I have received your letter of the 9th. and am very sorry that my enquiries of Mr. Trist should have given you the trouble of writing; and am still more concerned to learn that you are indisposed. I sincerely hope your influenza and fever, have left you, and that you are restored to the enjoyment of good health.

I received your communication on the subject of Mr. Harrison, and forwarded your letter to Mr. Loyal, with Mr. Harrison’s testimonials. I have received a letter from him and Mr. Monroe on the subject, and have seen Mr. Cabell and Genl. Cocke. Mr. Monroe concurs with you in assenting to the provisional appointment of Mr. Harrison. Mr. Cabell Mr. Loyal Genl Cocke and myself, have thought it best to decline the appointment, and leave the board at perfect liberty, to make such appointment of Mr. Long’s successor, as they may hereafter think the interests of the institution require. I have accordingly communicated this result, to Mr. Harrison, in a letter of this date, without waiting to hear from Genl Breckenridge, as his vote could not affect the decision.

I was influenced in my opinion upon this subject, by some personal knowledge of Mr. Harrison, by the style and manner of his writings which I had seen, by a belief that though a residence at a German University, of sufficient length, might greatly aid in the improvement of classical learning, that the residence of a few months, could neither form, nor materially improve a scholar, while it might beget a vanity hostile to self improvement, and offensive to others, and by a conviction, produced from the vagueness of his testimonials, and from a knowledge of the purposes of his education, and the schools at which it had been acquired, that Mr. Harrison could not now, be at all qualified, to fill Mr. Longs chair.

If Mr. Long leaves us at the end of this session, I do not hope to procure a successor for him, from the United States. My hopes rest in England, from whence by his aid, and the aid of others, I shall not despair of being able to procure a worthy successor.

The appointment of professor of Nat. Phil. remains I believe in statu quo. Genl Cocke has made no further communication to Doct. Jones since he learned that a more formal appointment was required than had been made, and that the doctor was engaged, for the winter.

I am induced to think that Mr. Renwick of New York, has declined being a candidate—because in my last letter to Dr. Greenhow,1 I desired that his wishes might be made known before the second monday in this month, at which time I expected a meeting of the visitors, and I have not since heard from him.

From what Mr. Trist said in his letter written from your house, I shall expect shortly to hear from you, on the subject of another candidate Mr. Walker, of whom, however, my anticipations are not favorable. With very great respect your obt. Svt.