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Creator: Vassar, Matthew, 1792-1868
Date: March 24, 1864
Text: Copy of a letter to the Hon-Wm Kelly taken from … — March 24 by — Juan = to … … March 1864 Mr W Kelly My dear Sir. The very friendly tone of your letter of the 21st … justifies the entire … I have in your judgement & your interest in myself and all that concerns our College. From you I have nothing whatever to conceal. I am gratified at your approval of my conduct in this emergency with Mr Jewett and have the utmost hope that I shall do nothing that may not meet the approbation of every...
Show moreCopy of a letter to the Hon-Wm Kelly taken from … — March 24 by — Juan = to … … March 1864 Mr W Kelly My dear Sir. The very friendly tone of your letter of the 21st … justifies the entire … I have in your judgement & your interest in myself and all that concerns our College. From you I have nothing whatever to conceal. I am gratified at your approval of my conduct in this emergency with Mr Jewett and have the utmost hope that I shall do nothing that may not meet the approbation of every good man. But your letters embarrasses me s it leads me to believe you are not fairly apprised of the result of the bate interview between myself & Mr Jewett. I of course treated him politely as my own self respect required me to do but nothing occurred to justify any hope in expression on his part that our … were to be hereafter any different than there indicated in my letter to him of the … instant which I read to you. Upon receiving your letter I have written him again to their effect so that he may be [anon] no misapprehension. Indeed I cannot conceive how it was possible for him so far to have misunderstood me for I have not and cannot give him again “the possession of any friendly confidence”. I cannot have desired that … from anything that has passed between as for nothing has in any … justified it. I cannot gain … safe in … him alone of such representations as to follow on interviews. I beg you my dar sir to look at my position. I have given the results of my life to this College — a very toilsome long and innocuous life. I have hoped to do a good thing and indeed a great one. I have given to it every effort & every thought of my later years unweariedly. It excludes every other interest and every other occupation. My … has been most assiduously sought for years … by Mr Jewett and has been obtained to as unlimited degree. I have allowed his importunities at times to forestall my own judgement so entirely have I been willing to yield my personal preference … to advance my undertaking. But one concession has only demanded another & another until my … has been made to waver and I havestruggled with the the doubts raised by his own conduct whether he were equal to the to the position he has sought and obtained at my hands. It is with extreme regret that I am compelled to admit that I have not obtained from him practically that assistance or that counsel which has assured my own mind as to the clearness or his judgement or his power to [organize] & … this immense interest. And these doubts, sir, have been my own. My wishes and my prejudices have all the time been thrown strongly in his favor hoping continually that he might eventually be able to … there and justify my expectation and what the College absolutely requires. Mr Jewett has been always untruly written as to the extent or violence of any prejudice upon the fact of any members or the Ex. … against him so far as I am able to judge. It is impossible that there … have been this hostility to him or to this enterprise which he has fancied without its coming to my knowledge. You may depend upon it they are unreal — at all events up to a very late date and even now they do not take any hope beyond what must be the natural [consequence] of Mr J[ewett] own-conduct and expressions. … these circumstances what can I do that I have not done. I am laboring exhaustively for their College. I cannot and do not propure to compel Mr Jewett to resign his place but I must rid myself of all responsibility and throw it wholly upon the Trustees. I must have the ablest man to be found at the head in order to ensure its success. If the Trustees can find in Mr Jewetts conduct or in anything he has so far done any sufficient guarantee met he is that man I can be silent. So far as he has affronted me in my own [power] I do not … to throw the weight or that upon the College. I can endure anything almost if any College may succeed. If his sincerity, direction,foresight, of his … moral power as a … or other minds and a leader in an … patti, recommend him beyond any other man he must … the president, It would have been an … relief to me to have found him equal to the confidence I have given him personally. It would have been my most exalted personal pleasure to have had a president to whom I could open my whole heart and on when I could privately rely. It is far better that I should fail in all that if that man whoever he may be may be able to win & preserve the confidence of my Trustees and or the guest publics a … well — balanced able and manly man — a man above all intrigue — above selfishness — above jealousy. Reliant upon his open conduct of affairs for his position in office and in the world which must judge him. I have thus fully expand every feeling and desire I harbor. I cannot and do not ask your personal favor or friendship to me. But I do anxiously ask you to give this subject your full attention and that you judge and act as if the presidential chair were vacant and Mr Jewett if you please … the trust men whom you … severe in the … for that place. Who shall … your endorsement — Mr Jewett or another.
