Poughkeepsie July 19  1856
Prof M B Anderson
Dear Sir
On my return from N Y City last evening
found your verry kind letter of the 14"1 inst inclosing back the $10
Bank Note remitted you from N- Falls to pay the mechanical expenses
of Doclr   Mann? Diploma.           Being ignorant of the common usuages
in matters pertaining to Colledge Honary degrees, must be my appology
for the special application in the present instance.
With your explannation & official announcement to the recipient,
with his express assurance that such a document was unanticipated &
unnessary, imposes upon me a renewed obligation of thanks for your
generous & obliging proposition to consult nevertheless my wishes in
the premises.   You have no occasion therefore to prepare the diploma.
Perhaps in no instance in the course of my life, have I been
more gratified in a complement confer,  upon a friend, and I may add
with propriety in no instance will it be more highly appreciated, and
redound more to the credit of our University.
I am aware that popularity is not always identical with greatness,
but in this case we have secured a good degree of both
His large circle of Religious & citizens friends have been highly
delighted with the appointment, and many enquiry made of the source
from whence this unexpected honor emanated-    It has awakened new
'20                                          .104
July 19, 1856        - 2
enquiry about our Institution and given fresh interest beyond the pale
of our own denomination. &c
"The Examiner11 of this Week gives us a brief synopsis of the
Anniverary Commencement but have to notice a typographical error
in the Doctors degrees - in the name of "Mason" for "Mann" which
should be early corrected.
What particuliar pleases Doc^ Mann is the fact that his friends
had made several unsuccessfull applications for this honor at the
"Rutgers Colledge" (where he graduated, (instead of "Princeton" as
stated by me) altho1 subsequently tendered him he repeatedly declined
and esteem^ it the more highly coming from an "University" of another
denomination, than from a Colledge of his own persuasion &c
Only regreting our limited time would not allow a participation
in the social festivities of the Wed^ Evening of our departure (at your
house)    I subscribe myself
Yours verry truly &
Respectfully &c
M. Vassar
21
.10*