Poughkeepsie January 25" 1864.
My dear Mrs Hale
I am in receipt of your Kind & valued note p"
President Jewett of the 19" Current and have read
over and given your suggestions the most profound
consideration. At the incipient stage of the contem-
plated scheme (Vassar F. College) before lisping the
idea to any mortal, I first conferred with my friend
Prof. Jewett whom had been extensively engaged at
the South in the Education of Ladies, and from whom
I not only received a full indorsement of my views, but
he largely contributed to aid me in its further develope-
ment & thus resulted in my poor endeavours to do
what I intimated at my brief opening address at the
February meeting 61.
I only add that our Executive Committee has au-
thorized the publication of the article in the January
Number of your Ladys Book that is, our secular paper
has solicited the permission thus signifying the interest
they take in the view of the article, by republishing it
at their own Cost. The subject of Women Professors
& Teachers is now fairly before our Trustees, who
at their Meeting 23d proximo will report their views,
and decide if it can be safely adopted in our College
at the opening. The only question that can possibly
arise, is whether we can obtain prominent destinguished
Ladies instructors to fill the several chairs. Miss
Maria Mitchell of Nantucket had been named by a
gentleman of our Board of Trustees as Professor of
Astronomy, but the planing & erection of the Ob-
servatory having been under the Superintendance of
Professor Farrar late of Elmira Female College
N. Y., it is thought that the chair may be offered
to him.
Yours very truly & respectfully
19.'
33;