Poughkeepsie
February 5th '67
My dear Doct. Raymond
My health is such I can not come out to the College
to see you, was it otherwise I could have communicated
in half the time it has taken me to write this note.
I am engaged in making some additional Codicils to
my Last Will and Testiment, one of which is to set
apart a specific sum the interest of which I purpose to
applied to the encouragement of " Gifts or Talents "
of the young Ladys pupils in public speakingsome-
thing in this way------During the  Collegiate year
there shall be four subjects announced for debate by the
President, one every quarter of the School Session, to a
class, say 10 pupils, whose names are previously en-
tered & drawn by Lot from the whole number of pupils
entering the Class, to be designated the " Vassar Col-
ledge " Offhand Speaking Society."
The President shall state the subject to be spoken
an hour before the opening of the Meeting and not be-
fore and shall previously appoint judges, say 3 to de-
termine the respective merrits of each address accord-
ing to the rules of Logic, giving to each pupil the re-
ward of Merrit in regular orderbeginning at N. 1
to 10.
I have not mental stamina sufficient to enlarge this
morning   ?What think you of the plan.
Bye the Bye have you seen the " Bill" changing the
name of our College. I have wrote Mrs. Hale and sent
her a duplicate of the Act.
Yours very Respectfully &c. &c.
M. Vassar.
P. S. Mrs Germand is better so says Dr Hervey who
has left in this moment.
M. V.
31;
4H