April 28th 1864.
Mrs. Sarah J. Hale.
Dear Madame! Your letter of the 25th Current
with enclosures of your son & family photographs
introduces me agreably to your very heart and grati-
fies me. I receive them as evidences of your good will
to me personally & of your approval of my intentions
at least, I shall be glad to Know a gentleman who has
already ranked himself among the savants of our land.
The Extracts from the Ladys Book for June which
you Send place myself not less than our College under
obligations to you for your earnest efforts in our be-
half. I value greatly these evidences of your intelli-
gent interest for all that concerns the elevation of
woman.
In my last I had intended to say to you that if
the plates I sent you are worthy of that distinction &
you will be at the trouble of causing them to be neatly
framed & will send the bills to me I will see that they
are met.
The Extracts from your Sons letter help sustain me
in the views I have already advanced & in the action
about to be taken in reference to Dr Jewett. I greatly
regret he should have taken any action in reference
to your friend Mrs Cuddehy that does not commend
itself to yourself or to her. I was not aware what
steps if any had been taken by him upon that Subject.
Your letter to me have left no doubt on my mind that
this lady is quite equal to any position she might be
willing to assume. But upon this general subject I
have expressed deliberatedly to the College Trustees
my personal wishes and the responsibility is thrown
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Apr. 28,  1864         - 2
upon them to carry them forward now or at such other
time as they may judge best, I am not aware except in a
general way to what extent my desires are to be met at
the opening of the College. The Committee on that
Subject (Faculty) I understand do intend to make a
fair division of appointments between the Sexes. I
mean of course of the higher grades, as the lesser posi-
tions, I take it for granted, will all be for ladies. In re-
gard to particular appointments my general health &
my other duties prevent my giving them the requisite at-
tention to ensure the Success of any applicants upon my
own recommendation alone. The most I have hoped
to do has been to lay down my own general views &
wishes, leaving the question as to whether they are
to be immediately carried out and the manner in which
they are to be carried out to my coadjutors and to the
gentlemen of that Committee.
The possible change of Presidency may to some ex-
tent affect the question of Professors but to what de-
gree I of course am quite unable to Know in advance,
outside influences will of necessity have more or less
effect and among these none are more likely to be lis-
tened to than the valuable publications with which you
are associated. I hail discussion as sure to accom-
plish or aid in accomplishing the best result, be it what
it may.
Truly yours &c
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