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Creator: Vassar, Matthew, 1792-1868
Date: March 24, 1864
Text: Poughkeepsie March 24th 1864 . Hon. William Kelly My dear Sir The verry friendly tone of your let- ter to me of the 21?. inst (which would have received an earlier notice but for my feeble health) justifies the entire confidence I have in your judgement, and your interest in myself and all that concerns our College. From you I have nothing whatever to conceal. I am gratified at your approval of my conduct in this emergency with Mr Jewett and I have the utmost hope that I shall do nothing that...
Show morePoughkeepsie March 24th 1864 . Hon. William Kelly My dear Sir The verry friendly tone of your let- ter to me of the 21?. inst (which would have received an earlier notice but for my feeble health) justifies the entire confidence I have in your judgement, and your interest in myself and all that concerns our College. From you I have nothing whatever to conceal. I am gratified at your approval of my conduct in this emergency with Mr Jewett and I have the utmost hope that I shall do nothing that may not meet the approbation of every good man. But your letter embareses me since it leads me to believe you are not fairly apprised of the result of the late interview between myself and M. Jewett. I of course treated him politely as my own self respect re- quired me to do, but nothing occurred to justify my hope or expres- sion on his part that our relationswere to be hereafter different than those indicated in my letter to him on the 2^ inst which I read to you. -----upon receiving your letter I have written him again to this effect so that he may be under no misapprehension------Indeed I cannot con- ceive how it was possible for him so far to have misunderstood me for I have not and cannot give him again Mthe possesion of my friendly con- fidence"-----He cannot have derived that idea from any thing that has passed between us for nothing has in any way justified it. I cannot again feel safe in his hands in receiving him alone if such represen- tions are to follow our interviews. I beg you my dear Sir to look at my position. I have given the results of nay life to this College----a verry toilsome long and anxious life. I have hoped to do a good thing and indeed a great one. I have given it every effort and every thought of my later years unwearediedly.— It excludes every other interest and every other occupation.__ My confidence has been most assiduously sought for years past by Prof. Jewett & has been obtained to an unlimited extent. I have allowed his importunities at times to forestall my own judgementsso that I have been willing to yield my personal preferences and ideas to advance my undertaking. But one concession has only demanded another and another untill my confidence has been made to waver and I have struggled with the doubts raised upon his own conduct wether he were equal to the posi- tion he has sought and obtained at my hands. It is with extreme regret that I am compelled to admit that I have not obtained from him practically that assistance or that consal which has assured nay own mind as to the cleariness of his judgements or his power to organise and control this immense interest, and these doubts, Sir, have been my own. My wishes and my prejudices have all the time been thrown strongly in his favor hoping continually that he might eventualy he able to remove them and justify my expectations and what the College absolutely requires. *------Prof* Jewett has been always entirely mistaken as to the extent or violence of any prejudice upon the past or of any members of the Ex. Com. against him so far as I am able to judge. ------It is impossible that there should have been this hostillity to him or to the enterprise which he has fancied without its coming to my knowledge. You may depend upon it they are unreal - at all events up to a verry late period, and evennow they do not take any shape beyond what must be the natural consequences of Prof. J-- own conduct and expressions.-------- Under these circumstances what can I do that I have not done. I am laboring exhaustingly for this College. I cannot and do not propose to compel Prof. Jewett to resign his place but I must rid myself of all responsibilites and throw it wholly upon the Trustees, We must have the ablest man to be found at its head and in order to ensure its success. If the Trustees can find in JVF Jewett conduct or in any thing he has so far done anything, sufficient gurantee that he is the man I can be silent. So far as he has affronted me in my person I do not wish them to weight against the College. I can endure any thing almost if my College may succeed, If his sincerity, discretion, foresight, of his mental and moral power as a controller of other minds and leader in an undeveloped path, reccommend him beyond any other man he must remain the President.-------—It would have been an infinite re- lief to me to have found him equal to the confidence I have given him personally. It would have been my mostexhalted personal pleasure to have had a President to whom I could open my whole heart and on whom I could most positvely rely.