To James Madison from William Wertenbaker, 22 December 1826
From William Wertenbaker
University of Virginia Decem. 22d. 1826
Sir
I am directed by the Faculty to enclose to you a copy of their proceedings lately had, upon information given them by the Proctor that some of the Hotel keepers have been in the habit of playing at games of chance with the Students of the University, and also send you all the evidence which they have collected upon the subject.1 I am with profound Respect Your Obe Humbe. Servt
Wm. Wertenbaker
Secretary to the Faculty
RC and enclosures (ViU: Special Collections, John Hartwell Cocke Papers). Cover docketed: “Documents touching Hotel Keepers at the U. Decr. 1826.” For enclosures, see n. 1.
1. Wertenbaker enclosed a one-page extract from the faculty minutes of 20 December 1826, in which the faculty was presented with a letter from Arthur S. Brockenbrough “giving information that certain Hotel keepers had during the last Session been in the habit of playing at games of chance with the Students in their Dormitories.” The proctor listed the names of those “who he had been informed possessed some knowledge of the facts.” Those students and hotelkeepers were examined by the faculty. Also enclosed were two pages of undated notes taken of those examinations under the rubric “Informations Surmised,” including that of Edgar [Allan] Poe, who told the faculty that he “never heard until now of any hotel keepers playing cards or drinking with students.” The Cocke Papers also contain a 21 December 1826 examination of “Mr. Richardson,” which the proctor most likely enclosed as well.