I am exceedingly sorry to learn, from your letter of the 18. that mr. Key has availed himself of our indulgence and resigned his place in the University.

I see no serious objection to the permission which he asks to continue in office till the middle of August. It would certainly not be proper that he should vacate his seat till the 20. July—when the examination will be over, and the interval between that and the middle of August, is of but little consequence. I am surprised he should ask it—but asking it, I do not feel disposed to refuse it.

It is a matter of great importance to provide a fit successor, and it is very desirable to have him in place at the commencement of the next session. I know no one at all suited to the office: The State engineer Mr. Crozet will certainly not answer. Whatever may be his Science, I am perfectly satisfied, that his moral qualifications render him wholly inadmissible.

I fear we have not time to negotiate for any body in England—though it cann[o]t be amiss to write to Mr. Gallatin.

Would it not be well to give public notice of the vacancy, by a paragraph in the Enquirer, Intellenger [sic] and some of the Northern papers? With very great respect your obt. svt.