I observe with great pleasure that the University of Virginia is about to commence operations, & I beg leave, respectfully, to remind you of an application that I made, a few years since, for the Chemical chair in that Institution.

You will probably recollect, Sir, that my letter was accompanied by testimonials of my abilities as a chemist & as a lecturer, the exhibition of which to the Visitors of the University you politely undertook.

I am still very desirous of obtaining this situation, as it is peculiarly adapted to my disposition for the cultivation of the Natural Sciences—& also, as it is one in which I have every reason to believe that I could be more useful to society than in any other.