The Packet which sailed from New York for Havre on the 1st Ulto. brought me your letter of the 12 of April in which you request me on behalf of your University to ascertain how far the studies and acquirements of Mr Moncure Robinson have qualified him for the Professorship of Mathematics in that Institution. I have seen Mr Robinson frequently since he arrived in Europe, and feel much pleasure in bearing testimony to his amiable manners, excellent morals, and great industry and facility, in the acquirement of useful information. Having the most entire confidence in his ingenuousness and candor, I without making the most remote allusion to the object I had in view asked him whether he had very particularly devoted his attention to the study of the higher branches of Mathematics. He answered that whilst at College he had made rather an unusual proficiency in that branch of science; but that since his arrival in Europe he had devoted his principal attention to the study of civil Engineering and had attended to Mathematics only so far as they might be subsidiary to his great object which was that of becoming a practical Engineer. With this object in view he has already visited most of the Canals and other publick works in England and in the South of France, and the Minister of the Marine on my application has been so obliging as to give him permission to visit the Military ports of Cherbourg and Brest. It is his present intention to pass through England and on his way to obtain permission to visit the Docks at Plymouth and then return to the United States.

The Visitors will from what I have stated be able to decide whether the acquirements of Mr Robinson are such as would enable him to enter on a Professorship at this time. He certainly has impressed me during his residence here with so favorable an opinion of his industry and capacity, that I should not doubt of his qualifying himself in a very short time (if he is not now qualified) to fill the vacant chair. If however the Visitors shall decide to look out for more matured talents, Mr Robinson will find useful occupation in assisting the progress of those great internal Improvements which are giving to the U States prosperity at home and reputation abroad.

Mrs. Brown joins me in expressing our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Madison for her kind recollection of us, and we pray you to present to her our most affectionate & respectful Complts. I am Dear Sir with the most unfeigned regard Your faithfull & Obed Servt.