— It is far better that I should fail in all that if that man whoever he may be may be able to win & preserve the confidence of my Trustees and of the great public at large----a well ballanced mind, able and manly man- a man above all intrigue - above selfishness - above jealousy. Reliant upon his open conduct of affairs for his position in office and in the world which must judge him. I have thus fully expressed every feeling and desire I harbor - altho1 I fear at the expense of your patience. But I cannot do nor ask your personal favor or friendship to me to control your conduct, but I do anxiously ask you to give this subject your full reflection and that you judge and act as if the Presidential chair were vacant and President Jewett if you please and any other best man who you know were in the canvass for that place, ——who of all the men you know would or should receive your endorsement, Mr Jewett or any other person. Please to excuse this long letter. I several times stop., to make it shorter but could not. Yr.s. most Respectfully &c &c M. Vassar
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Creator: Vassar, Matthew, 1792-1868
Date: January 23, 1861
Text: M. Vassar 23 Jan. 1861 Poughkeepsie, Jan. 23, 1861. Hon. William Kelly, Dear Sir, You will perceive from a copy of the charter herewith accompanying, that you are appointed by the Legislature one of the Corporators of "Vassar Female College". Permit me to express the earnest hope that you will accept the trust, and that you will not only give to the enterprise about to be inaugurated the sanction of your name & reputation, but also your best counsel and active support and...
Show moreM. Vassar 23 Jan. 1861 Poughkeepsie, Jan. 23, 1861. Hon. William Kelly, Dear Sir, You will perceive from a copy of the charter herewith accompanying, that you are appointed by the Legislature one of the Corporators of "Vassar Female College". Permit me to express the earnest hope that you will accept the trust, and that you will not only give to the enterprise about to be inaugurated the sanction of your name & reputation, but also your best counsel and active support and cooperation. The first meeting of the Trustees will be held at the Gregory 26th 6th House in this city, on Tuesday, the 25 of February, at 10 o'clock, A.M. Immediately on the organization of the Board, I shall place in its hands the Funds and Securities which I have appropriated to the College At this meeting, measures must be adopted in reference to the custody and management of the College Funds; the erection of the Building; and the improvement of the Grounds. Needful preliminary and prospective arrangements will also be considered in regard to the Organization of the College. Hence, it is of great importance that every Trustee should be present. 3i> Jan. 23, 1861 - 2 It is thought that the business may be finished, either in the Board itself, or by reference to appropriate Committees, in two sessions of the same day; so that the members can return h©me in the evening. With sentiments of high consideration, I am, Very truly & respectfully, Your obt. svt., M. Vassar 37 .13*M. Vassar 23 Jan. 1861 Poughkeepsie, Jan. 23, 1861. Hon. William Kelly, Dear Sir, You will perceive from a copy of the charter herewith accompanying, that you are appointed by the Legislature one of the Corporators of "Vassar Female College". Permit me to express the earnest hope that you will accept the trust, and that you will not only give to the enterprise about to be inaugurated the sanction of your name & reputation, but also your best counsel and active support and cooperation. The first meeting of the Trustees will be held atthe Gregory House in this city, on Tuesday, the 26th of February, at 10 o'clock, A.M. Immediately on the organization of the Board, I shall place in its hands the Funds and Securities which I have appropriated to the College. At this meeting, measures must be adopted in reference to the custody and management of the College Funds; the erection of the Building; and the improvement of the Grounds. Needful preliminary and prospective arrangements will also be considered in regard to the Organization of the College. Hence, it is of great importance that every Trustee should be present. It is thought that the business may be finished, either in the Board itself, or by reference to appropriate Committees, in two sessions of the same day; so that the members can return h©me in the evening. With sentiments of high consideration, I am, Very truly & respectfully, Your obt. svt., M. Vassar
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Creator: Kelly, William
Date: January 31, 1861
Text: 1st May 1861 Dear Sir: You have done a splendid thing. A Truly splendid thing, because it [shines]: a nice entrance to [mine] Matthew Vassar Esq. Poughkeepsie N.Y.together & tonight into the perfect day. It will [make] for, little difference to you, …, That I glory in a country than, who has done what could really … … the reign of the best

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