

To improve the chance of dispatch, a duplicate of this will go by a separate vessel, and permit me to ask of you, a like resort in your answer. With great esteem & respect