Poughkeepsie N. Y    July 18 ^1862.
Ivf3;8 Angelina G. Weld
Dear Madame]
Your extremely interesting and intelligent
letter of the 15 .   inst.: came duly to hand, and it is truly gratify-
ing and refreshing to ones feelings amidst the deplorable sad times upon
which our beloved country has fallen to discover Such noble instances
in your Sex appreciating and encouraging our hands and hearts in the
establishment of an Institution for their own Special elevation &c^   .
I am no monomaniac nor enthusiast who by dwelling long on a Single
idea have arrived at certain results, for most part of a long life (now
passed three score and ten years) I have Spent in business pursuits
and while thus engaged, especially in the latter part, I were providentialy
lead to the reflection & consideration of Female Education, in the first
instance through a niece of mine whom God in his Providence had left
Fatherless and destitute of means for Support; and thus obliged in
early life to seek employment for a livelihood among strangers far
away from her native home in the Southern part of the State of Virginia,
for several years she' devoted herself in teaching in a private Gentle-
mens family, subsequently returned to Pofkeepsie and opened a Female
Seminary in this City - This I had almost said was the first Institution
of the kind North of the Highlands on the Hudson River, and now at the
MX
.
July 18,  1862               - 2
present moment numbering Some half dozen or more well Supported
Female Institutions; this dear Niece Several years since departed
this life in the full hope of a blessed immortality. ' I am lead to
trouble you with these thoughts from the consideration that the intro-
ductery portion of your note before me Speak of your early life much
in unison of my Niecefs history        she also was "tempted to live a
fashionable & frivolaus life,11 she found education too at a low grade
in Virginia and rejoiced to return once again to her friends at the
North, and sought a position where she could be a blessing to her Sex
and to the world.
How wonderful! are the ways of Providence, what little inci-
dents turn the whole spheres of hiiiman destinies.   As it regarded
myself 1 know nothing nor thought nothing about education, having
been born in a Country or a portion of it where the parents as a gen-
eral thing considered it only a Waste of time, and money to impart it,
but to save further detail in this letter I send you per this days mail
the March number of the "American Journal of Education'1 where you
will find a-very brief sketch of my early history.   You have been
.pleased to refer so kindly to the great work I have undertaken infusing
your own inspirations and prayers for its Successfull issue.             In
regard to your friend'Miss Lucia E. Sheppard, I shall cause her name

July 18, 1862               - 3
to be registered (on the Books of applicants:) in the Institution,   to
be referred to again on the' return of our President from Europe and
shall do all in my power to serve you and her in your united wishes.
Allow me Mr.s W-   in parting to add, that, I thank you most
cordialy and kindly in all the deepest Sincerety of my heart for the
high testimony of appreciations in which you hold and speak of the
V:F:C: enterprize &c?- and do desire your earnest and.devout partici-
pations with me at the Throne of Grace that this benificent work for
the elevation of woman may be crowned with the blessings of God for
its Successfull issue &c?
I remain very Respectfully
Yours &ca
M. Vassar
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